Comparing Seasons and Expansions in Diablo 4: Do You Need to Create a New Character?

Comparing Seasons and Expansions in Diablo 4: Do You Need to Create a New Character?

With the arrival of Season 4 in Diablo 4, newcomers to the franchise may be curious about the mechanics and whether they should create a new character.

Despite spending countless hours reaching the endgame and fine-tuning your build in Diablo 4, being required to start over to participate in seasonal activities may be disappointing for some players. However, this is not a new concept and has been implemented since the release of Diablo 2. While it may be understandable, it is not a simple matter.

Despite some concerns about needing to start a new character to continue the story, there are actually many advantages to creating a new character in Diablo 4. Additionally, we will clarify the distinctions between seasons and expansions/DLC in the game below. The game is not all doom and gloom, as there are plenty of benefits to be found.

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lilith in Diablo 4
Blizzard Entertainment

Lilith will still be a factor in Diablo 4 Season 4.

Do I Need to Start a New Character in Season 4?

To participate in Season 4, you will need to create a new character in Diablo 4. These characters are referred to as Seasonal Characters and they may have additional advantages compared to regular characters, depending on the specific season and its challenges.

After a season ends, your character does not disappear. They simply become regular characters in the ‘Eternal Realm’ and retain all the rewards and upgrades earned during the active season. This means that if you intend on playing as a different class in Season 4, each new season provides a great opportunity to do so.

If you initially played with the formidable Sorcerer at the game’s release, but now desire a more brute-force style, consider trying out the Barbarian. Alternatively, if you are interested in experiencing the control of a group of undead followers, give the Necromancer a chance. Seasons provide an excellent opportunity to explore a different class and venture into uncharted territory, with engaging and thrilling challenges that will allow you to reach the endgame swiftly.

If you have already completed the campaign and do not wish to do it again, you have the option to skip it when starting a new character in Season 3 and immediately access the endgame and seasonal content.

It is important to note that even with the option to skip, you will still need to level up your character to reach endgame levels, which range from 40 to 50. Additionally, you will not be able to reap the benefits of the campaign rewards. However, utilizing the skip feature will greatly reduce the amount of time spent progressing through the game. It should also be noted that this feature can only be unlocked after completing the main campaign at least once.

The Angel Inarius Diablo 4
Blizzard Entertainment

Diablo 4 Season 4 will let you skip the campaign – if you’ve already completed it in an earlier run.

How Seasons Function in Diablo 4

In Diablo 4, seasons do not function as story or campaign expansions. Instead, they provide additional activities that allow players to further develop their character, whether in endgame content or by introducing new elements to the main campaign. These seasons often coincide with the release of a new Battle Pass, cosmetic items, gameplay tweaks, and new bosses to challenge.

Each season contains its own standalone story, which is seamlessly integrated into the Seasonal Journey. However, these quests can be seen as additional side quests, modified by the other tasks that make up the Seasonal Journey.

The gimmicks introduced in each season are completely optional and some may be carried over to the main game, reappear in future seasons, or be removed entirely once the season ends. This cycle will continue at the beginning of the next season. However, those anticipating the continuation of the Diablo 4 story in Season 4 will be disappointed as that is not the purpose of seasons, but rather expansions.

What are expansions in Diablo 4?

Similar to Diablo 1, 2, and 3, Diablo 4 is anticipated to have expansions. These expansions will not only advance the storyline, but they will also most likely introduce new regions to discover, more formidable enemies to defeat, and new or returning character classes. Unlike seasons, expansion packs will not require you to create a new character; instead, you will be able to utilize your existing characters, whether they are seasonal or not.

The narrative of Diablo’s defeat was further developed in the expansion, centering on his brother Baal as the primary villain. Additionally, the expansion brought forth two new playable classes, the Assassin and Druid, available in all five Acts and the seasonal Ladders mode.

Following the main story’s conclusion, Diablo 3 released its primary expansion known as Reaper of Souls. Similar to the previous expansion, it introduced a fifth Act and a fresh adversary to combat. Additionally, the game saw the release of various DLCs, including the Crusader and Necromancer character classes, while seasons continued to run parallel to these updates.

We anticipate that Diablo 4 will follow a similar pattern, and players should recognize the distinction between seasons and expansions in the game. While these are distinct entities, they will also complement each other. It can be expected that every season following an expansion will incorporate its features in future releases.

The primary villain in the initial expansion of Diablo 4 will be Mephisto, titled Vessel of Hatred.

In a review of Diablo 4, the best methods for earning money and quickly leveling up are discussed along with a guide on how to Transmog gear, including armor and weapons, in the game.

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