Diablo IV preorders are live — Paladin unlocked now, but there’s a catch

Why this matters to Diablo players right now

This caught my attention because Blizzard is bundling narrative tie‑ins and instant gameplay access in a way that will split the community: preorder the Lord of Hatred expansion and you get the new Paladin class immediately, while a licensed prequel novel drops a week before the expansion to spoon‑feed story beats. That’s neat for lore fans – and convenient if you want to play Paladin today – but it also raises the usual questions about gating content behind purchases and deluxe editions built for whales.

• Key takeaway: Preordering any Lord of Hatred edition grants instant Paladin access in the base game; the expansion and a new novel expand the story of Mephisto and the Skovos Isles in April 2026.
• Value check: Standard expansion gives the core content and Paladin; Deluxe/Ultimate stack cosmetics, platinum, and mounts that only matter if you care about shortcuts or vanity items.
• Practical tip: Buy on PC via Battle.net or Steam for fastest patches and cross‑play convenience; consoles get the same unlocks but watch for version parity.

Breaking down the two sell points: book and expansion

Blizzard and Random House Worlds are pushing two linked products: The Lost Horadrim, a prequel novel by Matthew J. Kirby due April 21, 2026, and the Lord of Hatred expansion on April 28, 2026. The novel is meant to prime players for Skovos Isles and Mephisto’s role; it’s available for preorder in paperback, ebook and Audible. If you care about lore or want the narrative breadcrumbs before launch, the book is worth the $30 preorder price. If you don’t, it’s optional – but it’ll be a quick way to be spoiled for any story beats that land in the expansion.

How to actually get the Paladin (fast, no fluff)

Prepurchase any Lord of Hatred edition on Battle.net, Steam, PSN or Xbox Store and the Paladin becomes playable immediately in your installed base Diablo IV. Steps are straightforward: buy the edition, restart the client if needed, then go to the Classes menu and create a Paladin test character. Expect a small download/patch and then you can test core Paladin skills like Zeal and Holy Bolt right away. This is Blizzard’s way of giving preorder buyers a playable perk now instead of waiting until April.

Edition value: what’s worth your money and what’s pure upsell

The Standard edition is the straightforward buy: it gives the expansion and the instant Paladin and should be enough for most players who want the new campaign and endgame. Deluxe and Ultimate pile on cosmetics, mounts and in‑game currency. Those extras are harmless if you enjoy vanity content, but they don’t materially change the gameplay — Platinum and instant character slots mostly speed up progression or enable collecting. Call it what it is: the Ultimate is a whale package. If you’re new, the Age of Hatred bundle that includes base game + expansions can be the clearest value.

Context and why now

Blizzard’s combining a transmedia push (novel) with immediate in‑game gratification (Paladin) because attention windows are shorter than ever. Releasing the book a week early creates narrative momentum heading into April, while the Paladin unlock acts as a direct incentive to pre‑purchase — it’s familiar territory for AAA live‑service titles. For players wary of monetization creep, this is another moment to decide if you want to pay for convenience and cosmetics or stick to the core experience.

What gamers should do right now

• If you want Paladin now: prebuy Standard on your platform of choice (Battle.net/Steam recommended for fastest updates).
• If you care about lore: preorder The Lost Horadrim (paperback/eBook/Audible) to read spoilers ahead of launch.
• If you’re budget conscious: skip Deluxe/Ultimate unless you’re buying Platinum or cosmetics on purpose.
• Watch for early client patches after purchase if the Paladin doesn’t appear — a restart usually fixes it.

TL;DR

Preorders are live: the novel drops April 21, 2026 and Lord of Hatred on April 28. Buying the expansion now gets you the Paladin immediately, which is a legit perk if you want to test a new class early. The book is a nice tie‑in if you care about story. Just be mindful — Deluxe/Ultimate editions are mostly cosmetics and currency, not gameplay necessities.