What can the classes in Diablo 2: Resurrected actually do and which is the best class? MeinMMO gives you an insight into the 7 playable characters and reveals who they might suit.
Update from October 7, 2022: We have equipped many classes with builds to provide you with direct examples of playstyles.
What classes are available? Diablo 2 offers a total of 7 classes with different focuses. Especially as a newcomer, you might quickly lose track here or not know what suits you best.
To give you an overview of all the classes and help you make a better decision, we list the 7 classes of Diablo 2 here and briefly outline what they can do:
- Amazon: Warrior with spear, bow, and elemental magic – For damage and support
- Assassin: Skilled in the use of traps and claws – For melee and control
- Barbarian: Powerful fighters with large weapons – As melee or tank
- Druid: “All-rounder” and nature-based spellcasters who can shapeshift and summon animals – For damage and support
- Paladin: Holy warriors who strengthen their allies with auras – Ideal as off-tank and support
- Necromancer: Creates servants from skeletons and curses enemies – Strong for damage and solo gameplay
- Sorceress: Utilizes magical powers and various elements – For damage and control of multiple targets
The classes are bound to their respective genders, so you cannot choose freely. Through the table of contents, you can jump directly to the respective class, where we will look more closely at the advantages and disadvantages as well as the playstyle. We have also prepared a quiz that helps you choose your class.
Amazon
Who is the Amazon suitable for? If you like playing hunters or rogues in MMORPGs, you should pick the Amazon in Diablo 2. She primarily fights with spears and bows at a distance and deals damage. The Amazon is also suitable for players who want an easy class to start with that can be learned quickly.
How does the Amazon play? As a fierce warrior, the Amazon primarily relies on her weapons and enhances them with elemental magic. For example, you can improve your attacks with lightning damage or shoot charged bolts.
Later, you can even summon a Valkyrie that fights by your side and tanks for you. Together with your mercenary and the Valkyrie, you essentially form a group on your own. By the way, the Amazon has sparked much discussion in the community:
As an Amazon, you mainly focus on normal attacks, which you enhance with various skills. You primarily fight from a distance and find yourself rarely in melee.
In doing so, you are especially efficient against single targets. Larger groups of enemies can quickly become problematic for you.
Assassin
Who is the Assassin suitable for? Assassins in Diablo 2 are roughly equivalent to a mix of Monk and Demon Hunter from Diablo 3. If you enjoy playing these classes or generally rogue archetypes in MMORPGs, you should choose the Assassin.
How does the Assassin play? Traps are a unique mechanic of the Assassin. They can cause various effects like poison or ice. The Assassin can set these traps on the ground and then lure enemies into them. Additionally, the Assassin is adept in martial arts and claws.
Assassins rely heavily on agility and speed. With their traps, they can control enemies and even take out groups. Roughly, the Assassin is divided into three playstyles:
- Traps (“Trapsin”)
- Martial Arts
- Claw weapons (“Vampire”)
In any case, you focus on attacking enemies in melee or luring them into your traps. With your abilities, you make yourself faster and maneuver enemies around.
By the way: MeinMMO author Benedict Grothaus has played over 20 different Demon Hunters in Diablo 3 and has now fallen in love with the Assassin in Diablo 2. This is also due to the excellent controller controls that solve a major issue of the PC version.
Barbarian
Who is the Barbarian suitable for? If you like being the big tank in RPGs that enemies focus on or one that fights with large weapons, the Barbarian is your class – following the motto: Think less, hit more.
How does the Barbarian play? Barbarians use large weapons, and this is reflected in their class fantasy. You are effectively a mountain or a wall that enemies must pass before they reach your friends.
Accordingly, gameplay is rather simple. You primarily stand at the front and ensure that enemies are drawn to you. In the process, you continuously shout at your companions to buff them.
Apart from the shouts and skills like Whirlwind, you will mainly rely on normal weapon attacks.
Druid
Who is the Druid suitable for? If you can’t decide what you enjoy most in an RPG, play the Druid. This class is a true jack-of-all-trades and requires a lot of effort and skill to master well.
How does the Druid play? In Druid builds, you mainly encounter Werewolves or Werebears. These shape-shifting skills make Druids unique and turn them into strong melee fighters or even improvised tanks.
You can also use Druids as spellcasters, although they are less versatile than Sorceresses in this role. With fire and cold skills, you deal damage and control enemies. Alternatively, you can summon animals to fight by your side.
In groups, you can primarily fight larger numbers of enemies with area effects, which can be tanked for you.
Paladin
Who is the Paladin suitable for? If your heart burns to protect your friends without playing a bloodthirsty berserker, you should choose the Paladin. These holy warriors are fully committed to protecting and supporting the group.
How does the Paladin play? Auras make the Paladin special and can grant useful effects to the entire group, such as increased mana regeneration or improved resistance to elements.
Paladins are a kind of middle ground between spellcasters and melee fighters, as they primarily fight with magic. If you find Barbarians too boring but Sorceresses too soft, the Paladin fills the gap in between perfectly.
Since you primarily specialize in shields, you can even serve as a tank in emergencies when your group doesn’t have a Barbarian on hand. Either way, you are mainly there to support other players.
Even solo, the Paladin can shine. As a “Hammerdin,” you deal significant damage and buff both yourself and your mercenary. Thus, you can mow down even larger groups of enemies.
Necromancer
Who is the Necromancer suitable for? If you enjoy pet builds or simply love to see your enemies suffer, play a Necromancer. In other RPGs, the class roughly corresponds to Warlocks, whereas Necromancers are already a well-known archetype.
How does the Necromancer play? The unique feature of the Necromancer is that he uses corpses of defeated enemies to build his own army. You can overwhelm enemies with a true horde of skeletons.
Alternatively, you empower yourself with unholy powers and throw bone spears at foes or make corpses explode. Poison is also a popular means for Necromancers to harm enemies. You primarily fight at a distance, although you could go into melee as a “Daggermancer.”
A notable aspect of the Necromancer is also the curses. You can weaken the resistances of enemies or greatly slow their movement. This makes you stronger in solo play and particularly popular in groups.
Sorceress
Who is the Sorceress suitable for? If you like playing mages and fighting with strong spells from a distance, the Sorceress is your class. She packs quite a punch and is ideal for anyone who loves to see enemies explode – or freeze them outright.
How does the Sorceress play? Sorceresses primarily rely on elemental damage with fire, ice, and lightning. Accordingly, you typically choose one of these specializations and utilize various abilities of the respective element.
Particularly popular are Blizzard and Lightning Sorceresses, which we introduce to you here in the best builds of the Sorceress in Diablo 2:
Due to their versatility, Sorceresses can deal a lot of damage alone as well as ensure group control. Particularly ice spells are efficient in slowing down enemies and supporting your own group.
With Teleport and Telekinesis, you can quickly navigate through the maps, explore them faster than any other class, and even interact with objects from a distance.
General Tips for Diablo 2: Resurrected
In general, there is no “best class” in Diablo 2, only the best class for your playstyle. The Sorceress can deal so much damage – if you prefer melee, then the Assassin would be better for you.
However, the right preparation is essential in any case. With our guides, you can generally prepare for Diablo 2 – they are ideal for preparation or as a reference and practical compendium at any time:
- Diablo 2: Beginner’s Guide – Everything you need to know as a beginner
- All runewords as a list and what they deliver
- All recipes of the Horadric Cube at a glance
Which class do you think is the best? Which one did you choose and how did you come to that decision? Leave us a comment!
By the way, if you still don’t know what to play or if you’re torn between several classes, let fate decide:
Diablo 2: Resurrected – Which class to start with? Ask the Wheel of Fate
