Diablo II: Resurrected has just crossed a historic milestone. For the first time in over 25 years, Blizzard has added an entirely new playable class to the game. The Warlock arrives today as part of a new expansion called Reign of the Warlock, revealed during the Diablo 30th Anniversary Spotlight.
This update marks the first time the original Diablo II experience has received a fresh class since the early 2000s, giving long-time players a completely new way to explore Sanctuary.
The Warlock Brings Dark, Strategic Gameplay
The Warlock is built around control, sacrifice, and long-term decision-making. Instead of relying on holy magic or brute strength, this class draws power from forbidden demonic pacts.
Players can summon three core demon types:
- Goatman, a frontline brawler built for pressure and control
- Tainted, a ranged demon focused on poison and corruption
- Defiler, a support summon that weakens enemies and sustains allies
Summoning is only the first step. The Warlock can bind a single demon at a time, locking in its abilities, or devour it to gain powerful temporary buffs. Every choice matters, and mistakes carry consequences later in a fight.
A Class Designed for Diablo II’s Pace
Blizzard designed the Warlock specifically to match Diablo II’s slower, methodical combat. The class rewards planning over reflexes and favors players who think several encounters ahead.
One standout option is the Eldritch skill path, which allows the Warlock to wield two-handed weapons alongside a grimoire. This hybrid melee-caster style breaks long-standing Diablo II build expectations and opens the door for entirely new theorycrafting routes .
Reign of the Warlock Expands the Endgame
The expansion does more than introduce a new class. Reign of the Warlock also enhances Diablo II’s endgame with new systems aimed at veteran players.
Enhanced Terror Zones now allow any Act on Hell difficulty to become a high-risk hunting ground filled with elite enemies. Players can collect special drops from these zones and combine them to summon the Colossal Ancients, a new multi-phase endgame boss designed to push optimized builds to their limits .
Modern Quality-of-Life Upgrades Arrive
Alongside new content, Blizzard added several long-requested improvements:
- A built-in loot filter for cleaner item drops
- Expanded stash tabs for runes, gems, and materials
- A Chronicle system that tracks uniques, sets, and runewords found
These updates modernize the experience without altering the core feel that made Diablo II a classic .
The Warlock’s Role in Diablo’s Future
The Warlock’s arrival is not limited to Diablo II. Blizzard confirmed that the class will appear across multiple titles as part of the franchise’s anniversary celebration.
Diablo IV will introduce its own version of the Warlock with the Lord of Hatred expansion in late April, while Diablo Immortal is set to receive the class later this year. Each version is tailored to its respective game, offering different interpretations of the same dark fantasy archetype.
Adding a new class after more than two decades is a rare move, especially for a game as revered as Diablo II. Reign of the Warlock serves as both a celebration of the series’ legacy and a meaningful evolution of its gameplay.
For veterans, it offers a fresh reason to return to Sanctuary. For new players, it provides a modern entry point into one of action RPG history’s most influential titles. Play Now!
