Summary
- Diablo 4's Vessel of Hatred brings three new monster families: The Hollows, The Dregs, and The Lacuni.
- Hollows are products of Mephisto's corruption; Dregs are psychotic humans; and Lacuni are an evolved feline race.
- Lacuni first appeared in Diablo 2 and return in Diablo 4's Nahantu region with melee and ranged attacks.
Diablo 4's Vessel of Hatred expansion has certainly not arrived empty-handed, having introduced a brand-new story following Neyrelle into the deepest reaches of the Nahantu jungle, the new, arguably overpowered Spiritborn class, and plenty of updates to make the base game a much better experience. One of Vessel of Hatred's more underground additions, however, is the inclusion of three new monster families to Diablo 4, two of which are a first for the series.
Diablo 4's Vessel of Hatred expansion introduces three new monster families: The Hollows, the Dregs, and the Lacuni. Although the Lacuni have appeared in previous Diablo games, Vessel of Hatred marks the monster family's Diablo 4 debut.
Every Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred Mercenary Explained
There are four Mercenaries to find and recruit in Diablo 4's Vessel of Hatred expansion, each of which has a unique backstory and gameplay role.
Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred's Three New Monster Families
The Hollows Are Horrific Monsters Born of Mephisto's Corruption
The Hollows make up a brand-new Diablo monster family, and a rather horrific one at that. While it's not initially common knowledge to the inhabitants of Diablo 4's Sanctuary, Hollows were unintentionally created by Neyrelle when she entered Nahantu.
After being burned by Mephisto's soulstone and being gripped by the corruption spreading from it, Neyrelle dipped her hand and the soulstone into the water to cool off, thereby allowing Mephisto's corruption to spread throughout the jungles of Nahantu. As the black, tar-like corruption spread further, the Hollows were born and began to wreak havoc upon the people and cities in the surrounding area. As products of Mephisto's corruption, the Hollows are composed of the same tar-like substance and can be devastating in large numbers.
The Hollows are also the first new monster family players encounter during Vessel of Hatred's story, shortly after meeting Raheir.
The Dregs Are Psychotic Humans Found in the Depths of the Nahantu Jungles
The Dregs are another new monster family introduced with Diablo 4's Vessel of Hatred expansion, though they are only monsters on account of their now-psychotic nature. The Dregs are, in fact, humans, but after experimenting with hallucinogens found in Nahantu's flora and fauna, they went into an unstoppable psychotic rage and now await players as enemies in the depths of Nahantu's jungles.
The Lacuni Are a Feline Monster Race Who Have Evolved Throughout the Series
Of the three monster families introduced with Diablo 4's Vessel of Hatred expansion, the Lacuni are the only family not new to the series itself. That being said, the Lacuni have evolved significantly throughout the Diablo series, both in their appearance and their combat roles, making their addition to Diablo 4's monster families with Vessel of Hatred feel fresh.
As products of Mephisto's corruption, the Hollows are composed of the same tar-like substance and can be devastating in large numbers.
The Lacuni are a highly intelligent and relentlessly savage race of feline-like, bipedal creatures commonly referred to as "Panther-men" or "Sabre Cats." Lacuni society is a lot like that of lions in that it is patriarchal, where male Lacuni are much larger and more suited for leadership roles, and female Lacuni fill the role of huntresses in the monster family. Originating from Kehjistan, the Lacuni initially had a good relationship with humans that saw the two engaging in regular trade. However, the Lacuni turned hostile around the time of the Darkening of Tristram and have been some of Diablo's most iconic monsters ever since.
In Vessel of Hatred, the Lacuni are encountered in the Teganze Plateau area of the new Nahantu region, where they challenge players with melee weapons or ranged attacks like javelins and grenades. It's fitting that the Lacuni first appeared in Diablo 2 and have now returned in Diablo 4's Vessel of Hatred expansion as monsters in the Nahantu region, since Nahantu also debuted in Diablo 2.
Diablo 4
-
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
