As is the case with almost any new entry in a long-running franchise,Diablo 4is taking the best elements of what has come before in the series and shaping them into something new. With this “best of both worlds” approach, developers can borrow the things that worked while eschewing what didn’t in favor of trimming the proverbial fat from older game design. The story, atmosphere, and graphical style ofDiablo 4all point toward a very direct influence from fan-favoriteDiablo 2, but another element has also seen refinement overDiablo 3.The class system ofDiablo 4is a drastic improvement over the previous game by sticking toDiablo 2’s five-class model.
Diablo 2expanded the original game’s three-class system to a five-class model, adding the Necromancer and Paladin classes while updating the Warrior and Sorcerer to Barbarian and Sorceress, respectively.Diablo 3then took this a step further by introducing seven possible classes for players to choose from, adding two new archetypes as well as renaming and redesigning existing classes. By returning toDiablo 2’s five-class model while also reintroducing familiar class archetypes,Diablo 4has established a class systemthat is more rewarding and encourages multiple playthroughs thanks to each class' distinct identity.
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Diablo 4 Eliminates Some of the Class Redundancy From Diablo 3
Despite having more classes than any other game in the series, almost all ofDiablo 3’s playable class typescan be grouped into three sub-categories with similar play styles. The Sorcerer, Necromancer, and Witch Doctor are magic users; the Crusader and Barbarian are tanks; and Monks and Demon Hunters are high-dexterity DPS dealers. Even though there are more classes to choose from, players have little incentive to experiment outside their chosen playstyle or role in a co-op party. By extension, the endgame quickly becomes stale for all but the most dedicated fans.
In contrast,Diablo 4’s adherence to the five-class system established inDiablo 2and the new selection of class archetypes provides five playable classes that each feel unique and have a viable approach to combat. As a result, players are incentivized to not only experiment with different classes and multiple character builds to find out which they like best. There’s more reason than ever before tokeep coming back to playDiablo 4long after the credits have rolled. Considering thatDiablo 4marks the series' first foray into live-service territory, the developers were wise to scale back the number of available classes to encourage continued play.
The New Class Type in Diablo 4 Presents a Unique Challenge
While there bound to be some rebalancing between the recent beta and the upcoming full release ofDiablo 4in June, the melee-based classes proved to be not as popular or effective as the magic-based options. In particular, the Druid class was viewed as one more suited to the late game due to its weaknesses early on. However, severalDiablo 4players noted that the Druid classcan serve as one of the more effective melee builds if players devote the time into leveling the right skill trees and focusing on the class' strengths.
While some may view this as a critical flaw in the game’s balancing of classes, it also shows Blizzard’s willingness to craft classes that have unique pros and cons to being used in the game’s campaign. Having a class type that requires significant player investment to be viable in the endgame could incentivize players to think carefully about their build. By scaling back the number of classes and encouraging careful selection of abilities and skills,Diablo 4is essentially asking players to think strategically about their class choice and rewarding those that are calculated in their build.The links betweenDiablo 2andDiablo 4set up a promising new step forward in the franchise that honors what many consider to be the best game in the series.
Diablo 4is set to launch in July 12, 2025 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
