Next classes speculation and discussion thread

PC General Discussion
1

Druid is my favorite class across all RPGs, ever.

But I really enjoy speculating on what classes are upcoming with Diablo 4.

We can pretty much be 100% positive a plate wearing holy warrior will be involved somehow, be it Paladin, Crusader, or even Cleric or Templar. (I would personally like to see Cleric make an appearance and be more spellcasting focused than melee). Spears are currently underutilized it seems, so I think whatever holy class we get will focus on spears and/or shields as a weapon choice. So that oneā€™s kinda ā€˜doneā€™ in my mind.

But what else could be coming? I donā€™t think Assassin, or Demon Hunter will be returning since those ā€˜slotsā€™ and theme are taken up by the Rogue.

Whatever class comes after that, will still need to be a class that isnā€™t gender specific (no Valkyries or Amazons, in other words, so I think we can safely rule out those).

After a lot of thought and some discussion with a couple of long-time Diablo friends, we also agree that it may be time to introduce an Artificer (which could be a class based on the Horadrim and their methods and technology, introducing pistols, devices, and machines with magical components/damage)ā€¦

ā€¦or perhaps even a Priest who is much more holy (or demonic) magic focused, and takes the place of the ā€˜holy warriorā€™ archetype, but with a Warrior/Fighter reintroduced that takes up that plate armor, shield-bearing tank/melee spot.

We havenā€™t seen the Warrior since Diablo 1, and I think Blizzard could easily make them stand out from the Barbarian and really make their playstyle something special - with a lot of focus on shield attacks and positional strikes and the ability to hold aggro or at least distract enemies and debuff them, with attacks that build off of one another in successions to apply bleeds/debuffs.

Iā€™d like to know what everyone else thinks about this. Itā€™s such a juicy fun topic for me to think about and to hear other peopleā€™s takes on it.

2

Whatever the next class is, it will be a female in the trailer.

6 Likes
3

I want to see something new. Instead of a ā€œholy knightā€ give us the opposite. Give us a Death Knight, one that specializes in Curses, Shields or Two-Handed Weapons and Evil Auras. Or give us a Ranger.

Man, this game should really have had more classes on launch, honestly.

5 Likes
4

This is a great idea, more and different classes sounds amazing when I start to think about the concept.

5

After watching the second gameplay demonstration of PoE 2, I want a spear-based class so bad for D4. It will obviously be a mix between Paladin and Amazon.

After that? Iā€™d really want the Monk to return. Itā€™s easily my favorite class from any Diablo game. And as a completely new class, Iā€™m pretty sure that weā€™ll get a Xiansai DLC for D4 at some point. The Xiansai class will probably be something like a Ronin or a samurai, a class that can put their sword in their sheath and charge up their power, then unlease a lightning-fast and super-powerful slash, anime-style.

A cool new class would also be an Illusionist who specialize in controlling the enemies. You also mentioned an Artificer, yeah, thatā€™d be cool. Specializes in traps even more than the Rogue, with explosives, and so on. But if we go the ā€œprimitive gunpowder technologyā€ route, Iā€™d rather have a Sniper class with a Musketeer-aesthetics, a ranged class who takes time to aim but when you shoot, you do a ton of damages.

6

I rather have a Death Knight, or the Blood Knight that was data mined for immortal. Any new class is at least a year away if not longer though.

1 Like
7

There was a displate that had a valkyrie like woman with a spear and shield, so Iā€™m guessing thatā€™s the next class. Likely a ā€œsecretā€ release at launch.

As for next class after that? Considering we have the swamp, Hawezar I think, Witch Doctor could be cool and fitting. However, Iā€™d guess the new class would be an inhabitant of whatever new area we get in an expansion. But I canā€™t think of where the expansion would go. Skovos was where the amazon was, but I think that overlaps with the rogue. Xiansai is where the Wizard came from. Iā€™m left with thinking a witch or spiritualist from the Sharval Wilds or something from the Emerald forest south of Kehjistan.

8

Something that uses light and dark powers or gets to pick one or the other to focus in. It would give us at least three different ways to play this character.

EDIT: Maybe give us a one handed scythe on a chain that we spin around.

2 Likes
9

A dark knight would be awesome.

