At tonight’s Game Awards, Blizzard has officially, finally, at long last… unveiled the Paladin. However, there is a catch: the Paladin is currently exclusive to players who pre-purchase the upcoming Lord of Hatred expansion, which launches on April 28, 2026.
The newest playable class is coming to Diablo 4 with Season 11. The cannily named “Season of Divine Intervention” and is for players who secure early access.
In what might be the worst-kept secret of Diablo’s history, after months of data-mining hints and speculation reaching a boiling point, I can’t say I’m surprised that the holy warrior is finally here. I do thing Blizzard used this as a somewhat red herring though, as there is SO much more to this announcement than I originally anticipated. There is not only a second class coming, but the Horadric Cube returns as well as Lilith (OMG MOM?!)
The Lord of Hatred rises once more
Image 1 of 2
Blizzard has finally lifted the veil on the next chapter of Diablo 4, The Lord of Hatred — it’s second Mephisto-themed expansion due on 28 April 2026. This will be the climactic finale to what they are dubbing the “Age of Hatred Saga,” pitting players in a final stand against Mephisto while exploring the ancient lands of Skovos (the ancestral birthplace of the first civilization and the former home of Lilith and Inarius).
The expansion will also bring sweeping gameplay updates, including reworked skill trees, enhanced crafting with the return of the Horadric Cube, new loot filters, and overhauled endgame systems like War Plans and the punishing Echoing Hatred gauntlet The level cap will be increased and we’re even getting, wait for it, a LOOT FILTER! (Crowd goes wild).
There is also a teased second class, which arrives seperate to the Paladin when Lord of Hatred releases. We don’t know anything about this class yet, but I’m assuming it will be something entirely new for the Diablo universe as was Spiritborn.
The expansion, believe it or not, is also adding fishing. Yes, players seeking a calmer journey throughout Sanctuary can now fish in the putrid waters. Perhaps this part of the press release was the early April Fools? I hope not…
Paladin arrival is a long time coming
Few classes in Diablo history carry as much nostalgic weight as the Paladin. For long-time players who felt let down by the lack of a sword-and-shield class at launch (and then disappointed again when Vessel of Hatred introduced the Spiritborn instead), this reveal is going to feel like a cold drink of water.
And of course, the clues have been piling up for months. Leaks and datamines have pointed toward a holy warrior for a while now: references to light-themed armor sets, a flail cosmetic sneaking into official imagery, and even the infamous “2.5x Paladin” build name that surfaced ahead of Gamescom. A sword-and-board holy class was practically a foregone conclusion.
The Paladin story so far…
The Paladin was one of the playable classes in Diablo 2. Serving on the front line as warriors of the Zakarum Church. Over the centuries, a bunch of Paladin orders have risen and fallen. Some went on to form the Templars.
Many of these traditions were tightly tied to the teachings of Akarat, the prophet who shaped the Zakarum faith. With Vessel of Hatred bringing Akarat into the Diablo 4 storyline, plenty of fans expected Blizzard to use that moment to reintroduce Paladins to the franchise.
That said, the Paladin had already been sidelined once before. In Diablo 3, the classic Paladin orders were considered long dead, leaving only the loosely related Templars behind (including the follower you could recruit).
However, Blizzard somewhat satisfied the Paladin itch by introducing the Crusader as a playable class. A separate and still functioning order within Zakarum lore, with enough tanky armor to distinguish them from the dexterity-based aura-wielding Monk.
This begs the question, what is the lore reason for Paladin’s return in Diablo 4? You’ll have to play to find out! Playstyle-wise, though, we have some more info.
Everything we know about the Paladin in Diablo 4
The Paladin in Diablo 4 plays exactly how you’d expect a holy knight to feel. Heavy, decisive, and fatal when met up-close. This is a true sword-and-shield brawler, built to stand in the thick of a fight while dishing out big, glowing hits. Classic skills like Auras, Blessed Hammer, Blessed Shield, Condemn, Zeal, and Heaven’s Fury all return, but with smoother animations and a modern Diablo 4 polish.
The class also brings back Holy damage, which helps it carve out a very clear identity from the other classes. A lot of the Paladin’s kit revolves around empowering yourself and your allies, controlling space with divine effects, and unloading bursts of righteous damage that feel weighty and deliberate. If you’re the kind of player who wants to jump straight into the thick of the fight with blind faith, this is very much your class.
Oath system
This is a set of sacred paths that reflect the codes of chivalry and faith-driven identity Paladins swear to uphold. Each Oath rewards players for leaning fully into a distinct playstyle, deepening both fantasy and buildcraft. Choose to focus on one of these four Oaths:
- Juggernaut focuses on the Paladin’s shield, turning defense into offensive movement with Shield Bash as the primary skill. The ultimate move, Fortress, is a defensive-focused skill that briefly makes the player exceptionally difficult to kill.
- Zealot is a frenzied melee powered by an updated Zeal skill. Where Juggernaut is the “board,” this is the “sword.” With Zenith as the ultimate, this Oath unleashes a devastating celestial strike that cleaves the battlefield with a massive holy blade.
- Judicator brings holy judgment and wrath, using the holy conjurations of Blessed Shield, Hammer, Consecration, and Heaven’s Fury, raining divine punishment upon all that is wicked.
- Disciple is the ultimate angelic transformation, fully embracing divinity in its purest form. Unleash the lance with Spears of the Heavens onto enemies and take flight with your angel wings in the Arbiter Form.
How can I play Paladin in Diablo 4?
The Paladin is currently exclusive to players who pre-purchase the upcoming Lord of Hatred expansion. Once you secure the expansion, you can start a brand-new character in Season 11.
What are the different editions of Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred?
Lord of Hatred includes the full Vessel of Hatred expansion, which players can access instantly via pre-purchase. So if you don’t already have this DLC, you are getting both.
Players who pre-purchase will gain early access to the Paladin class, one extra Stash Tab, two more Character Slots, and three World of Warcraft décor items (required to own World of Warcraft Midnight and a subscription to redeem these).
Lord of Hatred is available in three editions:
- The Standard Edition of Lord of Hatred includes Diablo IV’s first expansion, Vessel of Hatred.
- The Deluxe Edition includes everything from the Standard Edition, as well as the Mini Chimera Pet Skorch, the Skartaran Basilisk Mount Bundle, the High Heavens guard Cosmetic Bundle, a Premium Battle Pass Bundle, and more when the expansion launches.
- The Ultimate Edition includes everything from the Standard and Deluxe Editions, as well as the Umbral Knights Armor Bundle (6 class sets), 3,000 Platinum, the Steed of the Shining Realm Bundle, Tymn, Echo of the Spire Back Trophy, the Ascent of the Just Town Portal Skin, and more when the expansion launches.
Follow Windows Central on Google News to keep our latest news, insights, and features at the top of your feeds!
