Despite the reveal of the return of Lilith as the (presumably) main antagonist to cause chaos throughout Sanctuary, not much is known about Diablo 4’s story. Blizzard has discussed some of the game’s features, but fans are still in the dark about a lot of Diablo 4. With such a long time between its announcement and the game’s potential release, players will need more to keep their interest piqued. The cinematic reveal trailer for Diablo 4 may have made a splash, but Blizzard can’t just rely on that and past updates to get gamers excited about the game. Information has been drip-fed to fans over the years, but now seems like the perfect time to delve a little deeper into things like the next class for Diablo 4.
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Classes That Have Already Been Revealed
The first three Diablo 4 classes were revealed way back in 2019, with the initial announcement of the game at BlizzCon 2019 highlighting the Barbarian, Sorceress, and Druid classes. The Rogue class was revealed much later during BlizzConline, with a mysterious fifth class still to be announced. Much like Diablo 2 and Diablo 3, the game will launch with five classes, with players speculating if more might be added in future expansions or updates like with the previous Diablo entries.
Classes offer players different ways to approach combat and an individualized skillset with their own weapons, abilities, and gear. With the powerful brutality of the Barbarian, the tactical spellcasting of the Sorceress, the elemental attacks and shapeshifting skills of the Druid, and the ranged or stealth abilities of the Rogue, gamers have plenty of choices when it comes to their playstyle. Players might think they know what to expect with returning classes, but it seems like Diablo 4 is making some changes and offering its own take on how the class system will work.
During the extended look at the Rogue class, Blizzard revealed that Diablo 4 will feature class-specific quests, shaking up the previous formula of Diablo storytelling and using player choice to help shape the narrative. The Diablo games have always had a strong narrative element that centers the dungeon crawler action, and no doubt Diablo 4 will follow this trend. But adding more character-specific elements definitely adds another layer to the game’s storytelling. This is a fascinating new direction for the game, as it not only adds to the value of multiple playthroughs but also establishes Diablo 4 as a fresh direction for the series.
More Reveals On The Horizon
The four classes revealed so far will all be playable at launch, and each has received an in-depth look with gameplay demonstrations and details about their various skills and abilities. While some players are hoping for the return of another older class first featured in a previous Diablo game like a Necromancer or a Paladin, the fifth class still remains a mystery. Some have speculated that it might relate to Intelligence or Dexterity to give an even spread of attributes across the five classes alongside the others already on offer, but fans are no nearer to guessing what the next class might be.
The longer Blizzard waits to reveal this mysterious fifth class, the more expectation will build, especially as it’s been left until last. This potentially points to something special and new, which some fans would definitely welcome. A reworking of a classic role could also work, but Diablo 4 really needs to deliver on its slow rollout of updates if it wants to keep player interest. Another in-depth look at the fifth class’ gameplay would be perfect for the next update, especially as news has been a little thin on the ground in recent months.
With such a hefty gap in between mainline entries already – expansions and Diablo 2: Resurrected notwithstanding – there really is a lot of scrutiny on Diablo 4 and what it will offer players. Classes are an important part of how gamers experience the title, and making sure they’re distinct and interesting is key, as well as giving players a good spread across different skillsets to offer varied approaches to combat. It is also a way to tie in the expansive lore of the Diablo franchise, and there are a lot of great roles to choose from when it comes to the fifth class. Either way, players have already been waiting a long time for the fifth class, and it’s time for Blizzard to show off its final launch character.
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How Diablo 4 Is Shaping Up
Players know that Diablo 4 will take place a few years after its predecessor and will focus on the newly summoned Lilith who returns to Sanctuary after being banished by Inarius. In terms of tone, Diablo 4 looks to be returning to the darker, grittier look and feel of the earlier games over Diablo 3’s aesthetic and will be fully embracing the series’ classic dark fantasy inspirations. Diablo 4 will also feature hundreds of dungeons and five distinct regions, with environmental factors like weather and lighting having a more prominent role in setting the scene and building on the atmosphere of Diablo 4.
While Diablo 4 won’t be a traditional MMO by any means, it will exist in a shared online world where other players can participate in world events and be found in various towns and areas outside of dungeons, as well as giving the option for PvP. This won’t affect an individual gamer’s experience of the story, but it’s an interesting element that might help to flesh out the wider world of Diablo 4. With Diablo 4’s hugely in-depth character creator, players will have the chance to shape their protagonist like never before, which will add to the other intriguing aspects of the game and hopefully make the latest entry in the Diablo series an elevated example of the franchise’s formula.
Diablo 4 is in development for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
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