Starting up Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred for the first time players are given a difficult choice: what class to make their first character. The new expansion is increasing Diablo 4s class list from six to eight with both Paladin and Warlock included in the Lord of Hatred DLC pack. It can be difficult to decide which of these two new classes is ideal for a first Lord of Hatred playthrough, as there are pros and cons to both options.
A big factor in deciding which class to play in Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred is the change to Skill Trees across the board. Now, Diablo 4's Skill Tree no longer contains nodes for passive skills, instead allowing players to change their active skills as they level up their character. Although this change opens the door to an even greater variety of build options for each of them Diablo 4s classes, it also adds to the overwhelming decision-making process when choosing a class to play.
If you haven't played Diablo 4 in a while, here's what you should know about Lord of Hatred
Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred changes the game drastically, meaning returning players jumping back in after a hiatus may have some catching up to do.
Paladin Class Overview in Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred
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Playstyle: Melee Tank
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Class Mechanics: Oaths — Juggernaut, Zealot, Apprentice, and Judicator
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Main resource: Faith
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Difficulty: Easy
Paladin is the quintessential holy warrior archetype Diablo 4build on the foundation that did Diablo 2 version of Paladin so iconic. If players like classes that use weapons like one-handed swords, maces, and clubs along with a shield, Paladin probably sounds the most appealing. The various Paladin playstyles revolve around its four different Oaths, with Juggernaut focusing on building up Resolve for stronger AoE skills, Zealot giving the class a more offensive slant by generating Fervor, Disciple allowing the Paladin to transform into its Arbiter form, and Judicator stacking Judgment on enemies that can be detonated for heavy damage.
Paladins also have access to Auras, which allow them to stack a variety of buffs on themselves and allies, while also debuffing and damaging enemies within their radius. As a result, Aura Paladin builds that require very little input from the player can be quite strong in Diablo 4.
The benefit of playing a Paladin in Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred
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Easy for new or returning players to dip their toes into Lord of Hatred
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Thematically appropriate for slaying Mephisto's demonic hordes
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Fun and satisfying build options
A Paladin build will be ideal for new and returning Diablo 4 players get back into the game with Lord of Hatred because it has a fairly straightforward gameplay. Paladin's auras make the class very tanky while giving it the capacity to deal tons of damage passively, allowing players to gain a foothold in the new expansion without having to worry about survivability. As players travel to the new Skovos region and slay Mephisto's demonic minions in Lord of Hatred, playing a holy warrior class like the Paladin seems to be very much on the theme of the expansion.
The cons of playing a Paladin in Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred
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Paladin has been available since Season 11 for players who pre-purchased Lord of Hatred
On paper, the Paladin seems like a perfect class for a Lord of Hatred game, but it might not be ideal for a first run through of the campaign for everyone. Since players were able to pre-purchase Lord of Hatred to gain early access to Paladin starting in Season 11, some of the novelty of the class may have already worn off, making Warlock a more appealing choice. However with Diablo 4s Skill Tree rework, it might still be worth starting up a new Paladin to see how the class has changed since it debuted.
Warlock Class Overview in Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred
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Playstyle: Summoner/Spellcaster
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Class Mechanics: Soul Shards — Legion, Vanguard, Mastermind, Ritualist
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Main Resource(s): Wrath/Dominance
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Difficulty: Moderate
The Warlock made his debut in Diablo series early this year with Diablo 2: Resurrected's Reign of the Warlock DLC. However, the class looks a little different Diablo 4: Lord of Hatredgoes all-in on his Summoning abilities with the Soul Shard class mechanic. Based on the chosen Soul Shard, the Warlock can summon a Greater Demon that forms the basis of its primary playstyles. The Legion Shard grants Summon Ae'grom and emphasizes supporting minor demon skills, the Vanguard Shard grants Summon Abodian and supports Warlock's Demonform transformation, the Mastermind Shard grants Summon Laalish and focuses on Stealth and Abyss skills, and the Ritualist Shard grants Summon of Hellfire Overpower and generates stacks.
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A unique part of Warlock's playstyle is its dual resource mechanic, using Wrath primarily for its arcane magical skills and dominance to summon and control demons. Addressing all of these factors can make Warlock a more intimidating class to play at first glance, but the payoff of getting each factor right can make Warlock incredibly powerful.
The benefit of playing a wizard in Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred
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Recently available with the release of Lord of Hatred
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One of the strongest classes in Diablo 4 Season 13
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Very versatile construction options
The Warlock is the shiny new toy Diablo 4: Lord of Hatredsince it wasn't available in early access before the expansion's launch like Paladin was. It has also proven to be one of the strongest and most versatile classes in the Diablo 4with each playstyle feeling completely unique. Whether it's a pure Summoner Warlock, a Demonform Warlock, a pure Spellcaster Warlock, or a combination of playstyles, players will likely find a build that clicks for them with this class.
The cons of playing a Paladin in Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred
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Complex mechanics can be a turn off for some players
As strong as the Warlock is in Diablo 4: Lord of Hatredhaving to manage multiple daemon invocations along with two different resource pools can be overwhelming. In Lord of Hatred's early game, when resource generation is limited, Warlock's dual resources can be particularly challenging to manage, so players jump back into Diablo 4 after a break may be more likely to bounce off the Warlock. If players can stick through this leveling, Warlock has great endgame potential and will likely be a top meta threat in Diablo 4 Season 13.
The Verdict: Paladin is perfect for new players, but Warlock is the better overall choice
For Diablo 4 players coming back into the game with Lord of Hatred who haven't already experienced it, the Paladin is the best choice, as it's an easy class to pick up and play with powerful build options already available. However, for long-time Diablo 4 players who have already had access to the Paladin for two seasons, the Warlock will be the best choice as it is arguably the stronger class with a higher learning curve for skilled players who want a challenge. Regardless of which class a player chooses, both Paladin and Warlock have enough advantages to make them worth using for both the Lord of Hatred campaign and Diablo 4s playoff activities.
- Released
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June 5, 2023
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, In-Game Purchases, User Interaction
