Summary
- Diablo 4's Vessel of Hatred expansion is class-centered with the Spiritborn class gaining praise.
- The Spiritborn Evade build is highly overpowered, relying on the Eagle Spirit Hall choice.
- The build may face a nerf due to its dominance, challenging Blizzard's expectations of balance.
Diablo 4's Vessel of Hatred expansion might have continued the base game's story, but it could be considered a class-centered expansion more than anything else, thanks to the new Spiritborn class. For the most part, the story for Diablo 4's Vessel of Hatred expansion has come under fire for subjectively failing to deliver on multiple fronts, but the Spiritborn class has mostly been praised for its versatility.
There are already plenty of powerful builds available for the new Spiritborn class in Diablo 4's Vessel of Hatred expansion, some of which are leveling builds surrounding the Jaguar Guardian's Rake skill and the Eagle Guardian's Quill Volley skill, while others are endgame Centipede builds. However, one build is currently, and quite unexpectedly, dominating the meta in Diablo 4, further supporting any calls for the Spiritborn class to be nerfed. While the Spiritborn class as a whole may never be nerfed, it's likely the Evade build that has become so popular recently may not be long for this world.
Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred's Ending Explained
There is a lot to unpack in Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred's cliffhanger ending, as it somewhat concludes the expansion's story and sets up the future.
Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred's Spiritborn Evade Build May Not Be Able to Dodge a Nerf
Vessel of Hatred's Spiritborn Evade Build Is Highly Overpowered
In a nutshell, what makes the new Spiritborn Evade build so overpowered is the harmonious relationship it establishes between the Eagle Guardian Spirit Hall choice, the Quill Volley skill, specific Runewords, and the Spiritborn's basic Evade skill. When the build is prepared correctly, Spiritborn players can essentially non-stop Evade their way to victory, all while casting an endless barrage of Quill Volleys at their enemies for waves upon waves of mass destruction. This ultimately leads to a supreme amount of survivability, as well as widespread area-of-effect attacks to keep enemies at bay.
While it's possible to experiment with the Spiritborn Evade build and tailor it a bit to player choice, there are certain combinations that work better than others. Firstly, and perhaps most importantly, the Spiritborn Evade build relies heavily on the Eagle Spirit Hall choice, which increases Movement Speed when players use any Eagle skill and then sends Storm Feather projectiles flying toward enemies when players Evade. Any enemies hit by the Storm Feathers are then Vulnerable, causing them to take even more damage. There is also an Affix that can be applied to players' boots that reduces the cooldown of Evade upon attacking, so players can essentially Evade constantly.
Several Vigor and Storm Feather damage-enhancing Aspects are also necessary for the build to function properly.
Vessel of Hatred's Spiritborn Evade Build Will Likely Get Nerfed as It Grows in Popularity
Judging by how incredibly overpowered the Spiritborn Evade build currently is in Diablo 4, it's likely it won't be able to get by without a nerf at some point. Ahead of Vessel of Hatred's rocky launch, Blizzard intimated that it expected the Spiritborn to be overpowered throughout Season 6, also implying that the class would remain largely untouched during the season. However, this particular build may be a bit more powerful than the developer expected, which could eventually lead to a significant nerf. This is especially true if the build continues to grow in popularity and more players are using it.
Exactly what might eventually be nerfed remains to be seen, as well as whether the nerf will actually happen. If the Spiritborn Evade build is targeted at any point and patches are implemented to reduce its effectiveness, it's likely those patches will aim to diminish the synergetic relationship shared between certain Affixes and the Spiritborn's Eagle Spirit Guardian. Despite the likelihood of the Spiritborn Evade build attracting a nerf, it could be that it somehow slips by without ever getting patched. However, based on Diablo 4's history, that seems highly unlikely.
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
