Diablo 4 Season 1 tier list

Guides, Reviews

Diablo 4 Season 1 Class and Build Tier List

Diablo 4 Season 1 introduces a new set of patch notes that bring changes to the power levels of classes and builds. This means that the previously strong classes and builds may not be as effective, while the weaker ones have become more viable. In this guide, we will provide a general tier list of all the classes and their builds in Diablo 4 Season 1. Let’s dive in!

The Best Class in Diablo 4 Season 1

If you’re looking for the best class in Diablo 4 Season 1 after all the buffs and nerfs, the answer is the Rogue. While Barbarian and Sorcerer were dominant at the game’s launch, the nerfs they received significantly weakened their best builds. On the other hand, Rogues and Druids received several buffs, making them much stronger in Season of the Malignant. Necromancers remain in a great spot as well. Let’s explore the details of each class.

1. Rogue

Rogues were already powerful before Diablo 4 Season 1, and they continue to maintain their top position. They didn’t receive any major nerfs and even got some great damage buffs, making them even more formidable this season. However, playing as a Rogue requires more attention to detail and skill compared to other classes. If you invest time in mastering the Rogue, it will pay off, as they are the best class in Diablo 4 Season 1. For a complete list of the buffs and nerfs made to Rogues, check out our guide.

Best Rogue Builds in Diablo 4 Season 1:

  • Twisted Blades
  • Flurry
  • Rapid Fire
  • Penetrating Shot
  • Barrage

While melee Rogue builds generally outperform ranged builds, all of them are good. With the right imbuement, you can create a powerful Rogue melee build that excels in all aspects of the game, including leveling and endgame. Ultimately, choose the build that you find the most enjoyable to play.

2. Druid

Druids are slightly less effective than Rogues in most areas except survivability. While leveling and clearing endgame activities might be easier with a Rogue, Druids are the strongest class in the endgame and provide a lot of enjoyment after the initial leveling grind. They didn’t receive many nerfs, and the buffs they did get enhance the power of their existing builds. If you haven’t tried playing a Druid yet, Diablo 4 Season 1 is the perfect time to give it a go. For the full list of buffs and nerfs to Druids, refer to our guide.

Best Druid Builds in Diablo 4 Season 1:

  • Werebear
  • Shred
  • Pulverize
  • Lightning Storm

The Werebear build was excellent before Season of the Malignant, and it remains a strong choice. While the Shred or Pulverize builds are also viable, the Lightning Storm build lags slightly behind due to the unbeatable tank viability offered by the Werebear builds.

3. Necromancer

The Necromancer was my first class in Diablo 4, and I’m happy to say that they didn’t suffer too many nerfs. In fact, they have one of the best overall outcomes in the Season of the Malignant patch. However, Necromancers fall in the middle of the pack because their performance in every aspect of the game is average. Their leveling, endgame capabilities, survivability, and fun factor are all decent without excelling. Nevertheless, Necromancers still have some of the best builds available. For a detailed list of buffs and nerfs to Necromancers, visit our guide.

Best Necromancer Builds in Diablo 4 Season 1:

  • Bone Spear
  • Bone Spirit
  • Blood Lance
  • Blood Mist

Bone Spear, despite the nerfs, remains an incredibly powerful build and one of the best in the game. As a casual player, I particularly enjoyed the Blood builds, and most of the Blood abilities have received buffs, making them more viable in Diablo 4 Season 1.

4. Sorcerer

Sorcerers have faced significant nerfs, leading to outrage among the Diablo 4 community. However, they are not the worst class in Season 1, as they still excel in certain areas. Sorcerers are unmatched when it comes to quickly leveling up and clearing activities like Dungeons and Helltides. However, dealing high damage will be a challenge in Season of the Malignant, as the nerfs mainly targeted crucial passives and damage buffs. Additionally, Sorcerers have the lowest survivability, making them a challenging class to play. To see all the buffs and nerfs to Sorcerers, check out our guide.

Best Sorcerer Builds in Diablo 4 Season 1:

  • Ice Shards
  • Ball Lightning
  • Fire Wall

Sorcerers have access to three elements: ice, fire, and lightning. In Diablo 4 Season 1, the best Sorcerer builds are the ice builds, especially the Ice Shards build. While Ball Lightning and Fire Wall are still useful for crowd control, Ice Shards is the only build that allows Sorcerers to compete with other classes in terms of damage potential.

5. Barbarian

Barbarians face the most significant challenges in Diablo 4 Season 1 due to the nerfs to their abilities, Unique Items, and passives. While you can still choose to play a Barbarian and have fun, be aware that their builds are not as effective as those of other classes. They will be much harder to play compared to the initial launch of Diablo 4, as they are slow levelers and their endgame builds have been weakened. Additionally, Barbarians may be the least enjoyable class for casual players. For a complete list of buffs and nerfs to Barbarians, check out our guide.

Best Barbarian Builds in Diablo 4 Season 1:

  • Whirlwind
  • Hammer of the Ancients
  • Rend

Once known for their high damage-dealing builds, Barbarians receive major nerfs to all the builds that made them powerful in Diablo 4. The only viable build now is Whirlwind, but even that is not as good as the other decent builds available for other classes.