Blizzard Entertainment introduced Vessel of Hatred, the first expansion of Diablo IV which continues where the game left off and brings you, the Wanderer into Nahantu.
The expansion not only expands the world of Sanctuary and the game’s story, but it also introduces a new class – the Spiritborn. It draws its powers from the spirit realm, specifically from spirit animals to deal with the threat and dangers of the new region.
I’ve tried out the new class with zero expectations but I thoroughly enjoyed and still am enjoying my journey in Nahantu as the Spiritborn. Here are five reasons why I think you should at least try it out once.
Before we get to it though, we took a peek into the lore of Diablo IV and the new expansion Vessel of Hatred. You can read that here.
Is Spiritborn Worth Trying Out in Diablo IV Vessel of Hatred?
1. Just One of the Locals
The first thing that caught my eye was the design of Spiritborn. The trailer revealed a jungle-native warrior that draws on the powers of the jungle animal spirits with flashy-looking abilities.
Now, I’m probably among the last people to be drawn to flashy abilities, but the Spiritborn had a certain charm. It looked like the character was just meant to be in Nahantu: the aesthetic, the combat style, the combat, and the overall design.
The class-specific markings/tattoos looked cool, especially the Jaguar and Eagle-inspired markings. But more importantly, the overall look of the class gives a Wakanda or Amazon warrior vibe which is just perfect.
What better way to experience the new region of Nahantu than through the eyes of a native? Sure, the Wanderer is still foreign to Nahantu, but at least with at least one playthrough, you can look like you belong with everyone else in the story.
2. Offering a New Perspective
Diablo IV, unfortunately, doesn’t have unique dialogue for the classes but I think the story of the Vessel of Hatred hits differently as a Spiritborn.
I felt like Eru and Mara early on were giving glimpses of what the class is all about outside of combat as they are Spiritborn themselves and have been for a while. It felt like running through the story for the first time as the new class was like going on an internship as a Spiritborn and I enjoyed every minute of it.
There was definitely a sense of, “Ooh, we Spiritborn do that when we’re not out trying to destroy the Evils.” despite knowing that the game would never put you behind the scenes.
3. Be One with the Spirits
Looking the part is one thing but playing the part makes it even better. The design and animations of the Spiritborn just fit the Nahantu vibe.
Your weapons are limited to two-handed weapons specifically Polearms, Glaives, and Quarterstaffs. I didn’t mind this because watching my character do flips while holding the weapon in one hand never got tiring.
Moreover, the kit you build from draws power from four animal spirits of the forest namely – the Wumba, The Gorilla; Rezoka, The Jaguar; Kwatli, The Eagle. and Balazan, The Centipede.
The animations really make it look like you call on these specific spirits to aid you in vanquishing your foes which in itself is pretty awesome
4. Flexing the Spirits
Prior to the Vessel of Hatred expansion of Diablo IV, I’ve only really played the Sorcerer which was fun in its own right especially picking among lightning, fire, and cold damage spells.
However, the diversity of the builds of the Spiritborn felt drastically different compared to the options that the Sorcerer had.
The Spiritborn’s abilities are based on four Spirit Guardians which have their own playstyle and damage type:
- Gorilla – tank and thorn/physical damage
- Jaguar – aggressive and fire damage
- Eagle – mobility-focused and lightning damage
- Centipede – damage over time and poison damage
Being able to mix and match among the different play styles is so interesting and makes it a very dynamic class. In my case, I went for a mix between Eagle and Centipede with Gorilla for a defensive.
I can’t forget the Spirit Hall either that allows you to choose a primary and a secondary to further aid and strengthen your chosen build. Each spirit’s primary bonus is different from the secondary bonus, adding yet another layer of customization.
I, generally, avoid melee classes, especially ones that rely on bursting down enemies or else they get themselves demolished. But my build mix of damage, mobility, and bit of tankiness is just fun for me. Yes, despite all the deaths I’ve had so far.
5. Which Doctor? The Witch Doctor! Or the Closest Class to It at Least
As someone with an affinity for poison-damage-based characters, one of my favorites to come out of the Diablo franchise was Diablo III’s Witch Doctor. It was the first character that felt like it had poison damage (and summoning) as its main themes and not just one of the possible builds (like the Necromancer, which I think is more of a summoner).
I was sad not to see it come back for Diablo IV but I think the introduction of the Spiritborn was a good enough addition for me. It wasn’t just to tick a box of having a poison-damage dealer either, as it fits the Nahantu-jungle themes of the Spiritborn.
Do I wish to see the Witch Doctor? Of course I would, but Spiritborn very much satisfies my love for dealing damage and watching enemies slowly tick down as you deal with even more
If you want a full review of Diablo IV Vessel of Hatred, you can read the full review of OneMoreGame here.
I also started streaming my journey while playing Diablo IV Vessel of Hatred on my own Twitch channel here. I haven’t quite gotten a schedule down, but I’m looking to fully complete the main story and do post-story content as well.
Ram found his love and appreciation for writing in 2015 having started in the gaming and esports sphere for GG Network. He would then transition to focus more on the world of tech which has also began his journey into learning more about this world. That said though, he still has the mentality of "as long as it works" for his personal gadgets.
