Pick the realm that matches how you want to play
Choose Seasonal when you want the current season’s fresh start and seasonal progression. Choose Eternal when you want to continue an existing character without starting over for the new season. Both are ways to play Diablo IV; neither choice gives you an expansion you do not own.
If you are joining friends, agree on the realm and character mode first. That matters more than choosing whichever character has the largest level number. For a relaxed campaign run, continuing an existing Eternal character may suit you better than chasing the season’s goals.
Rebirth changed the old answer
Diablo IV’s 2026 Rebirth feature lets you take an Eternal character into the Seasonal realm with its level reset to one. It keeps parts of the character’s identity, such as its class and appearance. It does not carry an endgame loadout intact into a fresh season.
Blizzard tells players to move gear and items into the Eternal stash before using Rebirth. The character must be free of equipped and personal-inventory items before the change can proceed. Read the confirmation carefully: Rebirth is a deliberate fresh start, not a harmless way to preview a different tab.
Do not assume every kind of progress is shared
A season ending does not mean every temporary power or progression system carries over unchanged. Blizzard’s current notes separate War Plans progress by realm and character modes, for example. Check the system you care about rather than treating “account-wide” as a promise that everything is shared.
For a character comparison, note the realm, season and Normal/Hardcore state alongside the level and equipment. A screenshot without that context can be surprisingly unhelpful.
If you are choosing an account for access to Diablo IV itself, start with the included game and expansions. Existing characters are a separate question. You may get more value from the right expansion package and a fresh character than from an unspecified old build.
