Paladin Arrives in Diablo IV With Season of Divine Intervention

Blizzard announced at tonight's The Game Awards that Diablo IV's getting a new class and it's Paladin!

The Paladin class is playable tonight with the launch of the new season, Divine Intervention. The announcement came as a big surprise with another piece of news, the name of the next expansion for Diablo IV: Lord of Terror. Season of Divine Intervention brings in big permanent upgrades, advanced combat, and a new seasonal rank reward system.

Quote From Blizzard

The Lesser Evils return to spread chaos, with Azmodan driving the assault. An unbound angel descends—granting Divine Gifts to those who resist this demonic invasion. Major permanent updates arrive to itemization in Masterworking and Tempering, and strike against advanced foes as monster combat evolves to provide a fresh challenge. Advance through an all-new Season Rank system to earn rewards, face Heaven and Hell as Sanctuary awaits judgment.

You will be able to play Paladin as a bonus for pre-ordering the new expansion, so if you want to get your hands on Paladin today, you can pre-order Lord of Hatred on the Battle.net Desktop App.

The Paladin carries more than 25 years of Diablo legacy, and in Lord of Hatred, they return as Sanctuary’s last beacon of divine authority. As Mephisto’s corruption spreads, Paladins answer the call with unwavering devotion, turning the battlefield into sanctified ground.

While Auras and Holy Conjurations honor the class's storied past, Lord of Hatred pushes the power fantasy further than ever before. Through angelic transformation, players can ascend into the Arbiter form, a radiant, Tyrael-inspired avatar of celestial justice.

The Paladin Oath System

The unique class mechanic for Paladin is Oaths. There are four different paths, with a different code the Paladin is sworn to uphold. They are:

• Disciple: Casting an Ascension Skill grants Arbiter for 4.5 seconds. Arbiter now counts as a Disciple skill and grants you 5% Armor.
• Judicator: Your Judgement marks now explode, dealing their damage to up to 15 enemies around the judged character and can be detonated early by your Judicator Core Skills. Your Judgement marks gain Judicator benefits. Your Basic Skills now apply Judgement.
• Juggernaut: Casting a Juggernaut Skill Consumes up to 10 stacks of Resolve, causing your Juggernaut Skills to deal 30% increased damage and gaining 2.0% more damage per stack consumed for 5 seconds. Your maximum Resolve is increased by 2.
• Zealot: Attacking with your Zealot Core and Ultimate Skills grant a Fervor stack for 2 seconds. Critical Strikes cause those Skills tos trike an additional time per stack for 17% of the Skill's Damage, up to 3 stacks. Basic Skills refresh these stacks.

Paladin Combat

As a classic sword-and-board class, the Paladin’s skills reinforce strength, faith, and overwhelming divine impact. Iconic favorites–Auras, Blessed Hammer, Blessed Shield, Condemn, Zeal, and Heaven’s Fury–return with new animation, sound, and responsiveness. The class also reintroduces the long-beloved Holy damage type, creating a clear identity in both power fantasy and mechanics. New abilities further channel celestial energy and holy magic, making each attack feel unwavering, weighty, and unmistakably empowered by Heaven.

Press Release

Quote From Blizzard

On April 28, 2026, the Age of Hatred Saga will reach its climax in Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred. 
This expansion for Blizzard’s critically acclaimed ARPG unites a high-stakes campaign against Mephisto, two powerful new classes, the ancient and fabled region of Skovos, and sweeping gameplay updates that redefine how players experience Sanctuary. A pre-purchase grants immediate access to the highly requested Paladin class, offering a new path of divine retribution as darkness closes in.

AGE OF HATRED’S CULMINATION
FACE THE LORD OF HATRED: In the aftermath of Vessel of Hatred, this next chapter drives players toward their final stand against Mephisto, whose deception and spreading influence threaten to twist Sanctuary into a world consumed by malice. As Hell’s legions surge and the ancient Pools of Creation draw Mephisto ever closer, the fate of humanity hangs by a thread. To stop him, the Wanderer must embrace an old foe long believed to be dead. Lilith returns, her prophetic last words echoing true, forcing a perilous alliance bound by necessity rather than trust. With time and allies running out, the Wanderer is in a desperate race to stop Mephisto before hatred reshapes the world forever.
POWERFUL NEW CLASSES: The Lord of Hatred expansion answers years of community demand with two distinct new classes, dramatically broadening how players shape their playstyle, identity, and mastery in Sanctuary.
The Paladin rises as the realm darkens, wielding hammer, shield, and Holy Light to smite Mephisto’s demon army with righteous fury. Through melee combat and divine abilities, the Paladin empowers players to strike with both unwavering faith and overwhelming force.
A second, yet-unrevealed class looms on the dark horizon—its power undeniable, its arrival poised to reshape the battlefield when Lord of Hatred launches in April.
DANGEROUS LANDS: Skovos, the ancestral birthplace of the first civilization and the former home of Lilith and Inarius, stands as Sanctuary’s oldest and most storied region. Now ruled by The Oracle and the Amazon Queen, this never-before-seen in-game land blends volcanic coasts, storm-lashed forests, and waterlogged ruins steeped in forgotten lore. 
As the Wanderer embarks on their journey through Skovos, each expedition will reveal new towns, dungeons, and monsters. Players will test their mettle against sinister cultists, oceanic horrors, and lingering shadows of Hell.
SKILLS & ITEMIZATION: The Lord of Hatred expansion delivers one of the most comprehensive gameplay evolutions since launch. 
Deeply reworked Skill Trees introduce new class-specific variants and expanded level caps, offering fresh buildcraft and strategic depth across all eight classes.
A new Loot Filter empowers players to target desired gear more efficiently. 
Enhanced crafting systems, including the return of the iconic Horadric Cube, reinforce experimentation and progression, while the new Talisman unlocks powerful set bonuses, expanding late-game customization in meaningful, class-defining ways.
OVERHAULED ENDGAME: After the campaign's dramatic finale, players can tap into a revitalized endgame, built around player choice, mastery, escalating challenge, and ever-more rewarding loot.
War Plans let players craft their own endgame progression path, selecting favored activities and layering strategic modifiers as they push toward high-value rewards.
The Echoing Hatred stands as the Age of Hatred’s ultimate test: a relentless gauntlet of demonic hordes designed to challenge even the strongest builds. 
Players seeking respite from demon-slaying can experience the perilous waterways of Sanctuary with Fishing.
GAME EDITIONS & PRE-PURCHASE: Lord of Hatred includes the full Vessel of Hatred expansion, which players can access instantly via pre-purchase. Venture through the wilds of Nahantu with the primal fury of the Spiritborn class, as Mercenaries join your cause against the encroaching darkness.
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.*
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.

*World of Warcraft Décor items require World of Warcraft: Midnight and World of Warcraft subscription or game time.