When Blizzard released Diablo 2 in 2000, fans immediately clamored for a sequel. After all, there seems to be more to the Diablo franchise after defeating the three Prime Evils. With Diablo and his siblings Mephisto and Baal gone, just what happens to the world of Sanctuary? Thankfully, in 2012, Diablo 3 gives players their much-needed answers. Additionally, it seems Diablo 3 opened the doors to more questions that the player’s characters will hopefully be able to resolve.
As with the other Diablo titles, Diablo 3 gives players the option to choose one of seven playable classes. Some of these classes have come from Diablo 2, with some new additions. Interestingly, despite the versatility of these classes, some seem to dominate the rest. Just what is the best class for players in Diablo 3?
7 Necromancer
The Necromancer from Diablo 2 returns in Diablo 3. And despite their heroics in the battle against the Prime Evils, Necromancers are still reviled for their usage of death magic. However, the Necromancer’s mastery of the cycle of Life and Death enables them to use the very forces of darkness against themselves. They use scythes, curved blades, and phylacteries that enhance their abilities.
Necromancers use Essence, the very fabric of life itself. They harvest Essence only through enemies, making them one of the more complicated classes to play. However, they do possess a lot of abilities. They can summon the undead that follows their bidding. Moreover, they can use blood and bone to destroy and stop enemies on their tracks. Necromancers have great crowd control potential, making them perfect for both solo and group play.
Like the Wizard, the Necromancer boasts great AOE spells. Moreover, its crowd control potential skyrockets thanks to their skeletons. However, unlike the other classes, the Necromancer seems to be the most technical. Despite its vast potential in team play, Necromancer players need to be wary of how they work with their comrades.
Notable Skills
The Necromancer taps on Essence, the very thing that binds all of reality. Depending on the purpose, a Necromancer can call forth blood, bone, and curses to eliminate all who stand in their way:
6 Demon Hunter
Demon Hunters use two resources in battle - Hatred and Discipline. With Hatred, Demon Hunters become merciless and empowered to defeat their foes. It’s a quick-generating resource, giving Demon Hunters plenty of opportunities to experiment with their skills. Their second resource, Discipline, builds up much slower.
However, it does grant Demon Hunters more powerful attacks and specialized skills. Others might say Demon Hunters lack that oomph in firepower. However, players simply need to be more calculated with the Demon Hunter. Their arrows can slow down mobs, giving them great crowd control potential. Unfortunately, it takes mastery of their mobility and skill set to fully synergize the Demon Hunter.
In order to combat the forces of Hell, Demon Hunters capitalize on their ranged weapons alongside traps and melee attacks. They have a dual resource, called Hatred and Discipline, that becomes the cost of offensive and defensive skills, respectively:
5 Witch Doctor
The Witch Doctor serves as another new class introduced in Diablo 3. Unlike other classes, not everyone can become a Witch Doctor. Rather, only talented individuals with battle history and the capability of communicating with spirits can become Witch Doctors. Akin to Diablo 2’s Druids, Witch Doctors are intimately connected to nature, this time using the spirits of the dearly departed to aid them in battle.
The Witch Doctor uses Mana, a popular resource in the Diablo series. With Mana, Witch Doctors can use hexes and attack spells to devastate enemies. However, they can also summon gargantuan and mongrels to protect themselves and their allies. Witch Doctors offer a diverse set of skills that make them suitable for both solo and team play. Like the Druid, Witch Doctors are extremely versatile characters. However, like the Wizard, Witch Doctors tend to be fragile especially as summoners, and as such need to consider their distance.
The Witch Doctor can tap into worlds of both the living and the spirits to combat the forces of evil, providing them with unique ways to approach combat:
4 Wizard
Wizards in Diablo 3 are the game’s counterparts to the Sorceress class in Diablo 2. Not only do they belong in separate classes of spellcasters, but they are also familiar with the workings of their other magic-user comrades. Wizards possess flair and are natural rebels, and as such show disdain over the strict nature of their studies. However, they do have a natural talent for magic, capable of using powerful spells.
