Diablo 4 Seasons vs. Expansions explained: Do you need to start a new character?

Season 7 of Diablo 4 is upon us and if you’re new to the franchise you might be wondering exactly how things work, particularly if you need to start a new character or not. Here’s everything you need to know about Seasons in the game and the differences between Diablo seasons and expansions.

After spending many hours reaching the endgame and perfecting your build in Diablo 4, only then to be told you’ll need to start again to take part in seasonal content may come as a bit of a slap in the face to some players. This is understandable, but in truth, it’s not that simple, and it’s a system that has been in place since Diablo 2.

It’s not all doom and gloom either, there are plenty of advantages to starting a new character in Diablo 4. Below, we’ll also explain the difference between seasons and expansions/DLC in the game, as some fans are concerned that they’ll need to start a new character to continue the story.

Do I need to start a new character in Season 7?

Yes, you will need to start a new character in Diablo 4 to take part in Season 7. These are known as Seasonal Characters and they arguably have more opportunities than regular characters, depending on the season and what it entails.

Once a season ends, you don’t lose your character. They just become regular characters in the Eternal Realm, but they get to keep all the rewards and upgrades you unlocked while the season was active. So, if you’re already planning on playing as another class in Season 7, then each subsequent season represents the perfect opportunity to do so.

If you played through the game at launch with the powerful Sorcerer, but now fancy a more hack-and-slash approach, why not try the Barbarian? Or if you’re curious about what it’s like to field a squad of undead minions, give the Necromancer a try. Seasons are a great chance to check out a new class and try something new, and you’ll be able to reach endgame relatively quickly by engaging in new and exciting challenges.

Remember, if you’ve played through the campaign and don’t fancy doing so again, you can always skip this when starting a new character in Season 7 and jump straight into the endgame and seasonal content.

Just be aware that you’ll still need to build up your character to endgame levels (40 to 50) and won’t be able to take advantage of the rewards the campaign offers, but you’ll save yourself a ton of time. It’s important to point out that you’ll need to have beaten the main campaign at least once to unlock the skip feature.

How seasons work in Diablo 4

Seasons in Diablo 4 represent a fun new way to build your character. They tend to come alongside a new Battle Pass, some new cosmetic items, some novel gameplay adjustments, and some new bosses to slay.

However, most seasons do have their own short, self-contained story that’s interwoven into the Seasonal Journey. These quests though are essentially just new side quests, as well as the other tasks that comprise the Seasonal Journey.

They are also completely optional and once a season is over, some of its various gimmicks will either be carried over to the main game, return in later seasons, or disappear completely. This process will repeat at the start of the next season.

However, as of Season 5 added a new set of story missions to the Eternal Realm based on the content from that season. However, this may not be the case in Season 7.

What are expansions in Diablo 4?

Diablo 4’s first major expansion was Vessel of Hatred. This not only continued the main story, but it also offered new areas to explore, provided more quests and endgame content, as well as a new character class.

Unlike seasons, expansions won’t force you to start a new character, instead, you’ll be able to use the characters you already have, be they seasonal or not.

For more Diablo 4 content, here’s everything you need to know about whether or not you should skip the campaign, and things you should do before starting the new season.