Diablo IV · RPG
Diablo IV Seasonal or Eternal: choose the character path before starting again
Choose Seasonal for the fresh character progression and seasonal rewards you want to pursue; choose Eternal when you want to continue an existing Eternal character. Blizzard's Lord of Hatred guidance separates that choice from expansion ownership. Selecting a realm does not itself grant a paid campaign.
Reviewed 2026-10-15 · Realm and campaign choices in Blizzard's Lord of Hatred guidance; individual season features can change
Start with the character you intend to play
Blizzard describes Seasonal as a fresh start and Eternal as persistent progression with existing characters. Inspect the selected character's realm before planning a session with friends. Decide whether you want a new progression run or to continue that character's existing journey.
Identify the reason for the fresh run
The current expansion guidance associates Seasonal with structured seasonal progression and earnable seasonal rewards. Read the current season's features before creating a new character merely because a new campaign was released. For example, a player who primarily wants to continue an established Eternal character can assess that route instead of treating a seasonal reroll as the only campaign entry.
Check campaign entitlement and starting point separately
The same publisher guidance says the Lord of Hatred campaign requires its expansion and offers starting choices according to campaign progress. Check the campaign you own and the starting options your character actually has. Realm selection, campaign ownership and the available skip option are distinct checks; changing one does not establish that the other two are satisfied.
When your plan breaks
| What happens | What to change |
|---|---|
| I want to continue an existing character | Check its realm and the Eternal continuation route before assuming a new seasonal character is required. |
| The expansion campaign is unavailable after choosing a realm | Inspect expansion entitlement and the current campaign starting options separately. |
| An older seasonal guide lists different systems | Compare it with the current season and expansion guidance before applying its reward or carryover rules. |
Quick answers
What should friends agree on before starting?
The characters and realm they intend to use, then the campaign or seasonal activity they want to play.
Does this guide promise every old seasonal feature carries over?
No. Check the specific feature's current rules; the realm choice alone does not answer that question.
Sources & version notes
Realm purposes and campaign entry were reviewed against Blizzard's Lord of Hatred preparation guide. The existing-character example is illustrative; no account purchase or character creation was performed.
- Blizzard — Prepare for the Reckoning: Lord of Hatred ↗
Seasonal versus Eternal, campaign entitlement and starting or skipping campaign content.