Contrary to other spellcasters, Wizards use raw Arcane Power. This resource regenerates quickly, enabling Wizards to cast weaker spells that can still pick off multiple enemies. They have a natural mastery over the elements, giving them access to fire, lightning, and frost spells. Moreover, they have a healthy mix of AOE and protective spells, making them great support characters.
Unlike other classes, there’s no doubt the Wizard reigns in terms of sheer DPS. Unfortunately, their weak constitution does make them glass cannons, capable of dying just as fast as they can kill their enemies. As such, Wizard users need to be careful with the timing of their spells, especially when enemies try to get close.
Unlike other spellcasters, Wizards are designed to be more fast and loose with their spellcasting. Their abilities rely heavily on crowd control, debuffers, and defensive abilities to survive wave after wave of enemies:
3 Monk
Monks serve as one of the new classes introduced in Diablo 3. A mixture of the Paladin and the Assassin, the Monks are holy warriors with bodies and minds tempered to face the forces of evil. Thanks to their weapon training, Monks specialize in using Fist Weapons and the Daibo, capable of eliminating foes quickly.
Monks serve as one of the more complicated classes to play, as their Spirit resource can only be regenerated with certain attacks, skills, and combos. However, the sheer versatility of their skills enables them to mess around with foes quickly. Their special combos grant Monks special effects, and their Mantras can buff them and their comrades.
As such, Monks remain one of the most versatile classes in the game. They’re capable of being tanks with Blinding Flashes and Crippling Waves. However, they can also assume crowd control with Cyclone Strike and Dashing Strike. They can also become great healers, especially with Chant of Resonance. This versatility makes them great for both beginners and pros.
Masters of the body, the Monk capitalizes on both speed and strength to overwhelm foes. Coupled with their keen eye for strategy and aura bonuses, Monks can use Spirit to dominate the battlefield quickly with their skills:
2 Barbarian
The Barbarians return from Diablo 2, but this time without a home. Regardless of being separated from their kin, the Barbarian in Diablo 3 remains as ruthless and stalwart as ever. Moreover, due to their nature, they wield large weapons to battle - and some Barbarians wield two-handed weapons on each arm.
Powered by Fury, Barbarians generate energy whenever they damage foes and when they get hit. Moreover, they use Fury to unleash deadly blows and cleaves, as well as leaps that shatter the ground beneath them. As such, players love the Barbarian for their straightforward nature.
Aside from being one of the easiest classes to get into Diablo 3, it’s also one of the most flexible in terms of builds. Given their penchant for straightforward fighting, fans love the Barbarian for their sheer muscle. Revenge, Rend, and Frenzy easily build a Barbarian tank capable of taking on aggro and still living to fight another day.
Being a deadly damage dealer, Barbarians need ways to generate Fury and spend it properly to wreak havoc on the battlefield as much as possible:
1 Crusader
Champions of justice, the Crusader serves as the Paladin’s counterpart in Diablo 3. It’s revealed that both the Crusaders and Paladins were once companions, eventually separated by their duties. Either way, Crusaders pass down holy judgment with their shields and flails, with the former acting as both a weapon and a means of defense.
Empowered by Wrath, Crusaders use heavenly Light to both buff themselves and eliminate enemies. They can empower their strikes with Wrath, or use the Light to bless themselves and their allies. Despite being a melee class, some Crusader abilities give them decent range thanks to Blessed Shield and Smite. Moreover, given their ability to soak damage and still accumulate heals and buffs, they make far more resilient solo characters compared to Barbarians.
Being forces of light, a Crusader depends on Wrath as a resource to eliminate the forces of evil. Through Wrath, they can invoke Laws, Convictions, and attacks that deal heavenly justice to their targets:
Diablo 3 was released on May 15, 2012, and is available on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and last-gen consoles.
