Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred's Spiritborn May Be Shooting…

Summary

Diablo 4's new expansion brings major changes, launching the sixth class for the ARPG as the Spiritborn.
The Spiritborn class may face challenges due to two-handed weapons taking up both slots and a possible lack of shields and/or one-handed weapon options.
The Spiritborn class in Diablo 4 may need adjustments to balance its itemization constraints effectively, otherwise, players may have to be forced to make difficult buildcrafting choices.

Diablo 4 has been going through some ups and downs after its full release, but the recent Season 4 and the game's current season, called Infernal Hordes, combined with a handful of changes, paved the way for the release of the Vessel of Hatred expansion. Now, the game is in the best state it's ever been, with itemization allowing players to customize their gear for overall better builds, which is something the newly revamped Uniques in Diablo 4's Infernal Hordes help a lot with. Aspects still play a big part in the game's buildcrafting, as players can unlock them as they progress through World Tiers, Helltides, Dungeons, and more - however, they could be a double-edged sword for the upcoming Spiritborn class in Vessel of Hatred.

While Diablo 4's new October expansion will shake up the game's current systems in many ways, possibly including a level cap change, one of the biggest points of interest is most likely going to be the Spiritborn class. Diablo 4 has been out for over a year now, and longtime players may feel bored of the core five classes already, thus putting a lot of weight on the Spiritborn's shoulders. Unfortunately, the ARPG's new class may have a huge weakness right off the bat.

Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred's Spiritborn Class is Poised to Break a Big Weapon Slot Tradition

Diablo 4's Spiritborn Could be The First and Only Class With Two-Handed Weapon Options Exclusively

Diablo 4's Aspects can make the difference between casual builds and endgame-proof ones, often even making the leveling process much less of a slog (also thanks to the many XP acquisition buffs that came over time). Still, it is essential for any build to have access to some powerful Aspects as well as Uniques to achieve full potential on any class. For this reason, the Spiritborn may start out quite hindered, as it currently seems to only be capable of wielding two-handed weapons like polearms, glaives, and quarterstaves.

This is a big issue for min-maxing builds because two-handed weapons do occupy both hand slots in the character menu, meaning that, unless something changes, Diablo 4's Spiritborn class will always have a maximum of nine slots compared to every other class' option to have either nine or ten. This also means having one fewer Aspect slot to use, effectively reducing the number of options for the Spiritborn when it comes to crafting the perfect build. Two-handed weapons have one redeeming quality in the form of doubling bonuses from item properties and Aspects, and in some cases it may be worth using them over two separate items, but on the Spiritborn this seems like the new standard.

Diablo 4's Spiritborn May Have Itemization Problems With One Fewer Weapon Slot

It's worth noting that datamining did suggest the Vessel of Hatred expansion for Diablo 4 would give Spiritborns the option to wield a shield, but this has not been confirmed by Blizzard so far. This may still be subject to change in future campfire chats from Blizzard or even showcases of the Vessel of Hatred expansion, but there is no indication this will be the case for the time being.

If the Spiritborn truly cannot wield shields and one-handed weapons, this means that not only will the Necromancer remain the only shield-wielding class in Diablo 4's roster for quite some time, but also that the Spiritborn may take more work to perfect. Although the game's itemization is in a much better state compared to Diablo 4's launch, two-handed weapons still only have four Tempering attempts as any other item, for example. Leveling up may not be affected, but finding a near-perfect weapon for endgame content is not exactly easy, and breaking it with the wrong Tempering affixes could be all the more painful.

This means that getting the perfect roll is going to be harder, even with Diablo 4's new Scroll of Retempering, which allows a fifth attempt in case the original four failed. Not only that, but a doubled-up Aspect in terms of power may still be an inferior choice compared to an additional base-level Aspect in the off-hand slot. Unless the class is indeed given a shield or any other one-handed option, or at least a very powerful selection of two-handed Unique weapons that would make up for the lost slot, Spiritborn players may be in for a bitter surprise.

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Action RPG

Hack and Slash

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OpenCritic Reviews: Top Critic Avg: 88 /100 Critics Rec: 93%

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Released: June 5, 2023
ESRB: Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
Developer(s): Blizzard
Publisher(s): Blizzard

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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.

Welcome to Hell

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 World

Forge 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 Development

Create 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 Battles

Discover 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 & Events

The 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 Undertakings

There’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
PS Plus Availability: N/A
File Size Xbox Series: 158.25 GB
Local Co-Op Support: 1-2 players (console only)