10 Diablo 4 Storylines Lord of Hatred Could Finally Pay Off

Diablo 4's second expansion, The Lord of Hatred, will see the villain Mephisto finally come into his own and cause havoc in Sanctuary. However, this isn't the only story that's been building in Diablo 4. There have been various teases and hints throughout the base game and first DLC suggesting some other major stories are soon to pay off.

Below, we'll go over the biggest dangling plot threads and the likelihood that they'll be paid off in the new expansion, or will Blizzard keep us waiting another year to see what happens in some? One thing is for sure, when it comes to characters like Diablo, returning is a matter of when, not if.

10 The Angels Finally Arrive

The Eternal Conflict

The angels and forces of Heaven have been conspicuous by their absence in Diablo 4. They went through the wringer in Diablo 3, first having Heaven invaded by Diablo and then having the Angel of Death go on a rampage, so they may still be licking their wounds. But as the Prime Evils continue to grow in power, the angels can’t sit on the fence forever.

Diablo 4 is likely waiting for the right time to reintroduce them, and The Lord of Hatred expansion may be the right time. It’ll be fun to see the Archangel Tyrael again, who’s always been a huge ally to humanity.

9 Lilith’s Redemption

The Daughter of Hatred

We know from Diablo lore that demons can never truly be killed; they’re just sent back to the Void waiting to be reborn. This is likely where Lilith has been since the base game ending of Diablo 4. While Lilith’s methods were… questionable, her intention to stop the Prime Evils once and for all was solid.

Since her father, Mephisto, has caused carnage, the Forces of Light may need her help, and to do something else — admit she was right, or at least find some common ground with their old enemy. The question is, is Lilith prepared to turn over a new leaf and suppress her demonic nature?

8 Civil War in Hell

The Lesser Evils Rebellion

The Lesser Evils are powerful demon lords who aren’t quite as powerful as the three Prime Evils or their offspring, like Lilith. However, they command vast armies and can be a real problem to deal with for humans. Lesser Evils like Andariel and Duriel pledged their loyalty to Lilith in Diablo 4, and her defeat is unlikely to have made them switch camps.

If Mephisto truly does rise to become the most powerful Prime Evil, he’s not only going to have to deal with Diablo and Baal, but several incredibly vengeful Lesser Evils – who’ve defeated and imprisoned him before.

7 The Vampire Wildcard

Will They Pick a Side?

The vampires were the main threat of Diablo 4 Season 2, and their leader, Lord Zir, was killed, effectively ending their influence. However, the vampires are still around, and while they don’t like humanity, they’re also not fans of Diablo and the other Prime Evils. Sure, they want to dominate and slaughter just like demons do, but the rise of Mephisto represents a major threat to them.

The faction hasn’t been important to the lore for a long time, but the expansion could offer a fun reason to check in on them and to see where they stand in this war.

6 The Church Reforms

Paladins and Heretics

The Church of Inarius was never the most reasonable group of people in Sanctuary, and after Inarius was killed, they became even more brutal and zealous. However, their most recent and vicious leader was killed at the end of the first DLC, but now that the Paladins of Sanctuary have returned, could we see the Church become a force for good?

After all, Mephisto has taken over the body and powers of the prophet Akarat, so they have much bigger concerns now than burning heretics. They did well in the battle against Lilith, but it may now be time for some church reforms.

5 Hatred Leads to Destruction

Baal Becomes the Next Big Bad

We’ve all been so focused on Mephisto in Diablo 4 that we’ve failed to remember that his equally nasty brother, Ball, The Lord of Destruction, is also likely waiting in the wings, ready to strike. A Prime Evil, Baal tends to let his brothers do the heavy lifting before he swoops in and tries to steal the glory for himself.

This is exactly what he did in the Diablo 2 expansion, but that was a long time ago. We find it unlikely that Baal is still in the Void after his defeat; the demon king is more likely plotting his return – and so is Blizzard.

4 Lorath Pays His Debts

The Tree of Whispers

The Tree of Whispers is a neutral force in the Diablo series that offers arcane knowledge which can change the course of history. The only problem is it extracts a terrible price – your head, hanging on the tree for all eternity, never dying, with your soul nourishing its roots. It’s a grim fate, but it's one that Lorath made to defeat Lilith.

We’ve already seen the grisly end that awaits those who try to cheat the Tree, and it’s only a matter of time until Lorath has to pay the price for the bargain he made, leaving the protagonist without their biggest ally. The clock is ticking, and the Tree will take what’s owed.

3 The Horadrim Finally Comes Back

An Ancient Order

The Horadrim are an ancient sect that exists to protect humanity against the Prime Evils. They were composed of powerful sorcerers and have scored many victories against Diablo, Baal, and Mephisto over the centuries. The only problem is, they’re nearly all dead. Deckard Cain was the final member of the order, but he died in Diablo 3.

Lorath tried to restore the Horadrim, but his head will soon hang on the Tree of Whispers. However, there are forces within Sanctuary who want to see the order get revived, and with Mephisto on the rampage, humanity needs them more than ever.

2 The Lord of Terror Rises

Diablo’s Inevitable Return

Let’s be honest, these games are called Diablo, so the titular villain needs to return eventually. Lilith predicted Diablo’s return once she was defeated, and a stained-glass window of The Lord of Terror loomed over her as she died. This foreshadowing needs to be paid off eventually.

Of course, Blizzard could keep us waiting another year and not pull the trigger on Diablo’s return until the next expansion, but we’d bet our heads to the Tree of Whispers that the Lord of Hatred DLC does something else to tease the return of Diablo. It is inevitable, and the villain can never be truly killed.

1 The Wanderer is a Nephalem

Ingesting Lilith’s Blood

Diablo 4 started with its protagonist, the Wanderer, ingesting Lilith’s blood and becoming empowered by it rather than controlled. This set them apart from the rest of humanity and created an odd bond between them and the Daughter of Hatred. Not only did the Wanderer have the power to defeat her, but Lilith also took a special interest in them and tried to recruit them to her cause.

We predict that, like the protagonists of Diablo 3, the Wanderer is a Nephalem, a human hybrid of angels and demons, essentially making Lilith their mother. You see, Lilith hates the Prime Evils and the angels for killing her original Nephalem children, so seeing one return is likely to trigger her maternal side and cause her to question her crusade. We suspect this story will finally be paid off in the Lord of Hatred expansion in a satisfying way.