Returning characters in long-running game series are always a fun treat for players, especially veterans who’ve played the older games. With the announcement of Diablo 4’s first official expansion pack dropping late next year, we got a glimpse of what was to come at BlizzCon. While a lot has not yet been confirmed, we know that there is one returning character in Diablo 4, and that’s going to be Mephisto. Let’s take a look at who Mephisto is and how his return impacts the game.
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Mephisto Is the Returning Character in Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred
The news of Mephisto being a returning character in Diablo 4 definitely ties into the expansion pack’s name, Vessel of Hatred. If you’re wondering what role he’s going to play in the downloadable content, it’s probably going to be something evil he’s been plotting while he was away. That is why players must band together and get ready for the next stage in Diablo 4’s plot.
Another interesting bit of knowledge found by data miners was that not only are we getting a returning character in Diablo 4, rather players will be taken back to a nostalgic place, the jungle-covered city called Kurast. Kurast was the place Mephisto previously resided in, tormenting the residing Witch Doctors there. Finding him there again might be a nice surprise for Diablo 2 players.
This also hints slightly at the new class being Witch Doctors, as it would tie in perfectly with the entire theme of the expansion pack. Since the Witch Doctors won’t be too happy about the Lord of Hatred’s return, we should definitely expect some resistance against Mephisto and maybe some assistance for the heroes travelling there. However, none of this has officially been confirmed by Blizzard yet, so keep that in mind.
Who Is Mephisto in Diablo 4?
For those of you who played Diablo 2, you might remember Mephisto as the cunning and devious Lord of Hatred. Being the eldest Primal Evil, Mephisto had always strived for power and aimed to gain control of the High Heavens and the Sanctuary alongside his brothers.
As the name states, the new expansion pack for Diablo 4 will be featuring him as the main antagonist and following up on his storyline. The Lord of Hatred will be the first returning character in Diablo 4 of whom we know so far. While we might see glimpses of his brethren, Baal and Diablo, as well, the expansion pack is bound to give him a lot more screen time as compared to before.
Some backstory on Mephisto reveals that he is closely related to the main antagonist in Diablo 4’s main game. Lilith, the villain of Diablo 4, is actually Mephisto’s daughter, whom he had banished from the Burning Hells when she sided with the angel Inarius. After the angel’s release, Mephisto banished Lilith, who proceeded to create the Sanctuary alongside Inarius to escape the conflict between Heaven and Hell. This was also supposed to be a place where their children could live peacefully, but the demonic lords had other plans.
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Return of the Mercenary System
Another small sneak peek we’ve received from data miners is that Blizzard might also be bringing back the mercenary system from Diablo 2 and 3. This will be in addition to the returning characters in Diablo 4 and might be implemented to help you in your fight against Mephisto.
This would definitely help players with class diversity issues like having no ranged damage with a melee character. Diablo 3 actually introduced three allies per player to help them in their conquests. These characters could easily be switched out as needed to help you progress quickly.
Just like the return of Kursat, the news of the mercenary system isn’t confirmed either since these are all just data mined. However, we can be sure of the returning characters in Diablo 4 since they were confirmed at BlizzCon.
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Concluding Remarks
Bringing back old characters from prior games is like a blast from the past. If executed well, it can really enhance the gameplay and help add to the character’s storyline. It is yet to be seen how Blizzard incorporates Mephisto into the Vessel of Hatred expansion pack, but it is safe to assume that this returning character in Diablo 4 is set to leave its mark.