It’s an exciting time for Diablo 4 fans with a new expansion on the horizon, but almost nothing is known about it outside a 2026 release window. While there have been some leaks and teases about what players can expect from Diablo 4‘s second expansion, there is still plenty of room for speculation. One of the biggest points of speculation is the new class that Diablo 4 expansion 2 will inevitably introduce, with the Paladin being the frontrunner among the community.
However, the exact form the rumored Paladin class takes in Diablo 4 may not be exactly what players expect. The series has taken some liberties with the archetype in the past; the Paladin was one of Diablo 2‘s most popular classes, but Diablo 3 switched things up with the Crusader taking the Paladin’s place. Now Diablo 4 has the opportunity to introduce its own take on the holy warrior archetype, and it could bring back a surprising blast from the past.
While Diablo 4 is often seen as a direct evolution of Diablo 2, the original Diablo game deserves some representation in this modern incarnation of the franchise. In the first Diablo, players only had the ability to choose between three classes in the base game: Sorcerer, Rogue, and Warrior, with the Monk being added in the Hellfire expansion. With a much more limited pool of classes in the original Diablo, each one had to cover traits of classes that would be more refined in its sequels.
Diablo: Hellfire also includes the Barbarian and Bard classes in the game files, but these classes are only accessible with mods.
While the Warrior sounds like a fairly generic fantasy class, the form it took in the original Diablo allowed it to cover several traditional archetypes. In the game, Warriors looked a lot like Diablo 2‘s Paladins, wielding a variety of one and two-handed weapons, as well as shields and a limited pool of magic skills. However, the lore of Diablo‘s Warriors is much more expansive, painting them to be well-trained fighters who range from righteous Zakarum Paladins to lowly mercenaries for hire. It’s clear that this class was the foundation that Diablo 2‘s Paladin and Diablo 3‘s Crusader were built upon, making a potential Diablo 4 return a full-circle moment.
The Warrior is a particularly strong candidate for a new class in the next Diablo 4 expansion because of their ties to the rumored region where the expansion is set to take place. Diablo‘s original Warrior is known as Prince Aidan of Khanduras, who later was corrupted by Diablo and became Diablo 2‘s Dark Wanderer. However, the region of Khanduras is still renowned within Sanctuary for its military strength and battle-hardened Warriors, making the class the ideal choice for an expansion set there.
While nothing about the next Diablo 4 expansion’s setting has been confirmed, there is a good chance players will be heading west of the current Diablo 4 continent toward Khanduras and Westmarch. A teaser present in Diablo 4 Season 9 alludes to the fact that many pilgrims are traveling west to see the return of the prophet Akarat, suggesting that this next expansion will have players follow the same journey. To the west of Diablo 4‘s map is the continent that is home to regions like Khanduras and Westmarch, where the Warrior of Diablo 1 has a renowned legacy as the son of King Leoric, one of the first major bosses players faced in Diablo 3.
9/10
June 6, 2023
M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language
Proprietary Engine
