Diablo 4 is garnering a lot of excitement from fans as its protracted development time continues, leaving many fans speculating about what the next class announced for the game's launch will be. Blizzard has been very tight-lipped about releasing new specifics, especially about the classes fans can expect to be able to play, but if one trend in the franchise's history continues, Diablo 4 will likely include a brand new class.
As fans await the next bit of information about Diablo 4 to come from BlizzCon 2021, many are wondering whether or not the next playable class will be unveiled. Naturally those fans are also wondering what that playable class would be, and whether it will be new or a returning class. Yet over its long history, each new Diablo title has launched with at least one new playable class, so it seems likely that Blizzard will follow suit with the release of Diablo 4.
Bringing a New Class to Diablo 4
Class systems have become one of the most integral parts of a good action RPGs success with fans, and Diablo 4 will be no different. The archetypes available for players to use set the expectations for character growth and what kinds of playstyles players will be able to create within the game. Some wonder whether the Demon Hunter will return or one of the other older classes like the Paladin or the Assassin, but if the series' history of introducing new classes with each iteration continues, fans are left to wonder about what that class might be.
With such a deep history of classes in Diablo to pull inspiration from, narrowing down the possibilities for what a new class could look like can be tough. Based on the available classes, Barbarian, Druid, and Sorcerer, the game needs at least one ranged fighter to round out the ranks in terms of party composition. A blend of the Demon Hunter and other elements of the Rogue and Assassin would seem likely if not the return of the Demon Hunter outright. If that ends up the case, the class would probably feature some elements of the Demon Hunter like traps and long-ranged weapons but without the ability to summon animals as per the presence of the Druid.
Customizing playstyle was a big part of Diablo 3 so adding more options to the base abilities of the Demon Hunter to facilitate more close-quarters combat might end up being the route that Blizzard takes. Other fans are expecting the addition of a dedicated healer class to Diablo 4, but because of the need to balance the game for solo play, that may prove unlikely. Although a new version of the Paladin/Crusader more similar to a DnD Cleric would not be out of the question. Again, playstyles among different class builds are as varied as the classes themselves so almost any archetype seems like a possibility.
With the release of Diablo 4 not even set for 2021, fans will have plenty of time to continue speculating for the foreseeable future. BlizzCon 2021 is set to bring new info but fans should keep their hopes in line with the reality that Blizzard may not be ready to reveal the next playable class. If history is any evidence, a brand new class for Diablo 4 is likely.
Diablo 4 is reported as being in development for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.