Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred's Level Cap Change Rumors Explained

Diablo 4 is in arguably the best position it has ever been after the Season 4 update was released to near-universal praise from players. Additionally, there is a ton of hype surrounding Diablo 4‘s upcoming Vessel of Hatred expansion set to release in October alongside the start of Season 6, bringing with it a brand-new storyline, the new region of Nahantu, and the new Spiritborn class. Blizzard recently showcased the Spiritborn class and gave players a glimpse of what the class will bring to Vessel of Hatred, but this showcase may have also revealed that a controversial change is also in the works for characters across the board.

Each Diablo 4 season has made adjustments to gameplay balance for the sake of making it the smoothest experience possible for players, often tweaking individual classes to compensate for potential shortcomings. Season 4: Loot Reborn saw the largest change to the game yet, with a reworked Helltide, improved itemization, and the addition of new mechanics like tempering and masterworking. However, evidence that an even bigger change could be headed to Diablo 4 with the release of Vessel of Hatred has been uncovered through gameplay footage shown by Blizzard and from in-person events content creators got to experience.

Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred’s Release Date Could Put its Classes Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Diablo 4’s upcoming Spiritborn class promises an exciting change of pace, but it could also become a big problem for co-op players.

Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred May Be Lowering the Level Cap From 100 to 60

Based on what has been shown of the Spiritborn class and Vessel of Hatred so far, there is significant evidence that suggests Diablo 4 will be lowering the level cap from its current cap of 100 to 60 when Vessel of Hatred launches. Although Blizzard has yet to officially confirm this change, there are several clues uncovered from early Vessel of Hatred footage suggesting this change is coming that Wowhead has compiled, including:

Paragon Boards appear to unlock at level 60.
Armor now lists maximum reduction requirements at level 60 instead of level 100.
The XP bar no longer includes Paragon point increments.
Levels for unlocking potion upgrades at the Alchemist appear to include 52 and 56.

The biggest giveaway that something is changing with Diablo 4‘s level cap is the apparent new Paragon system that doesn’t unlock until level 60, rather than where it currently does at level 50. It seems like Diablo 4 could be changing the Paragon system to function more like it did in Diablo 3, where it was leveled separately from the standard character level progression. This new system could imply that Diablo 4 is going to have its level cap at 60, where players will then unlock Paragon Boards and gain Paragon points on a separate leveling track.

Another piece of evidence that suggests a new level 60 cap comes from the levels that potion upgrades at the Alchemist unlock. Currently, players can unlock new upgrades past level 50 at levels 60, 70, 80, and 90, but Vessel of Hatred looks to include new upgrade levels at 50, 52, and 56 as the final upgrade level, suggesting the game is trying to compensate for a cap at level 60. To add to this detail, certain pieces of armor shown in the footage list the maximum damage reduction requirements at level 60 when they currently list level 100 in-game.

What a Lower Level Cap Means for Diablo 4 Players

Ultimately, lowering the level cap for Diablo 4 players likely won’t have a major effect on the core gameplay loop, as it’s likely stats on weapons and armor will be squished to accommodate the change. However, it does raise questions regarding how World Tiers, along with Sacred and Ancestral rare items, will function given their dependence on the current level scaling design. A change this drastic seems odd given how positive player reactions to Season 4’s overhaul have been, making it unclear why Blizzard would want to risk upsetting the current state of the game with such a sweeping change.