Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred vs Path of Exile 2
April 2026 is the biggest ARPG month in years. Diablo IV's second expansion Lord of Hatred drops April 28 with two new classes (Paladin + Warlock), a new region (Skovos), a complete skill tree overhaul, and the long-awaited loot filter. Meanwhile, Grinding Gear Games is teasing Path of Exile 2's patch 0.5.0 for early May — a major endgame overhaul, fresh league economy, and new Ascendancy classes.
If you only have time for one ARPG, here's how to pick.
D4: Lord of Hatred
Path of Exile 2
Different games for different brain types. D4 + Lord of Hatred is the polished, accessible, console-first ARPG that respects your time. PoE 2 is the dense, build-deep, free-to-play monster that rewards obsession. Pick D4 for sessions. Pick PoE 2 for hobbies.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| D4: Lord of Hatred | Path of Exile 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to start | $70 (base) + $40 (expansion) | Free to play (no paywall) |
| Platforms | PC + PS5/Xbox + cross-progression | PC + PS5/Xbox (Early Access) |
| Live status | Live, Season 13 launching with expansion | Early Access, patch 0.5.0 incoming |
| Classes | 6 (Paladin + Warlock added) | 8 (Druid most recent) |
| Endgame | War Plans + Hatred's Crucible (new) | Atlas of Worlds (deep, undergoing rework) |
| Skill system | Skill tree (just overhauled) | Gem socketing + huge passive tree |
| Trading | Limited | Full economy, deep currency systems |
| Difficulty curve | Gentle ramp, accessible | Steep, punishing without research |
| Time to enjoyment | 30 min — combat feels great immediately | 10-20 hours — campaign is excellent, endgame is the hook |
| Player count signal | Massive on console, healthy on PC | Strong PC base, growing console |
What Each Game Is
D4: Lord of Hatred
Diablo IV plus the new Lord of Hatred expansion is the most polished, console-friendly ARPG on the market. Lord of Hatred adds two new classes, the new Skovos region, an overhauled skill tree with 12-point skill maxing, the Horadric Cube for gear manipulation, set bonuses via Charms and Talismans, a long-requested loot filter, and the new War Plans endgame mode that lets you chain five activities with stacking modifiers. It's expensive ($70+$40 minimum) but it respects your time and runs on every modern platform with cross-progression.
Path of Exile 2
Path of Exile 2 is in Early Access since December 2024, currently sitting at four major patches, eight playable classes, and four campaign acts. Patch 0.5.0 (early May 2026) is bringing a major endgame overhaul, fresh league economy, new Ascendancy classes, and potentially new campaign content. The campaign is excellent and fully worth the entry cost — 30 hours of premium ARPG. The endgame is acknowledged as thin and is being actively reworked. Free to play with no real paywall (cosmetics only) makes it a near-zero-risk try.
How to Decide
PICK D4: LORD OF HATRED IF...
- You play primarily on console and want cross-progression
- You have limited gaming time and value polished onboarding
- You want a complete, finished, supported game
- You loved Diablo 3 / hated Diablo 3's loot system (LoH addresses this)
- Friend group is on D4 — multiplayer is hugely better with people you know
PICK PATH OF EXILE 2 IF...
- You want to spend $0 and try before committing anything
- Build complexity is the appeal for you (PoE2's tree is enormous)
- You played PoE 1 for hundreds of hours and trust GGG's design
- You're patient — Early Access means rough endgame for now
- You love trade economies and currency optimization
The Bottom Line
These are not the same game. They share genre but target different player psychologies. D4 + Lord of Hatred is for players who treat ARPGs as something they play. PoE 2 is for players who treat ARPGs as something they study.
The cheap honest play: try Path of Exile 2 first (it's free). If you click with the systems and depth, you have a free-to-play hobby for years. If you bounce off — D4 + Lord of Hatred is the polished, accessible alternative that costs money but respects your time. Both are valid choices in 2026.
Make Your Pick
Whichever way you go, here are the best places to buy:
D4: LORD OF HATRED ON AMAZON Also on eBay → PATH OF EXILE 2 ON AMAZON Also on eBay →As an Amazon Associate and eBay Partner we earn from qualifying purchases.