Maybe a kind of cultist of heaven? Using angelic magic of some kind, not just a paladin.

Or maybe a scientist who mutates himself into weird forms and has fantastical vials, a crazy scientist of Sanctuary.

Or maybe a bladedancer for whom the hostility of demons is a music he solos over with his rapiers.

Or a long katana-weilding samurai type who dips into demon magic and fights in only robes. Big, red demonic energies shot out of his sword for some ranged attacks.

1 Like
10

2 things:

  1. Xiansai is a China replacement, not a Japan replacement. So Ronin and Samurai are out. But I donā€™t disagree that a Xiansai is in the future, Blizzard will want something to appeal to that Billion customer zone.

  2. Illusionistā€™s create illusions, they donā€™t control people. Youā€™re thinking of an enchanter, that could be interesting though. Paladin in D2 had an ability like that, where he could convert monsters to his side, at least for a time.

11

Amazon is my next class prediction.

1 Like
12

Amazon/Valkyrie or donĀ“t care. and give either the proper Multi-shot.

1 Like
13

I think a dark knight would fit. Donā€™t they have one in Immortal?
My funniest idea is probably that one

And i agree a spear using class is likely even tho the barbs can use pole arms, they will probably not stay the only ones to utilize them. There shouldnā€™t be too many class exclusive weapons. Makes the game kinda dull.

1 Like
14

A strong independent templar.

15

Amazon might not make it into modern day games because itā€™s sexist and misandry. At this time you need to please everyone because if not three trolls with enough gasoline will fuel a pyre of hate to tell everyone how bad they are for doing genderlocked content and donā€™t cater to every sexā€¦ oh wait Amazons are females right? Nah then everything will be fine and possible.

1 Like
16

My gut feeling are below:

  1. A shield based class: Templar/Knight/Paladin/Crusader
  2. An aura based class: Priest/Cleric/Bard
  3. Another dex & agility based class: Amazon/Assassin/Monk

Knight Templar archetype is a no brainer and should be the number 1 choice for new class.
Now Blizz might decide the split the aura based class out from the knight templar archetype. A front line medic role with aura based class could add something fresh to this series so I wonā€™t be surprised if Priest/Cleric is introduced. Now the traditional D&D Bard/Minstrel will be a tough fit for this world setting but if their aura debuff & damages enemies and theyā€™re competent in range (crossbow/slings) and melee weapons (dagger/rapier/cutlass) it might see the light. There is an unfinished Bard class in Diablo Hellfire, itā€™s time Blizz finish this up and give it to us as a playable class.

For the dex agility based one, thereā€™s some strong contention. Amazon is a favourite but sheā€™s quite similar to the Rouge. The Assassin was an almost forgettable class from D2 LoD (save the Druid) so it might not be the top choice. Monk was a good class from D3, would have to see how the skill tree is re-created for this class.

My 2 Obols

17

The next class could just be an even bigger version of the female druid. Like 5 times bigger! The eater!
She could just like, eat all the enemies.
She could throw seasonings on them. The ultimate could be a rotisserie skill.
Her weapon would be a spork.

2 Likes
18

Crusader type class would be interesting

As would a potential samurai type class 2h sword user with lighter armor, but more mobile big hits and combosā€¦ though theyā€™d have to be careful with the lore/aesthetic to make it fit right, in what is otherwise a European gothic fantasy type game. Gotta say I was really skeptical about that kind of archetype working before FFXIV, but it can be done.

19

2 hand user with light armor? Pick the right skin on barb and you have less armor and show more skin then an average plate bikini mmo model and you use 2 handed weapons. The Samurai style isnā€™t for Diablo because afaik there is no Japan styled kulture in Sanctuary but then again maybe I missed something because Diablo lore is boring af.

20

30 years ago 90% of people died. There was a group that helped the remaining people to travel long distances on foot to permanently relocate to major towns. The fighting demon hordes while always walking/running led them to use katanas which are good for quick slashing while on the move (right?).

Problem solved with new lore.

Maybe itā€™s even the monks from D3 since they are not really nephalem like the D3 one and things got worse and itā€™s a different kind of combat on the move. And Blizz seems to already mix classes (rogue and DH).