Diablo 4 "Lord of Hatred" Leaks Point to New Warlock Class and Vizjerei Connection

Fresh leaks from the Diablo IV Public Test Realm (PTR) may have just spoiled the second class coming in the Lord of Hatred expansion. While Blizzard has previously teased the return of a holy warrior archetype (widely believed to be the Paladin), new high-resolution images and datamined files suggest a darker counterpart is joining the roster: the Warlock.

The Leaked Image

According to some PTR players, a promotional screen for the Lord of Hatred expansion briefly appeared for some players on the Season 12 PTR. This screen reportedly featured a high-quality image of the previously revealed Paladin standing next to a mysterious new figure.

This second character is described as a "dark spellcaster" surrounded by red and black magic effects—distinctly different from the purple hues seen in earlier, lower-quality leaks. Notably, the character is depicted wielding a massive, red two-handed sword, leading to speculation that this class could be a "frontline caster" or battle-mage hybrid rather than a traditional backline summoner.

Datamined Evidence: "Warlock"

Supporting the visual evidence, dataminers have reportedly found text strings within the Season 12 PTR files that explicitly name the class. One file path is cited as: DUI_expansion 2_info page_1 warlock

This discovery aligns with long-standing community theories that the expansion would introduce one "Light" class (Paladin) and one "Dark" class (Warlock) to balance the thematic scales.

Lore Connections: The Vizjerei Clan

The leaks also hint at a deep lore connection. Files referencing the Vizjerei have been spotted. In Diablo lore, the Vizjerei are one of the oldest and most controversial mage clans, infamous for their obsession with summoning spirits and inadvertently summoning a demon. The clans then fractured over arguments on whether they should serve or subdue the demons.

This backstory fits perfectly with the "Warlock" archetype. The video theorizes that unlike the Necromancer, who raises the dead, the Warlock might focus on enslaving living demons, siphoning their power, or wielding their essence as weapons—explaining the massive demonic sword seen in the artwork.

Will We See A Reveal Before Launch?

Blizzard has several events planned as we head towards the launch of the newest expansion in April, including some very special events for Diablo's anniversary. Perhaps the devs will have something special in mind for us, or maybe they will keep the secret all the way up to launch. Only time will tell, so stayed tuned.