What happens at the end of Diablo IV's base campaign?

At the Throne of Hatred in Act VI, Inarius confronts Lilith first and is killed. The Wanderer reaches Mephisto's prison; realizing Mephisto is the greater threat, Neyrelle traps Mephisto (not Lilith) in the soulstone. The Wanderer then defeats Lilith. Donan is dead, Lorath is the last Horadrim, and Neyrelle vanishes with Mephisto's soulstone.

What happens in Vessel of Hatred?

Neyrelle flees into Nahantu (Torajan jungle) with Mephisto's soulstone, but dipping it in the jungle's waters spreads his corruption. Urivar, a Cathedral of Light fanatic, hunts her. The Wanderer recruits Spiritborn and Mercenaries. At Akarat's tomb, the Spiritborn shaman Eru betrays the party. Akarat's spirit destroys Mephisto's avatar — but Mephisto possesses Akarat's body and walks Sanctuary in a saint's flesh.

What is Lord of Hatred's story?

Mephisto-as-Akarat sails for Skovos, the firstborn isles and ancestral home of Lilith and Inarius, to corrupt the Pools of Creation where the first nephalem were born. The Wanderer pursues alongside the Amazon Queen Adreona and the Oracle. If Mephisto reaches the Pools, Sanctuary is swallowed in hatred permanently.

Diablo IV

Complete Diablo IV story recap. Base campaign (6 Acts), Vessel of Hatred ending, and Lord of Hatred setup. Lilith, Inarius, Mephisto, Neyrelle, Lorath, Donan.

Lore 14 min read

Diablo IV Story Recap

By the DiabloBytes team · Updated April 2026 · Includes spoilers for base campaign + Vessel of Hatred

Diablo IV opens roughly 50 years after Diablo III. Sanctuary is fractured between two religions: the Cathedral of Light, which worships the fallen angel Inarius, and Lilith's emerging cult, which hails her as "Mother of Sanctuary." This recap walks the full story so far — base campaign, Vessel of Hatred, and the setup for Lord of Hatred.

Base Campaign — The Six Acts

The base campaign is a Prologue ("Wandering"), six Acts, and an Epilogue ("From the Wound Spilled"). Acts 1-3 are non-linear; Acts 4-6 play out in fixed order.

Prologue Wandering

Lilith is summoned back to Sanctuary by her cult. The Wanderer joins Lorath Nahr, the last of the Horadrim.

Act I A Cold and Iron Faith (Fractured Peaks)

The Wanderer hunts Lilith’s influence through Kyovashad and the Cathedral of Light, learning Inarius is mobilizing.

Act II The Knife Twists Again (Scosglen)

Druids of Cerrigar are dragged into the conflict. Donan’s son Vigo dies. Donan, Neyrelle, and Lorath all join the hunt.

Act III The Making of Monsters (Kehjistan)

Inarius’s forces besiege Caldeum. The party investigates Lilith’s blood-magic experiments in the desert.

Act IV A Gathering Storm

A short breather act. The party regroups. The Wanderer is wounded by Lilith’s blood. Path set toward Hawezar.

Act V Secrets Bartered, Fates Sold (Hawezar)

The longest act. Donan helps attune a soulstone in the Black Tomb of Sankekur, intended to trap Lilith.

Act VI Dance of the Makers

A descent to Hell and the Throne of Hatred. Inarius confronts Lilith first and is killed. At Mephisto’s prison, Neyrelle traps Mephisto — not Lilith — in the soulstone. The Wanderer then defeats Lilith.

Epilogue From the Wound Spilled

Donan is dead. Lorath is the last Horadrim. Neyrelle vanishes with Mephisto’s soulstone, leaving a letter pleading the Wanderer not to follow. Mephisto’s corruption is already touching her.

Vessel of Hatred — The Expansion

Vessel of Hatred (October 2024) picks up with Neyrelle fleeing into Nahantu — the Torajan jungle, Kurast region. Dipping the soulstone in Nahantu's waters spreads Mephisto's corruption, spawning Hollows and blighting the jungle. Urivar, a fanatic Cathedral of Light survivor of Inarius's Hell assault, now leads the Cathedral and hunts her.

The Wanderer recruits the Spiritborn — jungle warriors channeling Jaguar, Eagle, Gorilla, and Centipede spirits — and the Mercenaries (Raheir first, plus Aldkin, Subo, and Varyana). With help from Akarat, an ascended godlike protector of Nahantu, they rescue Neyrelle from possession.

At Akarat's tomb, the Spiritborn shaman Eru betrays the party, having bargained with Mephisto. Akarat's spirit awakens one last time and destroys Mephisto's avatar — but Mephisto possesses Akarat's body and walks Sanctuary in a saint's flesh. Neyrelle is freed, but the victory is bitter: Mephisto now wears the face of a beloved god.

Lord of Hatred — The Setup

Lord of Hatred, launching April 28, 2026, is the conclusion of the Age of Hatred arc. Mephisto-as-Akarat sails for Skovos, the firstborn isles and ancestral home of Lilith and Inarius. His target: the Pools of Creation, where the first nephalem were born — children of angels and demons. Corrupting the Pools would invert creation itself. As Blizzard phrases it: "if he reaches them, Sanctuary gets swallowed in hatred permanently."

The Wanderer pursues alongside the Amazon Queen Adreona and the unnamed Oracle Queen. Two new classes debut: the returning Paladin and the new Warlock. The new endgame hub is Temis, the marble capital of Skovos.