The New Diablo IV Expansion Gave Me Everything I Didn’t Want

May 2, 2026 - 09:53

Somehow, in the lead-up to this week's release of the Lord of Hatred expansion for Diablo IV, I completely missed that it has a fully realized new class, the Spiritborn. I was too busy dreading the return of a familiar face. Mephisto, the Lord of Hatred himself, is back, and the story takes us deep into the jungles of Nahantu. But the real surprise wasn't the villain. It was the Spiritborn. This class is a martial artist who channels the power of four spirit guardians: the Jaguar, the Gorilla, the Eagle, and the Centipede. Each spirit offers a distinct playstyle, from fast, critical-hit-focused combat to tanky, defensive builds. You can even mix and match abilities from different spirits, creating a hybrid that feels completely unique.

I went in expecting a grim, predictable expansion about the Prime Evil's return. Instead, I got a vibrant, fast-paced action RPG that feels like a different game. The Spiritborn's mobility is unmatched. I can leap across the battlefield, summon a storm of centipedes, or simply punch demons into the ground. It is everything I did not want because I did not know I wanted it. The expansion also introduces a new endgame activity called the Kurast Undercity, a timed dungeon run that rewards speed and efficiency. It is a welcome change from the repetitive Nightmare Dungeons. The story itself is solid, with some genuinely surprising twists involving Neyrelle and the fate of the soulstone. While the core Diablo IV loop of grinding for better gear remains, the Spiritborn alone makes this expansion worth the price. It is a breath of fresh air for a game that desperately needed one.