While not official, most fans anticipate that Diablo 4 will drop in six months, with various reports indicating an April 2023 release date. In line with this expectation, Diablo 4 has run a closed beta test and invited participants to experience the end-game content. Between information from the closed beta and official gameplay footage, fans can now begin to envision how their favorite class may perform and where it will stack up against the other choices.
Importantly, all of Diablo 4's classes have existed in the franchise at one point or another, with some—like the Necromancer and Barbarian—having appeared in multiple games. Despite Blizzard's promise to provide a greater degree of player choice and customizability, fans can glean a look at the early meta based on a combination of leaked footage and each class's past performance.
The Necromancer Will Dominate in PvE
The Necromancer is a class that by its very nature excels in PvE content. It was true in Diablo 2, true in Diablo 3, and will remain true of the Necromancer in Diablo 4. The only question mark that the Necromancer needs to address is its performance at the absolute highest echelon of difficulty when enemies can dish out massive damage—a spot where it has struggled in past games. Otherwise, the Necromancer has always had a handful of viable builds that can plow through the majority of the game with little to no problem.
The Necromancer changes in Diablo 4 only appear to strengthen the class's resume when it comes to PvE dominance. Not only will the Summoning Necromancer get greater control over their army, but both the Blood tree and the Darkness tree appear as tantalizing options to supplement PvE performance. Specifically, the Blood tree looks to be a strong answer to the Necromancer's woeful survivability in past titles.
One important caveat: the Necromancer is unlikely to be the fastest class to clear the game, but it will almost certainly be one of the easier experiences. Its innate lack of gear dependency will also make the Necromancer the best pick for a first character or for players not interested in grinding for better loot.
Barbarian and Sorceress Stand Out as PvP Choices
The best PvP classes are normally the more focused, specialized classes. While the Druid and the Rogue aren't to be overlooked, their complicated kits don't appear to be well-suited to dominate the PvP landscape. The Sorceress compares well to her Diablo 2 counterpart, where she was an absolute nightmare to deal with in PvP combat. This is primarily because of her ability to slow enemies with her Frost tree or dish out major damage with Fire and Lightning. In Diablo 4, the Sorceress more or less reprises her same kit, but the Burning status effect seems as though it will boost Fire abilities to a level they weren't at previously.
The Barbarian is going to shine in PvP combat for its ability to close distances and slow enemies. With the Concussion talent, for instance, Barbarians can apply a heavy slow with their Leap ability, making for a powerful initiate. While there are plenty of viable builds for PvP, any build based around Berserk while slowing enemies is bound to be a vicious combination. When combined with the versatility in weapon choices lent by Diablo 4's new Arsenal mechanic, the Barbarian will be a headache for any class without major mobility.
It would still be a mistake to ignore the potential of the Druid and Rogue classes. With the ability to combine immobilization with increased damage chance, the Druid could also be an extremely powerful PvP choice in smaller engagements. With Rain of Arrows and the means to stay at long distances, the Rogue could be a surprise pick to shine in group battles.
Diablo 4 will launch in 2023 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
