Diablo 4’s next major expansion following Vessel of Hatred is still likely a ways off, being delayed until 2026 despite Blizzard’s original plan for yearly expansion drops. However, that hasn’t stoppedDiablo 4from including some hints at what players might expect from this next DLC release. While nothing has been confirmed yet, the Vessel of Hatred expansion and its subsequent seasons reveal thatDiablo 4’s next expansion will likely continue one trend regarding the inevitable new class it adds.
Players can already find a potential storytease for the next expansion inDiablo 4Season 9, which suggests that the DLC will be taking players back to theDiablo 3location of Westmarch in a plot focused on the Church of Light. This tease opens the door for plenty of speculation on what the next newDiablo 4class may be, with options likeDiablo 3’s Crusader or Monk classes high on the list of possibilities. Whatever class ends up being added toDiablo 4with this next expansion, it’s likely to follow the Spiritborn up to the top ofDiablo 4’s seasonal meta.
Diablo 4’s Next New Class Will Likely Follow in the Spiritborn’s Footsteps
The Spiritborn Has Been a Top Contender Since Release
As expected of a newly added class, the Spiritborn dominated theDiablo 4Season 6 meta when it was released alongside the Vessel of Hatred expansion. This was largely due to the fresh class lacking the previous five seasons' worth of balance changes and adjustments, but could also have been a way to entice players to pick up the new DLC. With a consistently strongunique like the Rod of Kepelekeand an overpowered skill like Quill Volley, the Spiritborn became a breakout star inDiablo 4’s meta.
This prominence has largely remained in the seasons since Vessel of Hatred’s release. While the exact placement of the Spiritborn withinDiablo 4’s seasonal build tier lists has varied, it has usually remained close to the top thanks to the near-unbeatable combination of the Rod of Kepeleke and Quill Volley. Now, the Spiritborn tops the list of bestDiablo 4Season 9 endgame builds once again with itsnew Balazan’s Maxtlatl unique pantsthat offer a similar versatility to that of the Rod of Kepeleke, allowing sheer dominance of the meta with build options like:
Diablo 4 Season 9’s Spiritborn Dominance Paints a Clear Picture for Future DLC Classes
Season 9 has once again proven thatDiablo 4’s Spiritborn is the class to beatin terms of meta powerhouses, and the diversity of S-tier builds it has is a testament to the love the class continues to receive. As a DLC class, it’s unlikely that the Spiritborn will leave the meta anytime soon, but its time in the spotlight could face competition when the next expansion finally releases. Regardless of what new class is added inDiablo 4’s second expansion, it’s likely to get the same treatment the Spiritborn is getting today.
Part of the fun of jumping intoDiablo 4for each new season is testing out different builds, so classes that offer a variety of viable builds tend to become player favorites. It’s clear this is what Blizzard set out to accomplish with the Spiritborn by giving it so many powerful tools to work with between its skills and uniques, encouraging players to pick up the Vessel of Hatred DLC to see just how powerful the Spiritborn can be. When the time forDiablo 4’s next expansionto release rolls around, the focus is bound to shift away from the Spiritborn and onto whatever new class is added, making it a likely candidate for future meta dominance in the wake of its release.
