Lord of Hatred wraps up the Hatred arc with a stronger campaign, better systems, and many QoL features that players have been asking for since launch.
We were lucky to get to play the game early to share a Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred review on Icy Veins. As always, here are our honest thoughts on the expansion.
Lord of Hatred truly feels like the expansion that Diablo 4 has been building towards. After the base game took quite some time to find its rhythm, and a first expansion that started turning things around, this final chapter of “Hatred” feels like the moment where everything finally clicks. The story is intense, the systems are more intricate than ever, and there is just much more to do in general, as well as more reasons to keep doing it.
The Story Is Intense and Keeps You Playing
It is impossible to reveal too much without spoiling things, but the Lord of Hatred campaign is easily the strongest narrative Diablo 4 has delivered so far! The pacing is tight, the stakes feel real, and characters that we have all grown attached to over the past few years get moments that hit every emotion. But, of course, there is much more to discover besides the new campaign. Skovos, the new region, is absolutely beautiful. Parts of it feel like a perfect autumn forest, but just a few steps further, it can completely turn into a tropical paradise shore, and then there are the volcanic and corrupted areas that remind you this is still very much Diablo. Without getting into specifics, just know that you should be prepared! This expansion is not afraid to make bold choices with its narrative, and some of those choices will likely surprise you.
The New Warlock Class Is a Blast
During the review playthrough, Warlock quickly became a main focus. Even for someone who is not a hardcore theorycrafter, this new class will be a pleasant surprise in how many fun build directions feel viable even on a more casual level. The hell-based summoner fantasy is unlike anything else in D4’s roster, and it feels like the dark counterpart to Paladin, which most players are already familiar with from Season 11. However, that is not all. Due to the overhaul of the skill tree itself, even existing classes feel different enough and provide significantly more customization than before. There is quite a lot to re-discover, even on a class you have played for hundreds of hours.
Endgame Has a Real Purpose Now
War Plans might be our favorite new addition to the game. Instead of aimlessly switching between activities, you now choose a path of up to five endgame activities with their own progression trees and rewards. It answers the “what should I do now?” question that has been a problem in Diablo 4’s endgame ever since launch. Each activity within War Plans has its own skill tree and unlockable bonuses, which give you actual goals to complete way beyond just hitting max level and grinding out paragon. The Talisman system, with its Charms and Set Bonuses, brings back the kind of set-building many Diablo veterans have missed, adding another satisfying layer to itemization. And the Horadric Cube is back as well. Fair warning though: it can feel pretty daunting at first with all the recipe options and advanced crafting mechanics.
Itemization Got a Big Overhaul
On the topic of gear changes, this is a very big point. Unique items no longer have fixed stats. Their signature power stays the same, but the secondary stats (such as crit damage, strength, max life, etc.) can now roll more randomly, just like most other gear. That means finding the same Unique twice can actually make a big difference, because one might roll better for your build. On top of that, Uniques can now be tempered, which was not possible before. These two changes alone make the item chase feel a lot more meaningful and give endgame farming a real purpose it did not always have.
Quality of Life? Finally.
On the topic of improved systems, let’s start with the best one first. And it comes in just two words: Loot Filter. After years of community requests, it is finally here at launch, and the system is very robust. You can set rules, triggers, modifiers, the whole thing. It feels daunting at first glance, but the fact that it exists at all is a huge win. The overlay map is the other long-awaited addition. You can keep it on permanently, toggle it, or ignore it entirely; your choice. Both of these have been requested by the community for a long time, and it is great to see them finally make it into the game. Fishing is also here as a side activity. It is relaxing and fun, but after you have added and collected each fish in the codex, duplicates do not do much beyond selling for gold. A cosmetic reward track or special currency would have made it feel more worthwhile.
Is It Time to Come Back to D4?
Lord of Hatred is Diablo 4 at its best. The story takes real risks, the Warlock is a fantastic addition, the Paladin fits right in, War Plans give endgame genuine structure, and the Quality-of-Life improvements are things players have wanted for years. It is not perfect: the Horadric Cube’s complexity can be overwhelming, fishing feels undercooked as a long-term system, and 12 Torment levels might intimidate returning players. But these are small cracks in an otherwise amazing expansion. If you have been wondering about starting the game or returning after a long break, wonder no more, because Lord of Hatred is definitely the best time to come back!
For more updates on Lord of Hatred and beyond, head over to our Diablo 4 news hub.
