Season 12: Season of Slaughter will end on April 28th, and Blizzard will soon follow with the release of Diablo 4 Season 13. Notably, Season 13 will launch concurrently with Lord of Hatred expansion. The expansion will bring two new classes and a wealth of new content to the game.
This guide will bring you all the currently confirmed information regarding Diablo 4 Season 13 and Lord of Hatred expansion. Let's take a look!
When does Season 12 end?
Diablo 4 Season 12 will end on April 28th. If you want to complete the remaining seasonal objectives before the season resets, time is running out, so please hurry.
Season 12 was packed with exciting content, introducing Killstreak System, Bloodied Sigils, and an impressive mechanic - allowing players to control Butcher. These features will disappear from the season rotation after the season countdown ends, so if you're interested in these mechanics, don't miss the last bit of time and complete what you need to before the season switches.
When does Season 13 start?
It's reported that Season 13 will officially launch at 10:00 AM Pacific Time on April 28th. Since the transition period between the end of Season 12 and the start of Season 13 is roughly the same, the interval between seasons should be very short.
Players in Europe and Asia-Pacific region, please note that your launch date is April 29th. It is recommended to set reminders in advance to avoid being caught off guard.
Below is the complete time zone division. For the exact release time closer to your region or time zone, please refer to this table and check it yourself:
- The release time in Pacific Time (PT) is 10:00 AM, April 28th
- The release time in Central Time (CT) is 12:00 PM, April 28th
- The release time in Eastern Time (ET) is 1:00 PM, April 28th
- The release time in Brasilia Time (BRT) is 2:00 PM, April 28th
- The release time in British Summer Time (BST) is 6:00 PM, April 28th
- The release time in Central European Summer Time (CEST) is: 7:00 PM on April 28th
- The release time in China Standard Time (CST) is 1:00 AM on April 29th
- The release time in Korea Standard Time (KST) is 2:00 AM on April 29th
- The release time in Japan Standard Time (JST) is 2:00 AM on April 29th
- The release time in Australia Eastern Time (AET) is: 3:00 AM on April 29th
- The release time in New Zealand Standard Time (NZST) is 5:00 AM on April 29th
New content in Lord of Hatred expansion
Lord of Hatred expansion is a direct sequel to Vessel of Hatred in 2023, continuing Blizzard's previous content roadmap. Two major new content additions have been confirmed, but specific details still await official confirmation. We can look forward to it together.
First, Lord of Hatred expansion will introduce two brand new playable classes: Paladin and Warlock. Both classes are confirmed to be closely related to the content of Lord of Hatred expansion. While the official details regarding the skill tree and gameplay haven't been released yet, it's confirmed that the upcoming DLC will include a significant skill tree update, potentially removing passive skills.
Secondly, the interaction between existing classes and the new systems may also change significantly. New areas are expected, the level cap will be raised, and numerous new systems such as talismans, cubes, and runewords will be added. The item system and Uniques are being adjusted, and new item types and affixes will also be introduced.
Preparations before April 28th
With less than three weeks until the end of Season 12, here are some priorities:
- Complete all Season of Slaughter reward items or Diablo 4 Gold objectives; these rewards can be carried over to subsequent seasons.
- Take advantage of the Butcher's control mechanics while they're still available, as this is one of the more unique aspects of Season 12.
- After the official announcement of Paladin and Warlock class details in the Lord of Hatred expansion, read the relevant information promptly to avoid making a blind choice on Day 1.
Community expectations and concerns
- Players hope this rework will bring more build options, but high-end builds will still exist.
- Some feel recent seasons have been too short and the content too simplistic, anticipating a substantial update in Season 13.
- Many players are excited about the new content but also point out potential issues with game balance and repetitive tasks, requiring observation of how improvements are made after launch.
Should you pre-order now?
While pre-ordering now won't grant you access to the full content, it will allow you to experience the story mode and familiarize yourself with the game systems, as the content on April 28th is expected to be very rich. However, the developers may also make many changes, resulting in what you see now differing completely from what you'll see on the 28th.
In addition, players can also experience Paladin by pre-ordering Lord of Hatred expansion, while Warlock will launch simultaneously with the expansion on April 28th.
In short, players have very high expectations for Diablo 4 Season 13 and Lord of Hatred, but they are even more concerned about whether this expansion can surpass it while maintaining the same solid framework as a Vessel of Hatred.
Let's look forward to it together and wait for April 18th, hoping that the official team will bring us some surprises.
