Diablo 4 just dropped a triple shock — Paladin is one of TWO new classes AND the Horadric Cube returns with the Lord of Hatred expansion in April 2026

Blizzard revealed the highly anticipated Paladin class at tonight’s Game Awards for Diablo 4. However, players will initially only be able to play as the Paladin if they pre-purchase the upcoming ‘Lord of Hatred’ expansion, launching on April 28, 2026. The Paladin will arrive with Season 11, cleverly titled ‘Season of Divine Intervention,’ and is available to those with early access.

While the Paladin’s reveal wasn’t a surprise – thanks to months of leaks and speculation – there was a bigger announcement than many expected. Blizzard also confirmed a second new class is on the way, along with the return of the Horadric Cube, and – surprisingly – Lilith herself!

The Lord of Hatred rises once more

Okay, Diablo fans, get ready! Blizzard just revealed the next big thing for Diablo 4: ‘The Lord of Hatred’ expansion, and it’s looking massive. It’s set to launch on April 28, 2026, and it’s being billed as the epic conclusion to the ‘Age of Hatred’ saga. We’ll finally face off against Mephisto in a huge showdown, and we’ll be exploring a brand new region called Skovos – the ancient homeland of the first civilization, and the place where Lilith and Inarius originally lived.

But it’s not just story stuff! They’re overhauling a ton of gameplay features. Skill trees are getting reworked, crafting is getting a big boost with the return of the Horadric Cube, and – you’re not going to believe this – we’re finally getting loot filters! Seriously, the crowd went wild when they announced that. They’re also revamping endgame systems like War Plans and adding a brutally difficult challenge called the Echoing Hatred gauntlet. Oh, and they’re raising the level cap, of course.

And there’s more! Alongside the Paladin, a second new class is coming with the expansion, though details are still under wraps. I’m guessing it’ll be something totally fresh for the Diablo universe, like we saw with the Spiritborn.

Now, brace yourselves… they’re *adding fishing*. Yes, you read that right. Apparently, if you need a break from all the demon slaying, you can cast a line in Sanctuary. Honestly, I thought it was an April Fool’s joke when I first saw it, but it seems to be legit. I’m cautiously optimistic about this one!

Paladin arrival is a long time coming

The Paladin is a hugely popular class for Diablo fans, and many have been waiting a long time to see it return. Players who were disappointed that Diablo IV didn’t initially include a traditional sword-and-shield fighter—and weren’t thrilled with the Spiritborn introduced in the expansion—will likely be very excited by this news. It’s a welcome addition for those who’ve been hoping for this classic playstyle.

Season 11, titled Divine Intervention, begins at 8:30 pm Pacific Time / 11:30 pm Eastern Time – a surprisingly late start that immediately caught fans’ attention. This is the latest a season has ever launched, and many suspected it was connected to The Game Awards. The timing seemed too deliberate to be a coincidence.

For months, hints have been building about a new holy warrior class. Leaks and data discovered in the game files suggested light-themed armor, a flail weapon appearing in official art, and even a nickname – “2.5x Paladin” – that appeared before the Gamescom event. It was almost certain a sword-and-shield wielding holy class was coming.

The Paladin story so far…

As a long-time Diablo fan, I always hoped the Paladin would make a comeback! They were such a core class in Diablo 2 – these frontline warriors dedicated to the Zakarum Church, with tons of different orders popping up over the years, some even becoming the Templars. With the new story in Diablo 4 bringing in Akarat, the important prophet of the Zakarum faith, a lot of us were expecting to see the Paladins return.

It’s interesting because they *were* essentially removed in Diablo 3. The classic Paladin orders were declared gone, leaving only the Templars – you could even recruit one as a follower! Blizzard did give us the Crusader as a playable class, which was a nice nod – they’re a separate order within the Zakarum universe, and definitely filled that armored, tank-like role, setting them apart from the Monk.

But it still left us wondering *why* the Paladin is back in Diablo 4 from a lore perspective? Blizzard is keeping that a mystery – you’ll have to play the game to find out! We do have some early info on how they play, though, and it looks really promising.

Everything we know about the Paladin in Diablo 4

The Paladin in Diablo 4 feels like a classic holy knight – strong, powerful, and deadly in close combat. It’s a traditional sword-and-shield fighter designed to withstand enemy attacks while delivering impactful, visually impressive blows. Beloved abilities like Auras, Blessed Hammer, and Zeal are back, now with improved animations and a refined look for Diablo 4.

This class reintroduces Holy damage, giving Paladins a unique role compared to other classes. Paladins excel at boosting themselves and their teammates, controlling the battlefield with divine powers, and delivering powerful, impactful attacks. If you enjoy diving headfirst into combat with unwavering conviction, this class is a great fit.

Oath System

Paladins follow sacred paths – Oaths – that define their code of honor and beliefs. Each Oath encourages a specific playstyle, enhancing both the character’s story and how you build them. You can choose from four different Oaths:

Juggernaut focuses on the Paladin’s shield, turning defense into offensive movement with Shield Bash as the primary skill. The ultimate move, Fortress, is a defensive-focused skill that briefly makes the player exceptionally difficult to kill.
Zealot is a frenzied melee powered by an updated Zeal skill. Where Juggernaut is the “board,” this is the “sword.” With Zenith as the ultimate, this Oath unleashes a devastating celestial strike that cleaves the battlefield with a massive holy blade.
Judicator brings holy judgment and wrath, using the holy conjurations of Blessed Shield, Hammer, Consecration, and Heaven’s Fury, raining divine punishment upon all that is wicked.
Disciple is the ultimate angelic transformation, fully embracing divinity in its purest form. Unleash the lance with Spears of the Heavens onto enemies and take flight with your angel wings in the Arbiter Form.

How can I play Paladin in Diablo 4?

Right now, the Paladin class is only available to players who buy the upcoming Lord of Hatred expansion. If you purchase the expansion, you’ll be able to create a new character and begin playing in Season 11.

What are the different editions of Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred?

The Lord of Hatred bundle includes the complete Vessel of Hatred expansion, and you’ll get immediate access if you pre-order. If you don’t already own this expansion, pre-ordering gets you both.

Pre-ordering also unlocks early access to the Paladin class, an extra stash tab for inventory, two additional character slots, and three decorative items for World of Warcraft (you need to own World of Warcraft: Midnight and have an active subscription to claim these items).

Lord of Hatred is available in three different editions.

The Standard Edition of Lord of Hatred includes Diablo IV’s first expansion, Vessel of Hatred.
The Deluxe Edition includes everything from the Standard Edition, as well as the Mini Chimera Pet Skorch, the Skartaran Basilisk Mount Bundle, the High Heavens guard Cosmetic Bundle, a Premium Battle Pass Bundle, and more when the expansion launches.
The Ultimate Edition includes everything from the Standard and Deluxe Editions, as well as the Umbral Knights Armor Bundle (6 class sets), 3,000 Platinum, the Steed of the Shining Realm Bundle, Tymn, Echo of the Spire Back Trophy, the Ascent of the Just Town Portal Skin, and more when the expansion launches.

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2025-12-12 06:10