Diablo 4’s New Season And Expansion Launches Today with Major Changes

The gates of Hell are about to open wider when Diablo 4’s Season of Hatred Rising and the highly anticipated Vessel of Hatred expansion go live this afternoon. With Blizzard addressing everything from Paragon Levels to the rarity of mythic unique items, this season promises to make slaying demons a lot more rewarding and a bit more streamlined for those of us who hate farming for loot.

First up, Paragon Levels are getting a big tweak. Once the new season begins, all Paragon progress will be shared across characters on the same realm and mode. That means less grind and more time focusing on, you know, actually killing things. In an MMO-like move, Blizzard is aiming to make leveling feel less like a chore and more like an adventure that spans your entire roster of characters.

In addition, Blizzard has made some major changes to Masterworking materials. Say goodbye to Ingolith and Neathiron, as Obducite is now your one-stop-shop for Masterworking. Obducite will drop in specific high-level areas like Nightmare Dungeons, Infernal Hordes, and the new Undercity zone introduced with the expansion. Got a stash of the old materials? No worries, just hit up the Alchemist and transmute them into Obducite.

For players chasing those elusive mythic uniques (once the stuff of legends, now a little more attainable), Vessel of Hatred offers a way to craft these ultra-rare items. You’ll still need some luck on your side, but you’ll be able to collect Resplendent Sparks and unlock random mythic caches, significantly improving your chances. The catch? You might not get the exact item you’re hunting for, but hey, that’s why we keep coming back, right?

Blizzard is also being more generous on the drop rates for uniques in general. In fact, they’re set to drop three times as often as before. So, if you’ve been dreaming of that ice-leaving boot or the Holy Bolt-spewing chestpiece, your time has come.

Both Season of Hatred Rising and the Vessel of Hatred expansion officially launch today at 4 p.m. PDT. Grab your gear, call your clan, and get ready to dive back into a more rewarding Sanctuary. You can learn more about the upcoming changes in the developer video below.