In a move that nobody saw coming, Blizzard has officially announced a completely new playable class for Diablo 2 Resurrected: the Warlock. This is the first time a new hero has entered the classic D2 roster since the Lord of Destruction expansion over two decades ago.
To make sure you are ready for this new class, our resident Diablo 2 expert and veteran writer, MrLlamaSC, has already prepared a full set of Warlock guides. Each build has been thoroughly theorycrafted to make sure you do not have to reset your skills on day one.
You can check out all currently available Warlock Build Guides here:
- Fire Warlock Build
- Magic Warlock Build
- Eldritch Blast Warlock Build
- Cleave Warlock Build
- Echoing Strike/Mirrored Blades Warlock Build
- Demon Summoner Warlock Build
What is the Warlock?
The Warlock is a master of binding demons and wielding magic through sheer mental will. What makes this class truly impressive is its versatility; you can play this class as a frontline tank, a backline caster, or a demonic commander. The Warlock has all the tools to make it work!
The new class also brings mechanical changes to the game that we have never seen before. Thanks to the Levitation Mastery skill, the Warlock can wield heavy two-handed weapons (like Mauls or Staves) in one hand while still carrying a shield.
Three Ways to Play: The Skill Trees
The Warlock makes use of three distinct trees that allow for a massive variety of builds:
- The Chaos Tree (Caster Focus): Focuses on Fire and Magic paths. It also introduces Sigils, which alter the state of any enemy that enters their radius.
- The Demon Tree (Summoner Focus): Allows the Warlock to summon personal demons or Bind demons found in the wild to join his army. This is currently looking like one of the safest and most powerful options for beginners.
- The Eldritch Tree (Melee & Support): Turns the Warlock into a durable fighter. Skills like Mirror and Hex allow you to reflect damage and weaken enemies while fighting in close quarters.
New Class Items: Tomes and Daggers
Besides the skills, the Warlock introduces a new class-specific item type: Tomes. These “book” shields provide Warlock-specific skill bonuses and serve as bases for powerful new Runewords. Additionally, Daggers have been updated to roll with Warlock skills starting from Level 1, which helps the class feel unique right from Act 1.
Which Warlock Build Should You Play?
Of course, the meta is still evolving, but for now, the Demon Summoner is a top recommendation for safety, while the Cleave Warlock is proving to be a powerhouse for clearing Terror Zones.
If you want to reach the endgame as quickly as possible, make sure to check out our Warlock Fastest Leveling Guide, also curated by MrLlamaSC. However, please note that some of the newly released Warlock build guides are currently a work in progress.
For more updates on the Warlock and other D2R news, visit our main Diablo II news hub.
