Play the Paladin, Diablo 4’s newest class, in Season 11 with pre-purchase of the Lord of Hatred expansion

Diablo 4 players finally get the sword-and-board holy warrior they’ve been hoping for with the newly announced Paladin class. Yes, the holy warrior legacy started in Diablo 2 officially continues onward. But what no one expected was for the class to launch today with pre-purchase of the Lord of Hatred expansion. Yes, friends, you can play your Paladin in Season 11, launching December 11 at 8:30 pm pacific (11:30 pm eastern).

Paladins leverage familiar skills “with a revitalized feel that blends Diablo 2 nostalgia with the visceral combat and grounded visual style of Diablo 4.” However, the class has a new trick up its sleeve: “through angelic transformation, players can ascend into the Arbiter form, a radiant, Tyrael-inspired avatar of celestial justice.”

Yes, the Paladin brings forward some favorite skills from their first go-around, powered by their distinctive Holy damage type, including Auras, Blessed Hammer, Blessed Shield, Condemn, Zeal, and Heaven’s Fury. Their new-to-the-franchise abilities “further channel celestial energy and holy magic, making each attack feel unwavering, weighty, and unmistakably empowered by Heaven.”

The Paladin’s unique class mechanic is known as the Oath System, with four paths that “reflect the codes of chivalry and faith-driven identity Paladins swear to uphold.” Each path represents a possible playstyle focus, including:

• Juggernaut (“Shield” focused), similar to Raheir, your shield-bearing mercenary. Shield Bash becomes your primary skill, with an ultimate move called Fortress that “briefly makes the player exceptionally difficult to kill.”
• Zealot (“Sword” focused) updates the Zeal skill, with the Zenith ultimate that “unleashes a devastating celestial strike that cleaves the battlefield with a massive holy blade.”
• Judicator (“Judgment” focused) works with the conjurations Blessed Shield, Hammer, Consecration, and Heaven’s Fury, “raining divine punishment upon all that is wicked.”
• Disciple (“Angelic” focused), wields a lance-like ability called Spears of the Heavens and synergies with your Arbiter form, “fully embracing divinity in its purest form.”

I’m not using hyperbole when I say that the Paladin is the most desired class for D4. From the base game announcement, there was a pretty solid expectation of a Paladin-Crusader-alike — and some pretty heavy outcry when that class was passed over with both Diablo 4 and Vessel of Hatred.  Well, no longer! The Paladin sounds both really exciting and well timed for this “pivotal moment in Sanctuary’s history.”

And it’s, no joke, available for you to play with pre-purchase of the Lord of Hatred expansion today for Season 11.