Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred - Skovos and the End of the Hatred Saga
20.02.2026 - 12:09:09
Diablo 4 , Game Guides
When Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred drops in April this year, you will play in a new region called the Skovos Isles. This new area has been home to the first Nephalem, and it also happens to be the birthplace of both Inarius and Lilith. Something tells me that both of the aforementioned figures are key to destroying Mephisto, so it will come as no surprise if either Lilith or Inarius is brought back to life as part of the expansion’s campaign.
Today’s topic revolves around the Skovos Region in Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred. If you want to know what Blizzard has teased about this new playable area thus far, then come and join me!
The Story So Far
Before I go over the new Skovos Region in Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred, let’s talk about what has happened in the story of the game so far. At the conclusion of the Vessel of Hatred expansion, Neyrelle failed miserably to contain Mephisto’s soulstone. It is the Lord of Hatred’s malevolent soul that’s contained in the soulstone after all.
Mephisto was able to manipulate Eru by threatening to destroy Nahantu. Seemingly being left with no choice, Eru betrayed the group and stole the Soulstone from Neyrelle. From that point, Mephisto corrupted Akarat and rose as a corrupted prophet as a result. Who knows what horrors Mephisto has in store for you once the Lord of Hatred Expansion arrives on April 28!
New Region: Skovos Isles
The upcoming expansion for Diablo 4 is the fitting end of the Hatred Saga, which began with the base game almost three years ago. Your hunt of Mephisto brings you to the Skovos Isles—the original home of the Nephalem, and is the birthplace of the legacy of Lilith and Inarius. This place is now being governed by the Oracles and Amazons, the latter of which is a playable class in Diablo II.
Anyway, there are several islands in the Skovos Region that you can explore. These are:
- Temis
- Philios
- Lycander
- Skartara
- Celestia
- Atanos
- Athulua
As you can see by looking at the map, the Skovos Isles are actually quite huge. You can expect to find storm-lashed jungles in the East, volcanic coasts on the West, and sunken ruins in the central portion of the region.
Venturing into the Skovos Region is not for the faint of heart, as the enemies that you will face there are formidable, to say the least. Blizzard actually teased some of the monsters found in the region, which you can see in the image below:
D4 Lord of Hatred: Temis—Your New Endgame Hub
Temis is the capital of the Skovos Isles, and it acts as the central hub during the Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred campaign. Here, you will take on quests and gain new information as to the whereabouts and schemes that Mephisto cooked up for Sanctuary.
The capital city is being ruled by the Oracle and Amazon queens. It is quite possible that they will give you quests and probably aid you in the fight against the Lord of Hatred himself.
What’s amazing about Temis is that it is full of lore that is quite interesting, to say the least. Not only will you find out more about Lilith and Inarius, but there is information pertaining to the Prime Evils as well.
According to Brent Gibson, Game Director for Diablo 4, Temis has been crafted to be an ideal hub for all endgame activities. Gibson added that all of the things that you will need are contained in one specific area of the capital city, so you don’t have to waste time venturing far to salvage some of your best D4 items, for example.
It was also revealed that the Horadric Cube, which was a very popular item in the previous Diablo games, is put front and center when you obtain it in the Lord of Hatred expansion. Hopefully, the quest to get the Horadric Cube won’t be difficult.
The Final Confrontation—End of the Three-Part Arc
As previously mentioned, Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred is going to conclude the three-part story arc that began in the base game. As a refresher, you (the wanderer) were force-fed with the blood of Lilith. You became a central part of the story and facilitated the rebirth of Lilith.
Lilith had a mission: she wanted to eliminate Mephisto so that the Lord of Hatred would not be a hindrance to her plans for Sanctuary. Being a Prime Evil himself, Mephisto did not allow that to happen, so even if his soul was contained in the soulstone, he manifested himself as a spectral wolf that appears in key points during the campaign, trying to convince you that you have a common enemy.
After defeating Lilith, Neyrelle took the soulstone and sailed off to Nahantu. Neyrelle hoped to find information on how to permanently seal Mephisto’s soul through ancient rituals. Of course, you do not want Neyrelle to do that on her own, so you went to Nahantu, but were ambushed by Urivar and his forces.
Eru, the Spiritborn leader, found your lifeless body and revived you. During the entire Vessel of Hatred campaign, he took you under his wing. This is why Eru’s betrayal stings like Hell because you and I thought that he was a good person. I guess he was, given that he had to sacrifice your friendship in order to save Nahantu from Mephisto’s influence.
At the end of Vessel of Hatred, Mephisto took on the form of the Prophet Akarat, setting the stage for the Lord of Hatred expansion.
While inside the body of the Prophet Akarat, his influence was so strong that his hatred leaked out and affected Sanctuary. Shortly after, Mephisto goes to Skovos, fooling the desperate citizens and then turning them into fanatics. He then turns his attention toward the Pools of Creation. If he’s successful in reaching that place, his resurrection will be complete, allowing him to don his terrifying form once again.
Many believe that Lilith is going to be a central figure in the campaign. This is because she had plans to defeat her father for good when she was alive, so she becomes an unwilling ally that you must come to terms with if you are to eliminate Mephisto once and for all.
Here is the entire Hatred Saga for Diablo 4 in a nutshell:
| Phase | Key Plot | Story Implications |
|---|---|---|
| Base Game |
| Sets the stage for the Vessel of Hatred expansion |
| Vessel of Hatred |
|
|
| Lord of Hatred |
|
|
FAQ
What is Skovos, and Why Is It Important?
The Skovos Isles are the home to the first Nephalem, and is currently being ruled by the Oracles and the Amazons. Mephisto sets his eyes on the Pools of Creation—an important place that is found in this region as well.
How Does Temis Function as the Endgame Hub?
Temis is the capital city of Skovos. Full of marble and teeming with life, Temis is your main base of operations in Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred, which consists of everything you need—from the Blacksmith to the Horadric Cube.
Is Prior Knowledge of the Vessel of Hatred Expansion Required?
Yes. Vessel of Hatred shows you why Mephisto is close to resurrecting himself. Fortunately, the said expansion is free of charge when you get Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred.