There is still no release date in sight for Diablo 4, but Blizzard has revealed a handful of tantalizing details about the game in-progress, including the first three classes. And while Diablo 4 is still likely a long way off, one of the best way to enjoy the anticipation of a forthcoming title is to start theory-crafting which classes to play and how to build them.
So far, Blizzard has walked a balanced path with its reveals, showcasing the meaty Barbarian, the monster-melting Sorceress, and the Druid, whose role is less obvious. Those who want to wade into the thick of things and wreak havoc up close would be best served by starting Diablo 4 with the Barbarian, while those who don’t mind fragility in exchange for obscene power would be better suited for the Sorceress. But people who want to have many options open to them without a clear role in mind from the start will likely be best served by Diablo 4‘s Druid class.
That is not to say that Druids are for fence-sitters. Rather, the nature-oriented caster can excel in both of the other roles listed above, though players will either have to hyper specialize for a role, or come up with a build that hybridizes the class’ many different options. And Druids do have one niche that is completely their own which is likely to go unfulfilled by any other class, because many potential competing classes are unlikely to appear in Diablo 4 at launch.
In Diablo 2, the Druid had an entire skill tree dedicated to summoning, and that capability will hopefully be making a return in Diablo 4. Players could call all sorts of Sanctuary’s flora and fauna to lay waste to their foes. Admittedly, Druid summon builds were generally less potent than Necromancers specialized for the same role, but unless Blizzard throws players a curveball and resurrects the exact same classes that featured in Diablo 2, Necromancer likely won’t be included with Diablo 4 at launch, despite its popularity and numerous player requests.
That means Diablo 4 could be the summoner Druid’s time to shine. Borrowing tricks from the Witch Doctor, including attacks that work like summons, such as poison toad volleys or spider-jars, paired with the familiar mainstays of ravens, dire wolves, and grizzlies could make the Druid a crowd-control powerhouse—a player commanding an army of their own against Lilith’s tides of monstrosities.
Players looking to run a melee fighter or tank with more going on than muscle and steel should look to the Druid’s shapeshifting opportunities. In Diablo 2 it generally behooved Druids to stick with one of the two forms, werewolf or werebear, and dedicate themselves to the task. But depending on where Blizzard goes with Diablo 4‘s next melee class, a rare opportunity might be available for Druid to bounce between the sturdier bear-form and the lithe, damage-dishing wolfman. The footage available so far shows both classes making a return to the ARPG, but relatively little is known about their abilities so far.
And this assumes that Blizzard won’t add new forms into the mix. An evasive flying form, or, borrowing a page from World of Warcraft, a caster or ranged-focused shifting form, could make for some very interesting combos. Rewarding players who frequently switch between the Druid’s forms would add a fun new dynamic to the class’s kit, and help differentiate it from the other classes that have been announced.
The lycanthropic skills in the Druid’s arsenal also contain one of the most devastating DOTs in Diablo 2: Rabies. This poisonous attack not only deals constant, poison-like damage to foes—it spreads from enemy to enemy, diminishing the health of entire legions of demons simultaneously. But in order for that build to really sing, another aspect of the Druid’s kit must be incorporated into the mix: the Poison Creeper vine from the Druid’s summoning tree. When those two skills synergize, it is one of the most devastating builds in Diablo 2, and the only build in Diablo 3 that offers something similar is the Necromancer’s pestilence build.
In Diablo 2, Druids were also capable of dishing out elemental damage, by summoning flaming boulders, cyclonic armor, and even volcanoes to dispatch demons. While the Druid’s potential for nuking groups and melting single targets will likely be lower than the Sorceress for balance’s sake, the Druid is a much sturdier fighter than the Sorceress, allowing players to indulge in a bit of slashing and bashing along with their casting. Right now, the Druid is the only character revealed that can be considered a true “hybrid” class.
As release draws closer, and new classes are revealed, another contender may be revealed, especially if nostalgia dictates Diablo 4‘s two remaining starter classes. But Druids are currently the only option for people looking for a solid blend of magic and melee, and historically, the series usually features a dedicated ranged fighter and two casters or two melee classes at launch, meaning the Druid may be the title’s dedicated switch-hitter before expansions arrive.
If narrative theming is the driving choice behind players’ class decisions, there is also a strong case to be made for Druids where the game’s lore is concerned. Druids are a thematic choice for opposing Hell’s legions, as infernal creatures disrupt the natural balance of Sanctuary, which Druids are sworn to protect. Their power structure and abilities are also far less likely to be affected by the sacking of Heaven that occurs at the conclusion of Diablo 3‘s main campaign than holy warriors like the Paladin class, which draws its powers from the celestial forces of Light.
Even though the wait is long and difficult, development on Diablo 4 seems to be progressing smoothly, and has continued remarkably effectively despite COVID-19, thanks to Blizzard’s work-from-home-friendly pandemic policies. And given the Druid’s early reveal, players looking to become one with nature are in a good place as the class will have been thoroughly tested and balanced for a healthy amount of time prior to launch.
Diablo 4 is currently in development. A release date has yet to be announced.
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