Diablo as a franchise is not new to revisiting classic fantasy RPG imagery for its content, which is something Diablo 4 has already proven to be doing, only in a grittier fashion compared to its predecessor and going on to become the spiritual successor to Diablo 2, instead. One of the biggest staples of Diablo games 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, including Diablo's focus on builds and loot progression, and Diablo 4 is no exception.
Since Diablo 4 only features five classes on launch, it's very likely that it will follow the footsteps of Diablo 3 and have additional ones further down the line, possibly tied to one of its seasons. Diablo 4's first season is 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.
Why Diablo 4 Could Feature a Sixth Class Between Crusader, Amazon, and Monk
One of the most likely candidates to become Diablo 4's new class post-launch is the Paladin or Crusader, an archetype that was first introduced with Diablo 2 and then found a lot of success with Diablo 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 existing Diablo 4 classes, but it also makes a lot of sense from a lore standpoint and could even be used to expand on seasonal storylines. With Diablo 4 putting 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 sixth Diablo 4 class - 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 in Diablo 2 and recently rediscovered in Diablo 2: Resurrected, the Amazon does share similarities with Diablo 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 to Diablo 4 given 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 Amazon would be a fantastic class to bring to Diablo 4 - especially since it skipped a generation and never made it into Diablo 3. Lastly, a fan-favorite class from Diablo 3 was 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 in Diablo 4's Sanctuary and iteration of the war between angels and demons. It would be another melee-centered class in the game, much like Diablo 4's Barbarian and 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 from Diablo 3.
Diablo 4 launches on June 6 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.