Summary
The future ofDiablo 4is still up in the air after the first few seasons failed to meet fan expectations in a meaningful way, but there is still hope for the game to turn itself around with the Vessel of Hatred expansion set to be released later this year. Vessel of Hatred was announced forDiablo 4back at Blizzcon in November 2023 with a brief teaser that showcased the expansion’s story and setting. While Blizzard is planning to share more information about this expansion as its release approaches, fans can get to know the lore surrounding Vessel of Hatred’s setting in the region of Nahantu.
From what has been shown ofVessel of Hatredso far, it appears that the expansion will pick up where the story of the base game left off and follow Neyrelle as she travels to Nahantu with the soulstone containing Mephisto. Blizzard also teased that the expansion will also add a sixth playable class toDiablo 4, but has remained tight-lipped about what that class will be. Still, Vessel of Hatred will likely be exciting for fans of the series to experience, since its setting will let players revisit an iconic location fromDiablo 2in a new way.
Diablo 4 Vessel of Hatred Takes Players to New Version of a Classic Diablo 2 Location
Although the region is known as Nahantu inDiablo 4’s Vessel of Hatred expansion, non-natives refer to the region as the Torajan Jungles. This region is home to dense vegetation as Sanctuary’s largest rainforest but has a dark history and numerous ancient tribes, such as the Umbaru and the Opaya. While the Zakarum faith once had a stronghold in the Nahantu’s city of Kurast, the region is also home to temples dedicated to the worship of the Triune, or thePrime Evils, Diablo, Mephisto, and Baal.
While Nahantu is a new region toDiablo 4,Diablo 2players might recognize the location by a different name.Nahantu is located just south of Kehjistan, whose borders encompassed the region inDiablo 2, hence why it was referred to as such inDiablo 2Act 3. Players might remember visiting locations like the city of Kurast, which acted as the hub for Act 3 inDiablo 2, as well as the temple city of Travincal, both of which can be found in Nahantu and could return as potential locations inDiablo 4’s Vessel of Hatred expansion.
Mephisto is a Fitting Villain for a Story Set in Nahantu
Diablo 2fans are likely already aware of Mephisto’s connection to the region of Nahantu as the Prime Evil played a major role during the game’s third act. As such, it makes a lot of sense for Vessel of Hatred to take place here, given how the base game ofDiablo 4sets up Mephistoto be a future threat that will need to be dealt with. With the Prime Evils' connection to Nahantu, many players suspectedDiablo 4would eventually bring players back to this region to follow up on the plot threads lingering around Mephisto.
InDiablo 2Act 3, players head to Kurast on the heels of Mephisto, who has sealed himself away deep below the city of Travincal in the heart of Nahantu’s jungles. After arriving in the region, players find that Mephisto’s corruption of the Zakarum priests has led the region to become overrun with the demons of the Burning Hells.Diablo 4’s Vessel of Hatred expansion could follow up on this part of the region’s history by potentially making Mephisto’s return, even in soulstone form, reawaken the corruption that once plagued the land and unleash a new wave of demonic hordes for players to slay.
