Highlights

  • Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred will introduce new features like mercenaries, the Spiritborn class, and a new campaign following Neyrelle's journey.
  • The expansion may bring back two Legendary items from Diablo 3, Akarat's Awakening and Relic of Akarat, as new Uniques.
  • Changes may be needed to rework these items for Diablo 4's different classes and mechanics, but their inclusion seems appropriate.

The latest details revealed about Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred gives fans a lot to get excited about, as the expansion is set to add new features like mercenaries, the brand-new Spiritborn class, and a new campaign following Neyrelle's journey through the region of Nahantu. From what was shown in the trailer, it appears as though Neyrelle is traveling to Nahantu in search of the tomb of Akarat, a legendary figure within Diablo's lore. While not much is known about how this character could factor into the plot of Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred, an emphasis on Akarat could warrant the return of two Legendary items from Diablo 3.

Although Blizzard hasn't confirmed that Vessel of Hatred will feature new gear, it seems likely given that each season of Diablo 4 has introduced a handful of new Unique pieces of gear. Additionally, Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred is confirmed to be adding other new gameplay elements like new skills for established classes, new Paragon Boards and Legendary Glyphs, and new dungeon types, so it would follow that new types of gear would be added as well. If new gear does make its way into Vessel of Hatred, then two Diablo 3 Legendaries named after Akarat himself seem like obvious choices.

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Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred Could Bring Back Two Diablo 3 Legendaries as New Uniques

Legendary pieces of gear in Diablo 3 function somewhat differently than those in Diablo 4. This quality in Diablo 3 is more akin to Diablo 4's Unique quality, making them the rarest level of item that players can find. As such, two Legendary items from Diablo 3, Akarat's Awakening and Relic of Akarat, would make perfect additions to Diablo 4's pool of Uniques with a few reworks.

Akarat's Awakening and Relic of Akarat Seem Like Ideal Candidates for Vessel of Hatred Uniques

In Diablo 3, these Legendaries bear the following affixes:

  • Relic of Akarat
    • Equip on Follower: Gain access to all skills
    • +5 Random Magic Properties

  • Akarat's Awakening
    • +10.0 - 20.0% Chance to Block
    • [17000 - 19000]–[21000 - 25000] Block Amount
    • +11% Chance to Block
    • Every successful block has a 20% - 25% chance to reduce all cooldowns by 1 second.
    • +626 - 750 Strength
    • +3 Random Magic Properties

Akarat's Awakening

Akarat's Awakening is a shield only for use by Diablo 3's Crusader class, which doesn't exist in Diablo 4. As such, it would likely need to be reworked slightly for the Necromancer class — the only class in Diablo 4 that can use shields. To this end, many of the Block-increasing effects could stay, but giving Akarat's Awakening a Unique affix that benefits the Necromancer's skill tree would be necessary for it to be included in Vessel of Hatred.

Relic of Akarat

Similarly, the Relic of Akarat would need to be reworked as well since it is a Templar Relic for use by Diablo 3's Kormac the Templar follower. Since Diablo 4 doesn't currently feature followers, the Relic of Akarat would likely have to be reworked into a Unique accessory like an Amulet or Ring. Alternatively, the addition of recruitable mercenaries coming in Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred could be the perfect excuse to re-introduce relics to the series as equipable gear by these mercenaries, with the Relic of Akarat being the game's first Unique version of this gear type.

The difference between how skills and stats work in Diablo 3 and Diablo 4 would likely mean these items would take on a completely new form if added to Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred. However, there is precedent for Diablo 4 to include Unique and Legendary gear from past games, and the presence of Akarat as an important figure in the Vessel of Hatred expansion makes the inclusion of these reworked pieces of gear seem like an appropriate addition.