What is the Best Starting Class in Diablo 4 Open Beta

What is the Best Starting Class in Diablo 4 Open Beta | D4 Beta Class Picking Guide

3/18/2023 12:03:04 PM

Tag: Diablo 4

Diablo 4's open Beta is almost upon us, so it's time we talk about all 5 classes and which starting class is the best for you in D4 beta. They all offer unique play styles, different strengths and weaknesses which we're going to break down in this Diablo 4 class picking guide.

Diablo 4 Open Beta Class Picking Guide: Which Is The Best Starting Class in D4 Beta

There are five confirmed classes in Diablo 4, including the Barbarian, Rogue, Necromancer, Sorceress, and Druid. If you're looking to leap into Diablo 4 at any point, these 5 classes will not disappoint thematically. Each class has its one unique class fantasy, strengths, weaknesses, and core skill design. Considering the breadth of Diablo 4's class options, picking the right one to play as first can be challenging. For this reason, we've compiled this Diablo 4 beta class selection guide to assist with an overview of each class to explain their features better. Read and learn which are the best classes to play in Diablo IV open beta.

Rogue Overview (Mechanic, Weapons, Stats, Specialization)

Type: Melee/Ranged
Class mechanic requirement: Level 15

The Rogue is a versatile and very mobile Warrior who can specialize both in melee and ranged combat likewise. The class's best attribute consists in its weapon imbuement mechanic, which lets it buff its attacks with shadow poison or cold combined with the powerful combo tags that can augment its Arsenal. Speaking of weapons, Rogue will have access to an extra 11 slot via the additional ranged weapon which lets you equip both bows and crossbows. Bow or crossbow can be a solid option early on to avoid enemies reaching you plus the synergy between heartseeker and barrage provide a great ranged AOE potential.

Plus you can couple this later on with the Shadow Imbuement mechanic for extra damage and even more AOE. However, Flurry and Shadow imbuement as a melee option also work very good. Just like all classes, the Rogue has access to talent specializations which in this case includes access to combo points, inner sight and preparation that you get via class specific quests at level 7, 20 and 30 respectively. Going over a quick breakdown of each spec, combo points is the first specialization that you unlock which makes all of your basic skills to now generate combo points. This can further be consumed by core skills for additional effects. For example, Flurry gets a massive damage and attack speed buff for 4.5 seconds at 3 combo points, but pretty much all other core skills provide similar damage, buffs and debuff mechanics, the more combo points you generate.

Inner Sight (Rogue Specialization):

Attack market enemies to fill up your inner sight gauge. When it’s full, gain unlimited energy for 4 seconds.

Primary Stats:

Rogues will want to focus on dexterity which provides an increase in skill damage and chance to dodge. Strength which improves resource generation and armor. And intelligence for extra critical strike chance buff and buff to all resistances.

Sorceress Class Overview (Mechanic, Weapons, Stats, Specialization)

Type: Ranged
Class mechanic requirement: Level 15

This is described as a high risk high reward class even compared to the Rogue. Sorcerer draws its power from Elemental Magic, casting powerful fire cold and lightning spells at the cost of being more fragile. Spells like the Fire and Ice armor deep freeze and extensive access to crowd control mechanics later on eventually do make up for it. Being a caster type Sorcerer has access to only one primary and one secondary weapon slot which lets it equip daggers, wands, staves or focuses. Blizzard also managed to make each elemental type feel distinctive enough and provide unique play styles that you might want to test out. For example, fire spells are better at setting enemies on fire providing a damage over time debuff which you can later combine with conjuration spells or even the enchantment system to cause meteors, hydras or other strong spells automatically summon on these burning enemies. Meanwhile, Frost has a more direct and higher initial damage which also includes slowing enemies movement and even providing deep freeze mechanics later down the skill tree. There's also lightning which excels at AOE, jumping from one enemy to another especially via skills like the chain lightning in the core category that is extremely strong option early on.

Now the Sorcerer's unique class mechanic is the Enchantment System, this basically lets you sacrifice almost any active skill, place it inside a special enchant slot which now prevents that from being casted actively, but instead gives you a passive secondary effect that can be very strong. For example, you can cast blizzard manually if you want to which is going to leave this AOE that deals quite nice damage or just to place it in the enchantment slot instead, which will make it automatically trigger every 15 seconds or so and follow you for up to 4 seconds without having to do anything, or meet you or that you normally use to cast down a meteorite on enemies heads which in the enchantment slot instead automatically triggers periodically against enemies under the burning effect. But every single core skill and many more will have similar effects that you can check in the skill tree.

Primary Stats:

Sorcerers will want to focus on intelligence first which provides extra skill damage as well as buff to all resistances. Willpower for increased mana generation, overpowered damage and healing. Some extra dexterity on top for the extra Critical Strike chance and chance to dodge incoming attacks.

