Diablo 4 Season 15: Preparation & Launch Checklist

Preparing for Diablo 4 Season 15 starts with a few decisions: Which class will you play, which starter build will you use, and how do you want to begin? Check your campaign skip options too, and decide whether to create a new character or use Rebirth.

Check the launch date and update

Season 15 is expected to begin on Tuesday, September 15, 2026. We have not yet been able to verify an official confirmation of the date or exact launch time. A specific preload date has not been confirmed either.

Before launch, check your launcher or console for available updates and make sure you have enough free storage space. Installing a patch does not automatically mean the new season is open.

Find the latest announcements in our Season 15 overview (German).

Choose your class and starter build

Start by choosing a class and playstyle you are looking forward to. For expansion classes, check that you have the required access on your gaming platform.

Next, find a starter build with a matching planner and bookmark it. Look for:

• A workable starting setup: The build should be playable without rare mandatory items.
• Clear skill point allocation: You should be able to see which skills you need first.
• An up-to-date guide: Has it been updated for Season 15, or is it still based on the PTR?

Feel free to pick a favorite now. Check the planner again after the final patch notes before committing to it.

Pick a leveling method if you want one

If you want to get going quickly, choose a general leveling approach beforehand and bookmark a suitable, up-to-date leveling guide. That saves you from switching between several videos and guides at launch.

You do not need to memorize a route. Understanding the opening steps and requirements is enough preparation. If you prefer exploring freely and discovering the new content, you do not need a fixed plan.

For a group start, agree on whether everyone wants to follow the same approach. Detailed routes, XP strategies and difficulty changes belong in the separate leveling guide.

Get familiar with the new seasonal features

Take a quick look at the mechanics you can expect and which ones might matter for your build.

The PTR introduced Soul Splinters, new items and changes to Mythic crafting, among other features. You do not need to memorize their stats. It does help to understand the basic effects and potential drawbacks before building around them.

Our Season 15 overview (German) brings together the information available so far. Check it again after BlizzCon: Blizzard deliberately left some upcoming content out of the PTR. Any unlock requirements and steps that remain unknown can only be planned properly after the final announcements.

Check your campaign skip

If you own Lord of Hatred but have not finished its campaign, completing it is a useful task before the season begins. Finishing it once unlocks the option for other characters to start with the story completed, regardless of realm.

Check your preferred campaign state during character creation. Starting directly with an expansion is not the same as skipping the entire story.

You do not need to earn previously unlocked campaign skips again for Season 15. If you plan to start together, check beforehand that everyone can select the intended starting option.

New character or Rebirth?

Creating a new character requires a free character slot. Check before launch and store any important items safely before deleting an old character if necessary.

Alternatively, Rebirth has been introduced in the Season 15 preview. It lets an Eternal character start the season at level 1 while retaining their class, name and appearance, among other details. Their equipment does not come with them.

These details are still based on the PTR. See our separate Season 15 Rebirth guide (German) for requirements, preparation and the process.

Start together with the community

A Diablo 4 community Discord is useful for asking questions, discussing builds, finding teammates or looking for trading partners. Join before launch so you have time to organize groups and make plans.

Our community Discord is a place to connect with other players and arrange a start together in the new season.

If you want to follow the launch live, visit Chrix1848 on Twitch or YouTube. Start alongside the community, share your first drops and discuss the new content in chat. Follow the channel and enable notifications so you know when the stream goes live.

What you do not need to prepare before Season 15

There is no need to farm gold, materials or items in advance. Supplies from the previous season or the Eternal Realm will not be available to your new Season 15 character. Levels, experience-based Paragon progress and Glyphs do not carry over as a head start either.

Your Eternal characters remain playable on that realm. Account-wide unlocks such as cosmetics and available campaign skips remain unlocked.

Right before launch

Test your login and check your controls and loot filter. A strict endgame filter should not hide useful temporary gear for your fresh character.

Open your bookmarked starter planner and read its latest update. If you are starting as a group, also agree on a time, game mode and campaign state.

Your Season 15 checklist

• Check the confirmed launch date and time.
• Install available updates and test your login.
• Choose your class and check any required expansion access.
• Bookmark a starter build and planner, and check when they were updated.
• Choose a leveling method and bookmark a guide if needed.
• Review the main seasonal features.
• Check your preferred campaign skip.
• Check for a free character slot or prepare for Rebirth.
• Join Discord, arrange a group and enable stream notifications if you want to.
• Select the Seasonal Realm and the correct campaign state when creating your character.
• Check your loot filter.
• Revisit this checklist after the patch notes and BlizzCon.