Summary
Diablo 4continues a long tradition of game expansions that have played major roles in the franchise since the beginning of the series. The upcomingVessel of HatredDLC forDiablo 4promises a harrowing and violent story as Mephisto, one of the three Lords of Hell, is set to play a big part in the story.
Based on the firsttrailer forVessel of Hatred, Mephisto is beginning to squirm his way into Neyrelle’s psyche, which could bring forth some serious chaos. With Mephisto being one of the three Lords of Hell,Diablo 4’s upcoming expansion continues the franchise’s trend of featuring a powerful demon as the main villain. However, there is oneDiablogame DLC that now sticks out compared to the rest of the series with its star antagonist:Diablo 3’sReaper of Souls.
Diablo 3’s Reaper of Souls Foregoes the Franchise’s Demon Formula
Diablo’s Long History of Demon Villains in Major Expansions
The threeDiablogame DLCs mentioned above all star powerful demons, butDiablo 3’sReaper of SoulsDLCuses the fallen angel Malthael as its main enemy. Once the Archangel of Wisdom, Malthael fell from grace and became the Angel of Death, subverting theDiablofranchise’s common thread of using demons as its main expansion villains.Vessel of Hatred’s Mephisto is a force to be reckoned with, but Malthael’s presence as a fallen angel was a unique take on the usualDiablovillain that makes theReaper of Soulsexpansion stand on its own in a special way.
As the only major expansion that doesn’t focus on a demon,Reaper of Soulsbrought a unique perspective by featuring an enemy that was previously a force of light. Matlhael was once a calm and caring being, until the disappearance of the Worldstone caused him to abandon Heaven and take up a new role as the Angel of Death. His twisted worldview made him a compelling character, as he had experienced a taste of both good and evil now.Diablohas subverted expectations before, but Malthael was a fascinating choice for a villain that makesReaper of Soulsreally unique.
Diablo 4’sVessel of HatredDLC launches on October 8.
Although Malthael is a standout villain in the mainDiabloexpansions, it is also strange for the franchise to step away from tradition for just one DLC. Despite Malthael’s intriguing story, it’s exciting to get back on track with the Prime Evils and other demonic beings.The upcoming focus on Mephistois already promising some gruesome demonic bloodshed on the way, and it’s a great reminder of how powerful the franchise’s demons truly are.
Diablo’s Exploration of Good and Evil
Through the years, theDiabloseries has focused on the seemingly never-ending fight between good and evil, which is part of what makes Malthael so fascinating. A character who has once represented light and has now become corrupt is a trope that is often compelling, andReaper of Soulsdid a great job at seeing this trope through. However, it’s also jarring for only one expansion to pull away from the status quo in the middle of the series, only forDiablo 4to get things back on track.
Reaper of Soulsmay stick out in terms of its main villain, but it is also a special entry that has a lot to offer.As theDiablofranchise continues, it will be interesting to see if future expansions will go the route of Malthael again. Only time will tell, but it’s also exciting for the franchise’s main focus to be on the horrifying Prime Evils that present some iconic and harrowing villains.
Diablo 4
WHERE TO PLAY
Diablo® IV is the ultimate action RPG experience with endless evil to slaughter, countless abilities to master, nightmarish dungeons, and legendary loot. Embark on the campaign solo or with friends, meeting memorable characters through beautifully dark settings and a gripping story, or explore an expansive end game and shared world where players can meet in towns to trade, team up to battle world bosses, or descend into PVP zones to test their skills against other players – no lobbies necessary – with cross-play, cross-progression, and couch co-op on Xbox.This is only the beginning for Diablo® IV, with new events, stories, seasons, rewards, and more looming on the horizon.
