Summary
- Diablo 4's Vessel of Hatred introduces a new Spiritborn class & changes to the leveling system.
- Diablo 4's level cap has been lowered to 60, and Paragon Points are now shared Realm-wide, making progression faster.
- Players can benefit from Vessel of Hatred even without DLC, with a streamlined leveling experience.
Diablo 4's Vessel of Hatred expansion is finally here, taking players to the region of Nahantu where they will search for Neyrelle, who seeks to destroy the Prime Evil Mephisto. One of the biggest additions coming to Diablo 4 with Vessel of Hatred is the Spiritborn class, but many other changes have been made to the base game's character progression system as well.
Diablo 4's Vessel of Hatred expansion brings with it a vast number of changes to the game's character progression, including a new level cap and more. While the following updates have been introduced with the expansion, even players who don't own the DLC can benefit from these systemic progression changes.
Diablo 4 DLC: How Long to Beat Vessel of Hatred
Players who have questions about the length of Diablo 4's Vessel of Hatred expansion can find the answers that they seek in this guide.
Every Change to Character Progression in Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred
Vessel of Hatred Brings Several Changes to Diablo 4's Leveling System
Some of the biggest changes that have come to Diablo 4 with the Vessel of Hatred expansion involve its leveling system, which has been drastically altered to provide players with a more streamlined experience. These changes were introduced to the game in large part due to the base game's endgame content — and now what Vessel of Hatred is introducing with the Dark Citadel and the Undercity — and hopes that players would be able to reach the endgame much faster than they could before. Furthermore, these progression changes have affected Paragon Levels as well in an effort to reduce repetitiveness.
Firstly, the Diablo 4 character level cap has been reduced from 100 to 60, with any characters who have already hit the former level cap actually being brought down to Level 50 upon starting the Vessel of Hatred expansion. Secondly, and perhaps even more importantly, Paragon Points are no longer tied to character level and are instead shared across Diablo 4 Realms. This means that once players hit the character level cap with one of their characters, they will begin earning Paragon Levels that can be used to unlock Paragon Nodes that players' other characters on the same Realm can benefit from.
It should be noted that any Paragon Points players have already earned on a character over Level 50 will be converted to Realm-wide Paragon Levels upon launching Diablo 4 for the first time after Vessel of Hatred's launch.
These changes are most welcome in Diablo 4, as one of the biggest criticisms of the game at launch was its lengthy leveling system. Now, with the launch of Vessel of Hatred, players can reach the character level cap much faster and begin earning Realm-wide Paragon Levels for all of their characters on a Realm. Ultimately, this makes it more accessible to newcomers and a much more streamlined experience for all players. Vessel of Hatred reviews have honed in on the smoother leveling experience in the expansion, which is a very good sign for anyone still playing the game and especially for those who might have left due to its formerly intimidating grind.
Paragon Boards Have Also Been Adjusted in Vessel of Hatred
Paragon Boards have also been adjusted with the launch of Vessel of Hatred, granting players an additional Paragon Board along with a new maximum of five boards that can be equipped at a time, including players' starting Paragon Board. This limit on equipped Paragon Boards was an intentional move by Blizzard to help players feel like they're making more important choices with the Glyphs that they equip. On that note, Paragon Boards also now include a new Legendary Node. Finally, players can now earn a maximum of 300 Paragon Points, as opposed to the former maximum of 200.
Diablo 4's Vessel of Hatred expansion has clearly brought much more than a new story to the game, with plenty of content even non-Vessel of Hatred owners can benefit from. Now may be as good a time as any for newcomers, deserters, and veterans alike to jump into Diablo 4.
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
