The following contains MAJOR spoilers for Diablo 4's Vessel of Hatred expansion.
Diablo 4's Vessel of Hatred expansion continues the story of the base game, with Neyrelle now taking Mephisto's soulstone into the depths of the Nahantu jungle to destroy the Prime Evil once and for all. Unfortunately, on her journey into Nahantu, Neyrelle accidentally spreads Mephisto's corruption through the jungle after dipping her hand and the soulstone into the water, spawning horrifying monsters called Hollows and progressively killing much of the region's flora and fauna. This is all established as the setup for the main narrative of Diablo 4's Vessel of Hatred expansion, which leads the player into Nahantu on Neyrelle's trail.
The bulk of the story for Diablo 4's Vessel of Hatred expansion sees the player and Spiritborn mentor Eru following in the footsteps of Neyrelle and attempting to save her from Mephisto's wrath and her bond to the soulstone. It begins as a long series of near misses, with Neyrelle always seeming to be a step or two ahead of the player and Eru, until she is finally rescued. From there, and after a few more roadblocks, the player and Eru travel alongside Neyrelle, eventually arriving at the Burial Chamber in Akarat's Tomb, where the cliffhanger conclusion to Vessel of Hatred's story begins.
Neyrelle's Salvation and Eru's Betrayal
Neyrelle's Bond to the Soulstone Is Broken
Upon entering the Burial Chamber in Akarat's Tomb, the player character, Neyrelle, and Eru approach the altar on which the mortal body of Akarat rests. Neyrelle, longing for her bond with Mephisto to be broken, slowly moves closer to the altar. The closer she moves toward Akarat's body, however, the more she is tempted to keep the soulstone, as the images it shows her of her deceased mother offer her a solace she knows she will miss once the bond is broken. Nevertheless, encouraged by the player character to finish the job, Neyrelle places the soulstone on Akarat's body, sending a wave of light through the burial chamber and finally severing the bond between Neyrelle and Mephisto.
Eru Is Revealed to Be a Traitor in Service to Mephisto
After a brief moment of respite, Eru is seen kneeling near Akarat's body when the lion spirit of Akarat moves forward as if to defend Neyrelle and the player character, as he senses something very wrong with Eru. Eru looks up, sorrowfully saying, "Spirits, forgive me." He then throws his arms out, opening a giant dark rift behind him in an explosion so forceful that everyone is knocked near unconscious onto the ground. As they awaken, Mephisto laughs maniacally, upon which Neyrelle notices that the soulstone is gone. It has been taken by Eru, who now also holds the body of Akarat in his arms. Before exiting through the rift, he utters to Mephisto, "I've done my part. See that you do yours."
Every New Monster Family in Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred Explained
Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred introduces three new monster families in the Hollows, the Dregs, and the Lacuni, each unique in their lore and appearance.
The Battle With Mephisto and Confronting Eru
Mephisto Emerges From the Rift in His Wolf Form, and a Battle Ensues
Mephisto then emerges from the rift in his wolf form, strengthened by Eru's betrayal, mocking the player character for the hatred that runs in their veins due to their connection to his daughter, Lilith. He then transforms into the Harbinger of Hatred, and a battle ensues. The battle begins with the player character defending Neyrelle and the spirit of Akarat to the best of their ability, only to eventually be overwhelmed. However, just as things begin to look hopeless, the spirit of Akarat awakens and uses the last of his energy to help the player character defeat Mephisto's wolf form. Unfortunately, this was only an aspect of Mephisto, meaning he is still alive. Akarat then bids Neyrelle farewell before ascending to what can only be assumed is the High Heavens.
Neyrelle and the Player Character Travel Back to Nahantu to Find Eru
Neyrelle and the player character then venture back to Nahantu, where they find Eru, now very wounded, deep in the jungle. Throughout Vessel of Hatred's story, Eru has shown fairly obvious signs of being against Neyrelle and her plan to destroy Mephisto, simply due to the corruption that spread throughout Nahantu. Here, as the player character and Neyrelle converse with Eru, he explains that he made a deal with Mephisto in order to "spare all that I love from what is to come." He knew that Mephisto would eventually break out of the soulstone and Nahantu would be destroyed.
Attempting to appeal to him, Neyrelle tells Eru that Mephisto cannot be trusted and will always break his promises, including the deal Eru made with him regarding the body of Akarat. She then pleads with Eru to tell them where the body of Akarat and the soulstone are, but Eru refuses, saying that the apocalypse that was coming was Neyrelle's recompense for her actions. He then doubles down on his choice to betray Neyrelle and the player character, and attempts to attack Neyrelle before she retaliates and kills him first.
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.
Searching for Answers and the Corruption of Akarat
Neyrelle and the Player Character Search the Horadric Vault for Answers
Not long after Eru's demise, Neyrelle and the player character return to the Horadric Vault to search for any information linked to Eru's betrayal and the resurgence of Mephisto. At the vault, Neyrelle and the player character look through the various scrolls and tomes written by Lorath with references to Tyrael, the defender of Sanctuary, and Rathma's Prophecy, which foretells the rise of the Prime Evils and the destruction of Sanctuary. This is likely a hint to Tyrael's return at a later point in Diablo 4's story, possibly in a future expansion.
After the two spend some time searching the records at the Horadric Vault, Nawal, the messenger from Lorath's hut, enters, saying that Prava is hoping to speak with Neyrelle and the player character. Apparently, Prava has changed at this point, despite formerly sending her knights after the group. Neyrelle decides it would be best if she and the player character meet with Prava, and the two venture to Lorath's cabin. Upon speaking with Prava, she eventually informs Nayrelle that she still has a connection to Mephisto, despite her bond with the soulstone being broken, and that she will still play a major part in his destruction.
Prava then leaves the hut, and the player character and Neyrelle begin speaking with one another. The two reflect on Eru's betrayal, with the player character wondering whether they pushed him to that point. However, Neyrelle confirms that Eru's downfall was a part of Mephisto's plan from the beginning. Mephisto had infiltrated Eru's mind after his betrayal (despite being a decision born of love) and brought him to a place of hatred for himself, which Mephisto then used against him. Near the end of their conversation, the player character asks that, when the time comes, Neyrelle allow them to be the one to kill Mephisto once and for all.
Akarat Is Resurrected and Becomes the New Vessel for Mephisto
The conclusion of Vessel of Hatred's story sees a sequence play out, narrated by Lorath, who is reflecting on the events that have led up to this point. Once the series of flashbacks is over, the scene transitions to Travincal, where Akarat's mortal, now deceased body lies in the middle of a large room, surrounded by the black corruption of Mephisto. In the background, Mephisto can be heard mocking Akarat, speaking of how he ultimately failed to be the Shepherd of Light he was supposed to be.
As the corruption begins to swallow Akarat's body, Mephisto's soulstone can be seen buried in his chest. Once the body has been completely consumed by the darkness, Akarat's body levitates into the air, a sword forms from his right hand, and his eyes open, establishing Akarat as the new vessel for Mephisto. From here, it's likely Diablo 4 will receive another expansion that will help tie everything up, as this is quite the cliffhanger and is more than deserving of some closure.
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
