The experience of leveling in Diablo 4 is set to undergo significant adjustments with the arrival of the Lord of Hatred expansion on April 28.

The goal of these changes is to extend the duration of the initial character levels, ensuring that players don’t experience a rapid progression at the start followed by a noticeable slowdown later on. However, this does not imply that the overall leveling time will be extended.

Colin Finer, the game director, shared insights during a recent press briefing at Blizzard’s headquarters. He mentioned, “We’ve made some adjustments to the leveling system. The level cap will increase from 60 to 70 with the Lord of Hatred, but the time needed to reach the maximum level will remain unchanged.”

Finer elaborated that the leveling curve will be different than it is currently. Presently, players can swiftly advance from level one to 20, or even 25, in no time. “We are restructuring the early monster-clearing tasks, which will make initial levels take longer, whereas the later levels will progress more quickly. For instance, if it typically takes around 20 hours to reach max level, we are aiming to slow down the first 20 levels slightly, while facilitating faster progression for the rest.”

The intent behind this redesign is to give players access to a broader range of skills over time, enabling them to take on more enemies efficiently, while creating a more balanced leveling rhythm.

A beneficial side effect of this extended early leveling phase is that players will have more time to familiarize themselves with their characters and their capabilities. This gradual introduction of new concepts and mechanics is purposeful, as leveling too quickly can lead to an overwhelming influx of information.

I experienced this firsthand when I recently reinstalled Diablo 4 to experiment with the paladin class. I leveled from one to 30 in approximately half an hour, thanks to a world boss that respawned frequently. This rapid progression left me unsure about the mechanics of the class following such a flurry of advancement.

The impending Lord of Hatred expansion introduces a wealth of new features, including two new classes—a warlock and a paladin—that players can try for free next week. In addition to a new area, storyline, and various quests, a revamped and expanded skill tree will also be introduced. Blizzard aims to provide increased build diversity through this overhaul, demonstrating their willingness to address and enhance core elements of the game. As a result, three years post-launch, Diablo 4 is in a stronger position than ever.