Diablo Immortal’s initial alpha testing phase could be chalked down as a success, with the game receiving positive reactions and reviews from players who had access, played and streamed the technical alpha but also the users and viewers who witnessed the gameplay mechanics.

The game is set to undergo another closed alpha testing phase that will include only a handful players owning Android devices exclusively in Australia, as iterated by Game director Wyatt Cheng, who labelled the next phase ‘Alpha 2’.

Alpha 2 will be aimed more at showcasing and giving enthusiasts the first glimpse of some endgame content. Interestingly though, the next phase of alpha testing is set to introduce a new class called the Crusaders into game testing. Crusaders are a big part of the Diablo lore, with the human faction being a knightly order devoted to the Light. In Diablo Immortal, Crusaders will have abilities like Blessed Shield, Falling Sword and Sweep Attack and it will be intriguing to see how the players take to the new class.

As mentioned during the BlizzConline event, Diablo Immortal will increase the level cap from 45 to 55, which allows players to prepare better to tackle the endgame content. New zones will be available to the players to venture further on their main journey, with two zonal options – Mount Zavain, home to the monks and Frozen Tundra – the residence of the scattered Barbarian tribes.

A new dungeon will also be available for players to be discovered. Named the Cavern of Echoes, where testers will have to beat a ‘Frozen Terror’ to get their hands on the powerful relic the said creature is trying to protect and keep for itself.

Also making its way into the next phase of alpha testing is the Cycle of Strife, where players will choose to either play as Immortals or Shadows in this PvP oriented system. Immortals are the safekeepers; the guardians of the Sanctuary while the Shadows have to keep their sacred oath of not allowing Immortals to get too drunk on their power or complacent in their duties. Shadows can rise to take the place of Immortals to defend the Sanctuary.

Players will first start out as Adventurers before choosing to Shadows. Immortals will be privy to certain exclusive quests like a 48-person raid called the Kion’s Ordeal that doles out special rewards upon survival and success. Immortals can stash their earned items in a special vault, which will be prone to raids by Shadows with the aim of stealing the riches, adding to the story of stopping Immortals from becoming power-mad. However, Shadows must be prepared to fight the Immortals should they show up to defend their vault.

Shadows can also challenge Immortals to an 8v8 PvP battle and if the Shadows are to come out victorious, the most powerful among their 8 players will become the next Immortal. There is more to be added to the entire Cycle of Strife storyline and gameplay and it will be intriguing to gauge the players’ and viewers’ reaction to the 8v8 PvP simultaneous battles as Shadows look to overthrow the Immortals and become the new guardians of the sanctuary.

Another endgame quest called the Helliquary was revealed by Wyatt Cheng, who iterated that Helliquary will witness players go up against dangerous bosses in battles that would require ‘significant preparation’, alluding to the fact that only a few players would be able to perform the said feat. Should players be victorious in these boss fights, with a new boss revealed every month, they will receive powerful boosts to their respective characters.

Alpha 2 promises to offer much much more in addition to whatever has been revealed above and one can only hope Diablo Immortal releases officially soon after.