Blizzard Entertainment’s highly-anticipated fourth main installment in the popularDiabloseries is set to release sometime next year, and fans are excited to once again dive back into the world of Sanctuary.Diablo 3came out a decade ago, and while players have had substantive expansion packs, a remaster, and a spin-off MMORPG in the meantime, many are looking forward to the return to the main overarching narrative inDiablo 4.WhileDiablo 4looks like it will be retaining a lot of the elements that make up a classicDiablogame and focusing on the dark and macabre aesthetics of the earlier titles, it will also be mixing things up as well.
Diablo 4may have some returning classes from previous games, but it looks like the next installment will be approaching them a bit differently. One of the more intriguing details that has come out in developer updates and pre-release material is the fact that some classes will even have class-specific quests – a big departure from previous entries. Players may think they’re already familiar with builds like the Necromancer or Barbarian, butDiablo 4is bringing some changesto the gameplay to help make each class distinct.
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Druid
Fromwhat gamers have seen ofDiablo 4so far, it seems like the game will be giving players a lot more options when it comes to their protagonist. There is an extensive character creator mode that will let them customize their character from their face shape to their tattoos and jewelry. Some aspects will be class-specific, however, to tie into class backgrounds. The Druid may have a few similarities to the class inDiablo 2, like their nature-based abilities with shapeshifting skills, butDiablo 4will be evolving them as well.
As well as being able to transform into a werebear or werewolf,Druids will have two wolf companionsto help them in any encounter. Gamers can choose to level up their shapeshifting or their elemental spells, or a mixture of both. This makes Druids flexible when it comes to what kind of damage they can dish out, and they can either deal large amounts of damage to a single enemy or unleash the power of the Earth on multiple targets.
Barbarian
The typical Tank role,Diablo 4’s Barbarian class is all about hitting hardand has the highest health and strength in the game. In many respects, the Barbarian seems similar to how it’s appeared in previous games, butDiablo 4will be adding a new mechanic called the Arsenal system. This allows Barbarians to switch between different types of weapons and change between the four they carry with ease.
Barbarians will mostly focus on physical damage, but they also have two different specializations they can pursue on top of that. Players that want to focus on dealing lots of damage in a short space of time should choose the Barbarian class, and they can make use of immunity to Crowd Control which they can give themselves or even bestow on other members of their party. Barbarians are undoubtedly useful and formidable, but they don’t have quite as much flexibility as some of the other builds.
Sorceress
Similar to the Druid class, theSorceress has a leaning towards elemental damage. They can deal large amounts of magical damage and have plenty of crowd control abilities, but they also have the lowest health. This means they’re a high-risk, high-reward class, and will need careful management to reach their full potential. However, unlike the Barbarian or Druid, the Sorceress will passively regenerate mana throughout the battle, which helps to balance their other shortcomings.
Because of their health stats,Sorceresses are best played in a partyand not as solo characters, but they’ll be integral in challenging encounters like Boss fights or dealing with hordes. The Sorceress also has a unique class mechanic called the Enchantment system where skills can be placed in three Enchantment slots in addition to the six active skill slots that other classes have. This gives Sorceresses a more dynamic approach to combat and lets them make use of more passive abilities as well as active skills.
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Rogue
The Rogue is a returning class from the firstDiablo, so it’s been a while since players have been able to see them in action.Rogues prioritize agility and stealthand are very adaptable to different combat situations with a combination of close-quarters and ranged skills. Like the Barbarian’s Arsenal system, Rogues can switch between bows and crossbows as well as melee weapons depending on what is needed for each encounter, and a skill’s stats will also change accordingly to match.
Diablo 4’s Rogue will be a combination of different classesfrom previous games like the Demon Hunter, Assassin, and Amazon, as well as an update of the original Rogue. Completing Rogue-specific quests will unlock different specializations like Combo Points, Exploit Weakness, and Shadow Realm which will make Rogues more effective as the game progresses and helps them to stand out from the other classes. They fill the Dexterity role within a party, so they might not hit as hard as the Barbarian or be able to deal with as many enemies at once as the Sorceress, but they’ll be hard to catch and difficult to counter.
Necromancer
TheNecromancer was the final class revealed forDiablo 4, and its announcement caused a fair bit of buzz among players. With previous forms of the Necromancer in pastDiablogames, players could hang back and let their party members or summoned minions take the brunt of enemy attacks.Diablo 4seems to be adopting a much more considered approach for this class, with a wide range of customizable elements depending on the desired play style which encourages a more active role.
Diablo 4’s Necromancerwill be adding lots of new elements, and in addition to a variety of weapons at their disposal, they will be the only class that can use scythes. Necromancers can also make use of four different play styles: Bone, Blood, Darkness, and The Army. These represent many different options from direct offensive moves to healing skills and utilizing reanimated foes as minions. The Necromancer seems like the most adaptable and versatile class thanks to the many options at their disposal and should be a very valuable party member.
Diablo 4will launch in 2023 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
