In a new livestream, the developers from Blizzard announced the Blood Knight. This is the first new class in Diablo in the last 9 years. What now bothers many: the class is not coming for Diablo 4, but for the significantly less popular Diablo Immortal.
What kind of class is this?
- Blood Knights are a kind of mixture between Paladin/Crusader and Vampire. They use blood magic and melee to shred opponents.
- The class also has 2 forms: Human and Beast, so it can, similar to the Druid, take on other shapes.
- Blood Knights are the first new class in the entire Diablo franchise since the Witch Doctor was introduced with Diablo 3 in 2012, or the Crusader with Reaper of Souls (2014). However, many fans saw the latter as rather the Paladin with a different name.
- You can play the new class for free starting July 13.
Why are they in the wrong game? In the latest developer stream from July 6, Blizzard spoke about Season 1 of Diablo 4 and also about innovations in Diablo Immortal. This is precisely where the problem lies: Blood Knights will be the new class in Diablo Immortal.
After the major Pay2Win allegations and the general discontent with Diablo Immortal, many fans, out of principle, want nothing to do with the mobile spin-off. However, many think that the Blood Knight looks pretty cool.
Diablo 4 launched on June 2 and 6 with 5 classes: Barbarian, Druid, Hunter, Necromancer, and Sorceress. Blizzard has already stated in advance that more classes will follow, probably only with later expansions.
Fans hoped to at least get information about the upcoming class. Seeing the Blood Knight now leads to discussions in the community. He fits well with the much darker tone of Diablo 4. But he is not necessarily the right choice as the first new class, some players think.
“We still need a holy class”
In several threads on Reddit that revolve around the stream, there are scattered discussions about the topic of the new class. Some players there think: the Blood Knight looks damn cool and if Blizzard is now testing him in Immortal to bring him to Diablo 4 later, they are fully satisfied.
Others think: traditionally, Diablo 4 actually needs a different class. At the moment, there is still no holy class and none that plays with heavy armor and shield. Only Necromancers are currently using shields.
Paladins or Crusaders would be the logical step for Diablo 4, at least looking at the past. However, some lore enthusiasts point out that a holy class might not be so fitting in Diablo 4.
Story spoiler: Why don’t holy classes fit?
At the end of the story of Diablo 4, the Knights of Regret and the Church of Inarius turn against you. They become “the evil ones” and a new threat, instead of being a help against the demons. Knights of Regret are thus out of the question, Paladins are corrupted by Mephisto, and Crusaders are practically extinct. A holy class would be hard to imagine at this point.
There have also been hints that the 6th class will be something “darker”. A sign on a jug in the shop hinted at this. Players suspect: a kind of cultist or dark summoner is coming – or indeed a Blood Knight.
Fans are wondering whether the seasons will thematically have anything to do with the new classes. However, Blizzard has announced that the main story will be continued in expansions; seasons will have their own side story. A new class will probably come rather in an expansion.
The story of the first season is, by the way, the corruption of all Sanctuary:
Diablo 4 Season 1 Start: Everything about release, content, mechanics, and battle pass
