Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred

Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred is the first major expansion for Blizzard Entertainment's action RPG. It picks up directly after the Diablo IV campaign and follows Neyrelle to Nahantu, while Mephisto remains trapped in the Soulstone.

The expansion adds to the base game a new campaign, the new Spiritborn class, the region of Nahantu, Mercenaries, Runewords and several ongoing endgame activities. Diablo IV is required to play.

Vessel of Hatred released worldwide on Oct 8, 2024 for Diablo IV. On Steam, the global unlock date is listed as Oct 7 in some regions.

The expansion is no longer sold separately on Steam. It is included in Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred, so buyers of the second major expansion also get access to Vessel of Hatred.

The expansion is available for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. On PC it runs via Battle.net or Steam. Each platform requires the respective Diablo IV base game.

For online features, Vessel of Hatred uses Diablo IV's multiplayer infrastructure. On PC, an internet connection and a Battle.net account are required.

Vessel of Hatred expands the typical Diablo IV loop of exploration, dungeons, loot and build development with new systems and activities. Mercenaries accompany your character with their own abilities, while Runewords open up additional combinations for builds.

The expansion also puts more emphasis on cooperative endgame content. The Dark Citadel requires teamwork in fights and mechanics, while the Kurast Undercity is built as a multi-stage, time-based activity.

On PC, Vessel of Hatred requires 64-bit Windows 10 version 1909 or later, DirectX 12, an SSD and 90 GB of free storage. Steam's minimum configuration includes, among others, a Core i5-2500K or FX-8350, 8 GB RAM, and a GTX 660, Arc A380 or Radeon R9 280.

For the recommended 1080p configuration at 60 frames per second, Steam lists a Core i5-4670K or Ryzen 3 1300X, 16 GB RAM, and a GTX 970, Arc A750 or Radeon RX 470.

The Spiritborn are a class introduced specifically for Vessel of Hatred. Their combat style combines melee, movement and spirit energy with four Spirit Guardians: Jaguar, Gorilla, Eagle and Millipede.

The Guardians stand for different focuses such as attack speed, resilience, mobility and poison. Through the Spirit Hall, these directions can be combined, so the class is not tied to a single playstyle.

With Nahantu, Sanctuary grows to include a jungle region with its own towns, dungeons, outposts, side quests, Legion events and monster families. The story follows Neyrelle and Mephisto, who is bound in a Soulstone.

Vessel of Hatred thus forms the narrative bridge between the end of the Diablo IV main campaign and Lord of Hatred, which then carries the conflict with Mephisto on to Skovos.

The Dark Citadel is a cooperative PvE endgame activity with multi-part encounters, group mechanics and shared puzzles. The Kurast Undercity, by contrast, focuses on a multi-stage time attack in which challenge and rewards can be deliberately adjusted.

Mercenaries add to this content as recruitable companions. They grow with progression and bring their own combat abilities that support different builds.