The Vessel of Hatred expansion has shaken up Diablo 4’s meta with the introduction of a new class and numerous changes to existing ones. Here’s a look at how each class performs based on the current patch (2.0.2) and what they excel at in different categories.
Table of Contents
Class Ranking Criteria
- Leveling: How fast and easy it is to reach the endgame.
- Speed Farming: How efficiently you can clear large groups of enemies to farm gear (e.g., in Nightmare Dungeons, Hordes, Floods, Whispers).
- Bossing: How well a class handles tough, single-target enemies like Torment Bosses.
- Pit-Pushing: How well a class performs in high-level content, like The Pit and Black Citadel, where a balance of single-target and area damage, plus good defenses, is key.
Classes are ranked from S-Tier (best) to D-Tier (worst).
Barbarians
- Leveling: D
- Speed Farming: A
- Bossing: D
- Pit-Pushing: D
- Final Score: D
Barbarians are struggling. Many of their best skills have been nerfed, and their scaling with gear is weak. They level up slowly and rely on outdated skills like Upheaval and HotA. While Whirlwind Twister helps with speed farming, they fall short in boss fights and difficult content. Barbarians are best suited for easy tasks but lag behind in tougher challenges.
Druids
- Leveling: C
- Speed Farming: C
- Bossing: B
- Pit-Pushing: C
- Final Score: C
Druids are middle-of-the-road in everything. Blizzard has nerfed some of their better skills while buffing weaker ones, but none stand out. Leveling is mostly viable with pet builds, while skills like Pulverise or Lightningstorm work for speed farming, albeit slower than other classes. Landslide is useful against bosses but struggles in the Pit. Druids require specific builds and gear, which can make them difficult for beginners.
Rogue
- Leveling: B
- Speed Farming: A
- Bossing: C
- Pit-Pushing: B
- Final Score: B
Hunters are solid all-around but can be boring this season. Melee options have been nerfed, and the class now revolves around the Dance of Knives skill, which dominates leveling and speed farming. However, this skill is less effective against bosses and in the Pit. If you don’t enjoy this playstyle, the season might feel repetitive.
Necromancers
- Leveling: S
- Speed Farming: C
- Bossing: A
- Pit-Pushing: A
- Final Score: A
Necromancers are back to being fun, with only their speed farming lagging behind. Minions make leveling easy as they do the work while you relax. For speed farming, switching to Soulrift or Spiritwave (without minions) is more effective. Against bosses and in the Pit, Bonespirit is a solid option. Necromancers offer flexible builds that are also beginner-friendly.
Sorcerers
- Leveling: S
- Speed Farming: A
- Bossing: S
- Pit-Pushing: A
- Final Score: A
Despite some nerfs, Sorcerers continue to dominate. Chain Lightning and Firewall make leveling quick, and Lightning Spear is excellent for speed farming, bossing, and Pit-pushing. The downside? It’s the same builds as always. If you’re okay with that, Sorcerers are still top-tier.
Spiritborn
- Leveling: S
- Speed Farming: S
- Bossing: S
- Pit-Pushing: S
- Final Score: S
The new class, Spiritborn, is extremely powerful, with strong builds across the board. Whether leveling with a mix of eagle and jaguar forms or tackling endgame content, Spiritborn excels. Expect nerfs in future patches, but for now, they’re the strongest class available.
That’s the current class tier list for the launch of Vessel of Hatred. Which class are you enjoying the most? Let us know in the comments!
