Diablo 4's new Vessel of Hatred expansion adds what is arguably one of the best classes in the history of the series - the Spiritborn. While the playstyle of the Spiritborn is not too different from that of Diablo 3's Monk, to the point that its new Vortex skill is Cyclone Strike in everything but its name, what makes the class so good and interesting is the sheer level of versatility and buildcrafting options. Diablo 4's Spiritborn builds are great not only because the class is a bit overturned compared to base-game classes, but also because players have a ton of different options, and they're all viable in some way.
Diablo 4's Spiritborn and Druid are similar in various ways, as they both worship the natural world, albeit with varying degrees of devotion. For example, the Vessel of Hatred storyline and the Spiritborn's Spirit Hall class master quest both take players to the Spirit Realm, which is populated by the spirits of Nahantu creatures and even gods, like Akarat and Ah Bulan. In the case of the Spiritborn, its guardian spirits can dramatically change and improve some gameplay aspects - potentially as early as the Spirit Hall becomes available. Much like other classes in the game, the Spiritborn also has its fair share of unwritten rules that make up its identity.
All Diablo 4 Spiritborn Unwritten Rules Explained
Complete All Diablo 4 Nahantu Dungeons (and The Class Mastery Quest) As Soon As Possible
Precisely because the Spiritborn is already a very strong class from the get-go, unlocking all the Aspects that improve its skills from the various Diablo 4 Nahantu Dungeons is a key part of the experience that will turn the class from good to excellent. A great example is the Rebounding Aspect for Diablo 4's Quill Volley build, which makes each feather travel back to its origin point, adding a shotgunning effect both when the skill is cast and when its feathers return. The same applies to the Spirit Hall quest near Gea Kul.
Invest In Barriers (and Resolve) For Your Spiritborn Builds
The Spiritborn is not the squishiest class in Diablo 4, but it does need all the help it can get in order to survive big packs of monsters, especially since it's mainly a martial artist. Advanced buildcrafting options like the Que Rune in Diablo 4 can be great, and the same holds true for the Viscous Shield Legendary node. However, a more basic part of any build that can make a huge difference in terms of the Spiritborn's survivability is the Gorilla guardian in the Spirit Hall.
The way the Spirit Hall works is that players can choose a primary and a secondary guardian, each with major or minor buffs, respectively. In the case of the Gorilla as a primary choice, it makes every skill a Gorilla skill, and each Gorilla skill grants stacks of Resolve, which provides damage reduction. With tools like Rock Splitter, Diablo 4's Barrier effect can be combined with damage mitigation to make any build much tankier with minimal investment. Gorilla may not be players' best choice for Diablo 4's Spirit Hall in every case, but it's a reliable one for leveling and early parts of the endgame.
Start Diablo 4's Vessel of Hatred Campaign on Normal
Diablo 4's Vessel of Hatred changed difficulty options dramatically compared to the base game's World Tiers.
While it may seem controversial to suggest that Normal is the better difficulty over Hard, this is mainly if players want to level up by completing the campaign. The reason is that Hard only makes monster kills grant more experience, but during the campaign, the most XP comes from completing quests. Also, this applies to all classes in Vessel of Hatred, but one could argue that the Spiritborn needs it more than other classes because it's more likely to be played over base-game classes. More importantly, it's a good class while leveling, but it only reaches its true potential with some endgame gear and when unlocking the Spirit Hall and all Aspects.
Diablo 4
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 88 /100 Critics Rec: 93%
WHERE TO PLAY
Diablo® IV is the ultimate action-RPG experience with endless evil to slaughter, countless abilities to master, nightmarish dungeons, and legendary loot.
Embark on the epic campaign solo or with friends, meeting memorable characters through a gripping story in a beautifully dark world, or explore an expansive end game: battle iconic bosses for powerful loot, fight back the encroaching onslaught of Hell in Helltides, master the Forge to create your ultimate weapons and progress powerful characters, with cross-play and cross-progression on all available platforms.
Discover the critically acclaimed franchise that defined the Action RPG genre. As the battle between the High Heavens and Burning Hells rages on, hatred devours Sanctuary as evil spreads and a new wave of cultists and worshippers arise to embrace Lilith’s coming. Only a brave few dare to face this threat and bring light to the all-consuming darkness.
Expansive Open WorldForge your own path through the corrupted lands of Sanctuary, an ever-growing, fully explorable world teeming with challenges, quests, enemies, and loot. Join your fellow adventurers, rescue and retake besieged towns, delve into nightmarish dungeons and uncover lost secrets as you fight back evil. The many zones of Sanctuary are yours to explore, and with rotating areas of extreme peril like World Bosses and Helltide, danger lurks at every turn.
Immersive Character DevelopmentCreate and customize your character to face the encroaching darkness. Choose from one of five classes and build your hero with skills, abilities and cosmetics, creating a champion that is uniquely your own. Grow stronger as you progress through powerful Skill Trees and develop even more unique end game specializations with Paragon Boards.
Legendary Gear, Epic BattlesDiscover and experiment with a vast arsenal of powerful weapons, armor and more to fight back against the demons threatening Sanctuary. Explore unique combinations, create your own upgrades and collect a plethora of powerful tools to battle in immersive, action-packed combat against the deadliest of enemies.
Seasons & EventsThe tales of Sanctuary continue to unfold. Create Seasonal Characters and join in fresh adventures - master new mechanics and take on the latest threats in each new Season. Complete harrowing feats of the Season Journey and earn new Battle Pass rewards. Plus, sharpen your swords and get in the spirit of the seasons when Limited-Time Events sweep through Sanctuary.
End Game UndertakingsThere’s even more Diablo® IV to explore as you reach higher levels and more fearsome World Tiers. Face the greatest challenge yet as you take on the most powerful demons in The Pit, steel yourself against Uber Bosses to reap uber unique rewards, fight back overflowing armies of Hell as Helltides emerge across Sanctuary, battle larger-than-life World Bosses, and master the Forge to create the mightiest weapons fit for a hero.
- Engine
- Proprietary Engine
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
- All platforms
- Cross Save
- All platforms
- Franchise
- Diablo
- Number of Players
- 1-2 players
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Verified
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Hack and Slash
- How Long To Beat
- 26 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- File Size Xbox Series
- 158.25 GB
- Local Co-Op Support
- 1-2 players (console only)
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
