Diablo 2: Resurrected is the remaster fans have been dreaming of for some time. Diablo 2 originally came out in 2000, and fans still to this day play the bi-annual ladder reset that occurs roughly every 6 months. Though the original Diablo 2 ladders are usually ruined by bots nowadays, it is still a good enough reason to have a go with some friends and slay the demons of hell together. The cycle of starting over with a fresh experience is important to many fans of the series and the ARPG genre as a whole, and picking a starting class can be the most important decision to make.
Diablo 2: Resurrected will have a reworked ladder season on release, with a revamped UI and more frequent resets than the roughly 6-month cycle currently seen in the original iteration of the game. Despite being a new release, veterans have already figured out what works best for them as their first class to play upon a ladder reset based on experience, efficiency, and preference.
The first class a player picks can make or break a player's chance to top the new ladder as it will most likely be their main class for a good chunk of time. This is because Diablo 2 Resurrected won't drop items weighted specifically to the class they're playing, like in Diablo 3, a mechanic Diablo 2 players might have forgotten about. As a result, players won't have much control over the items that drop and will need to farm gear quickly and efficiently whether it is for their first or second, or fifth class they choose to play.
The Speed and Efficiency of the Sorceress
In Diablo 2, the Sorceress is a very popular starting class when a new ladder resets, and for good reason. The Sorceress has access to a variety of elemental area of effect skills capable of clearing groups of enemies quickly, and the same can be said for the Sorceress in Diablo 4 comparatively. Though later in the game's difficulties, monsters a player comes across may be immune to certain elements, but that won't be a problem for the Sorceress. Many players who choose to play a Sorceress usually spec into two or more elements to cover any weaknesses, such as the 'Meteorb Sorc' (Meteor and Frozen Orb), 'Blizzball Sorc' (Blizzard and Fire Ball), or 'Weatherwoman' (Blizzard, Meteor, and Thunder Storm) to name a few.
Even if a player encounters an enemy who is immune to both of their chosen elements, they can always resort to their Mercenary to handle the job. So long as the player is able to output three different types of damage (including their Mercenary), enemies should not be a problem as they cannot have more than 2 immunities at any given time.
Another very popular reason to pick the Sorceress at launch is the fact she has access to the Teleport skill. This is hands down the most efficient way to traverse and farm zones quickly. So much so that other classes will very often use the late-game Enigma Runeword chest piece that grants +1 Teleport, effectively giving any class the ability to Teleport as well. With such a strong travel skill, this makes the Sorceress a strong starting choice because it gives players the chance to start farming for gear relatively early on with little investment, as most spells the Sorceress use get a majority of its power from the skill level, rather than the gear itself.
The Sorceress ranks highly among players, as not only is it easy to do good damage with relatively low gear investment, players can also invest in Magic Find gear and charms, upping the odds of even better loot to drop more often. This means that even if a player wants to ultimately play a 'Hammerdin' Paladin on launch, they can choose a Sorceress first, farm the necessary gear for their Paladin, and then switch back to their Paladin when geared properly.
In this way, Diablo 2 Resurrected will see old and new players alike utilizing tried and true strategies as the game will be released in the same state as Diablo 2 currently is. With the addition of more stash space and shared stash tabs among a player's characters, it is easier than ever to mule gear from a gear farming character such as the Sorceress to a Paladin.
Diablo 2: Resurrected is in development for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X, and will be released in 2021.