Diabloas a franchise is not new to revisiting classic fantasy RPG imagery for its content, which is somethingDiablo 4has already proven to be doing, only in a grittier fashion compared to its predecessor and going on to become the spiritual successor toDiablo 2, instead. One of the biggest staples ofDiablogames is that they draw inspiration from the typical classes of fantasy RPGs, with the first entry in the series featuring the trio of Warrior, Rogue, and Sorcerer. These archetypes are often expanded upon in various ways, includingDiablo’s focus on builds and loot progression, andDiablo 4is no exception.
SinceDiablo 4only features five classes on launch, it’s very likely that it will follow the footsteps ofDiablo 3and have additional ones further down the line, possibly tied to one of its seasons.Diablo 4’s first seasonis unlikely to come with an additional class, but it’s possible that within its first year, the game will become bigger - and thus call for a refreshing change of perspective through a new archetype becoming playable. With a few of these archetypes already in the game, the options for a sixth class are limited, but still equally exciting.
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Why Diablo 4 Could Feature a Sixth Class Between Crusader, Amazon, and Monk
One of the most likely candidates to becomeDiablo 4’s new class post-launchis the Paladin or Crusader, an archetype that was first introduced withDiablo 2and then found a lot of success withDiablo 3. Since the series is all about defeating demons and protecting the land from evil, this is not only a fantastic choice in terms of different playstyle compared to the existingDiablo 4classes, but it also makes a lot of sense from a lore standpoint and could even be used to expand on seasonal storylines. WithDiablo 4putting a lot of emphasis on the live-service model Blizzard has been working on, it seems reasonable to expect a new class to come alongside major story beats.
For these reasons, considering that none of the existing classes comes close to the playstyle of the Paladin and the Crusader, this is the most likely option for a sixthDiablo 4class - but not the only one. Another archetype that could find itself at home in the lands of Sanctuary is the Amazon. A fierce warrior introduced inDiablo 2and recently rediscovered inDiablo 2: Resurrected, the Amazon does share similarities withDiablo 4’s Rogue, but it brings something unique to the table via the javelin.
Not only that, though, as the Amazon is mainly focused on ranged play, and that would be an incredible addition toDiablo 4given how melee-focused most of the game can feel like. Even in the face of some tie-ins with the way some of the Rogue’s current abilities can achieve,Diablo 2: Resurrected’s Amazonwould be a fantastic class to bring toDiablo 4- especially since it skipped a generation and never made it intoDiablo 3. Lastly, a fan-favorite class fromDiablo 3was the Monk, and that was the only game in the series that featured this archetype.
With a similar background as that of the Paladin and Crusader, the Monk would most likely be a great fit inDiablo 4’s Sanctuary and iteration of the war between angels and demons. It would be another melee-centered class in the game, much likeDiablo 4’s Barbarianand Druid, but it would bring interesting options to the title when it comes to gear and abilities. Given that some classes don’t have high mobility, the Monk could easily add more value to that department while still retaining its identity fromDiablo 3.
Diablo 4launches on June 6 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
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