Barbarian Overview (Mechanic, Weapons, Stats, Specialization)

Type: Melee
Class mechanic requirement: Level 5

The third and final class available in the first beta weekend and this has been described as a brutal and intimidating warrior. With unparalleled strength who expertly wields an entire arsenal of weapons in combat. Barbarians have access to two types of general builds, either the Warord which focuses more on defenses, party-wide buffs, crowd control mechanics and access to the bleed mechanic or Berserker if you want to go for more immediate maximized damage, reckless offense and access to self buffs. This class also has a decent early on AOE via core skills like upheaval or Whirlwind which will consume Fury that you generate naturally in combat or via basic attacks. But you also have access to shells that provide certain buffs including generating a lot more Fury.

The Barbarian's unique class mechanic is its Arsenal System and weapon expertise, this is the only class to have access to 4 weapon slots in total which lets you use both two-handed weapons like maces or swords as well as dual wielding. Luckily, you don't have to worry about switching between any of these as your character auto switches to the correct weapon when using certain skills that require them. Another thing to note is Barbarian also has access to expertise which grants bonus effects based on how much you have leveled up each weapon type. So the more you play with these weapons, the more they level up and eventually they will provide additional technique slots for extra effects and buffs.

Primary Stats:

As a Barbarian, you will want to focus on the strength which provides skill damage and extra armor. Willpower for increased resource generation, overpowered damage and healing receives. But you can also add dexterity if you want extra Critical Strike and chance to dodge incoming attacks.

Once the D4 Open Beta hits on the 24th this month, we will get access to two more classes, the Necromancer and the Druid.

Necromancer Overview

Type: Ranged
Class mechanic requirement: Unconfirmed

Necromancer is the Summoner class of Diablo 4, being able to conjure vengeful hordes of the undead, command them in battle via the power of essence and sacrifice them when needed for powerful buffs. There are several types of spells Necromancer can focus on including blood magic, which can provide healing, and even immunity for a short duration such as the one provided by Blood Mist ability for 3.5 seconds. Vulnerabilities should you choose a more direct source of damage, this one favors critical strikes against enemies as well as dividing the battlefield with skills such as bone prison to restrict them for a certain duration. And Shadow via spells like decompose reap light or sever which can attack multiple times in a short duration, leave off damage pulls behind or buff your character defenses.

Necromancer’s class mechanic is the Book of the Dead, giving it access to 3 customizable summoners, this includes Skeletal Warriors, Skeletal Mages and the Golem. Each one of them comes up with up to 5 specializations and unique upgrades that let them fit different roles in combat. For example, Skeletal Warriors can be spacked as skirmishers, standard warriors that have increased damage but lower health. Defenders if you want more tanky-like companions or Reapers more aimed for AOE damage with long wind-up attacks that deal high amounts of damage. However, these units can also be sacrificed in exchange for personal buffs that increase your own powers. As far as weapons go, Necromancers get to access the Scythe, a unique weapon specific just to this class, but also to an assortment of swords, daggers, focuses or shields.

Druid Overview

Type: Melee/Ranged
Class mechanic requirement: Level 15

The shapeshifter of Diablo 4 that can transform at will between vicious forms such as bear or werewolf, commands nature's wrath by unleashing the powers of earth, wind or storm. Some of its basic attacks like claw or maul led to immediately shape-shift into a Werewolf or Werebear respectively providing additional single target damage or more AOE with the possibility of buffing up your own defenses. Druid is a very versatile class however, so melee isn't the only option, you can also choose abilities similar to spells like the Wind Shear or Earth Spike from early on or go with a hybrid between the two via storm strike which is also a very strong early on option. The latter provides a buff to your weapon which imbues it with electricity that can jump to nearby enemies and provide additional damage reduction to your own character.

Specialization:

The Druid specialization is called Spirit Animals and this gives you a variety of boons depending on the spirit animal you have bonded with and unlocked. You aren't actually locked with any of them as you can swap freely between them. Even get a second boon once you've unlocked all four spirit animals for a total of 5 buffs that you can have at the same time. However, unless something changes, it's highly unlikely that we'll get to unlock these in the beta since it's restricted to the starting zone and only level 25.

Equipment:

In terms of equipment, the class has access to a main and an offhand slot which lets it equip one-handed, two-handed, as well as Stave weapons.

Stats:

In terms of attributes, it will likely focus on strength, intelligence and willpower with some dexterity left as well for that additional critical chance.

That’s all the class breakdowns, which ones are you planning to play with first? Which is the best starting class in Diablo 4 open beta or what is the best class in Diablo 4 open beta?

In my opinion, each class has its own strengths and weaknesses, as well as unique abilities and gameplay mechanics. The Barbarian is a great choice for players who prefer a melee-focused playstyle, while the Sorceress is better suited for those who prefer a ranged or magic-focused playstyle. The Paladin is an excellent choice for players who want to focus on support and defensive abilities, while the Necromancer is better suited for players who enjoy summoning minions to fight for them.