Unveiling Diablo 4's Sinister New Addition: Unveiling the True Underlying Crisis in Sanctuary

Highlights

After defeating Lilith, the Season of the Malignant in Diablo 4 seems to have a disconnect from the main plot. This leaves players dealing with a new corruption without addressing the intriguing finale.

Neyrelle's disappearance and her journey with Mephisto's soulstone do not concern the protagonist in Season of the Malignant, despite the potential danger she poses.

Instead of being focused on the corruption in Sanctuary, players should be prioritizing the much greater danger posed by the soulstone containing Mephisto. Future seasons should explore this storyline further. Diablo 4's first season introduced new gameplay mechanics, but their inclusion feels somewhat out of place. The Season of the Malignant introduces a new form of corruption called Malignant, which appears to be spreading throughout the world. Players must once again combat evil to protect Sanctuary, but the conclusion of the main campaign in Diablo 4 suggests that there is an even more significant threat that players should be paying attention to.

Diablo 4 Has Bigger Fish to Fry

The Season of the Malignant apparently diverges from the aftermath of defeating Lilith and ventures into an unrelated narrative. Instead of pursuing Neyrelle across the world as they should have, players find themselves temporarily detouring to address a previously unmentioned threat. This choice seems peculiar considering the captivating conclusion of the previous season, and it is hoped that future seasons will refocus the plot on the crucial elements.

Prior to their victory over Lilith, players are startled as one of their most trusted allies thrusts a soulstone into Mephisto. In light of Lilith's relentless pursuit of Mephisto's power, Neyrelle and the player discern that this is the most prudent move. By doing so, they effectively seclude him from Lilith's clutches and expedite his safe passage.

In Diablo 4's epilogue, Neyrelle embarks on a new journey accompanied by Mephisto's soulstone. Her destination and intentions remain unknown, leaving players uncertain of her true nature. Some suspect she has succumbed to corruption, while others question how well they truly knew her. Regardless, Neyrelle poses a significant threat to Sanctuary.

In the Season of the Malignant, set after the main game, Neyrelle's absence does not occupy the protagonist's thoughts. Instead, the player's focus revolves around a new form of corruption. Neyrelle ventures on her own path, her actions influenced by the imprisoned Lord of Hatred within the soulstone. However, players are more preoccupied with the presence of infected pods and the proliferation of Malignant monsters.

Neyrelle is being pursued by both heavenly and hellish forces due to her possession of a soulstone containing a Prime Evil. This soulstone has the potential to unleash Mephisto, allowing individuals to make deals with him or harness his power for their own purposes. It is crucial for players to locate Neyrelle and protect her from these threats. While the Malignant may be causing corruption in Sanctuary, the soulstone poses an even greater danger to the world.

Although Blizzard may reserve this story for a future Diablo 4 DLC, references to the main story should be included in future seasons. While completing the campaign is a prerequisite for accessing seasonal content, background knowledge is not essential for the Season of the Malignant. It seems strange to compel players to play through the story, leave them on a major cliffhanger, and then refrain from expanding upon it in the game's initial major content update. The studio does not need to immediately resolve this arc for players, but it should incorporate elements of the story into the game's seasonal content.

Diablo 4 is available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.