Blizzard released Diablo 2 in 2000 and it remains one of the best CRPGs of modern gaming. Set after the events of the first Diablo, Diablo 2 tasks the player with eliminating not just Diablo, but his siblings and fellow Prime Evils– Mephisto and Baal.

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Within this highly acclaimed sequel are seven character classes players can choose from. Every class has special skills and its own approaches to battle. As such, all these classes add a unique flavor that definitely spices up anyone's Diablo 2 experience. Thing is, just what are the best classes in the game?

Updated July 16, 2021 by Rhenn Taguiam: Thanks to Diablo 2, fans of ARPGs have the opportunity to fight the forces of the Burning Hells itself. On top of that, players can approach their war against Diablo and his Prime Evil siblings from a wide variety of vantage points and playstyles. With Diablo 2 Remastered on its way, players may want to look back at their best Class options. 

7 Barbarian

The Warrior from Diablo takes on the form of the Barbarian in Diablo 2. Serving as the game's heavy melee tank, Barbarians dominate physical battles. Serving as guardians of Mount Arreat in the game's story, Barbarians heed the call for help when they sense the threat of the Lord of Terror.

Barbarians specialize in using weapons and capitalizing on their raw power. Some say the straightforward nature of the Barbarian makes the game "repetitive," but not all classes have the power to bash a demon's head into oblivion.

The Barbarian's most popular builds reflect his strength and sheer physical power. For instance, the Whirlwind Barbarian builds upon the Whirlwind skill to decimate foes. Meanwhile, the dual-wield Frenzy and defensive Berserker builds deal massive damage to foes in quick succession.

Skill Trees

Barbarians use their fierce training to dominate foes with sheer power. They capitalize on their brutal combat tactics, weapon masteries, and fabled warcries to overwhelm enemies with strength and aggression. Barbarian Skill Trees emphasize these elements to enable a Barbarian to conquer any challenge. 

• Combat Skills. The Barbarian received harsh training to protect Mount Arreat from childhood, allowing them to withstand almost any foe through sheer strength. This skill tree emphasizes survivability and attack power - with the movement-oriented Leap alone being enough to form its own OP build. Notable skills also include Double Swing, Double Throw, and Whirlwind - with the latter also an attack that has a powerful build around it. 
• Combat Masteries. Just because a Barbarian honed their bodies doesn’t mean they don’t know their way through weapons. All skills in this Skill Tree are passives that vastly improve a Barbarian’s potency when wielding a weapon. This group of skills also have Iron Skin and Natural Resistance that add better survivability to the Barbarian. 
• Warcries. A Barbarian’s fierceness is almost always associated with their famous Warcries. In this Skill Tree, a Barbarian has access to Warcries that grant them various abilities - from buffs to actual attacks. Howl can scare opponents, Taunt will force enemies to attack with reduced damage, and Shout increases defense. Unique Warcries also come in the form of Find Potion and Find Item, which can help find better healing items and rare loot.

6 Assassin

Assassins were introduced to Diablo 2 in the Lord of Destruction expansion. Having come from a secret mage-slaying order, Assassins operate from the shadows. They avoid the use of magic and instead rely on magical equipment and traps. As such, they specialize in close quarters combat with their techniques and special abilities.

Assassins work best as PVP juggernauts, dominating foes with their technique and finesse. Their traps can easily stop combos, while their flurry of blows and psychic abilities can turn the tide to their favor.

Popular Assassin builds include the Elementalist, which focuses on Martial Arts that deal elemental damage. Assassin players also use the Kicker build, which can kill enemies in quick succession, or the Shadow-focused Vampire build.

Skill Trees

True to their nature as Mage Slayers, Assassins received remarkable training in using martial arts, traps, and the shadows themselves to eliminate their enemies. Their Skill Trees tap into these unique disciplines to give them a unique edge without having ever to rely on magical abilities.

• Martial Arts. The Assassin’s best weapon is their own body, and Martial Arts embodies this training. This skill tree adds more rotational possibilities to the Assassin’s melee attacks. Assassins trained enough in Martial Arts can dish out Finishing Move and Charge-up Skills that depend on their weapon types. Katars can release fierce Blades of Ice, whereas Claws can release Fists of Fire.
• Traps. When faced against magic-wielding foes, Assassins also rely on Traps to catch them off-guard. An Assassin’s repertoire of Traps synergize each other and improve their potency in combat. Deadly traps include Wake of Fire that releases fire around it and Lightning Sentry that shocks nearby enemies. 
• Shadow Disciplines. In order to counteract the imbalances of magic, Assassins train their psychic potential. These skills demonstrate their mastery of obfuscation, shadow manipulation, and lethal attacks. Burst of Speed and Cloak of Shadows enable Assassins to deftly dodge attacks, whereas Shadow Warrior summons a shadow clone to fight by their side.

5 Druid

Companion to the Assassin in Lord of Destruction, Druids specialize in manipulating nature and wildlife. Despite being kin to the Barbarians, Druids have remarkable control over nature. They can amass the power of the wind & plants around them and take on the form of animals.

Gameplay-wise, Druids are one of the most balanced classes in the game. They have the summoning abilities of the Necromancer, the DPS of the Sorcerer, and the durability of the Barbarian. Unfortunately, these factors do make them "Jack of All Trades, Master of None."

Druid players sometimes rely on the Wind Druid build to take advantage of their cold and physical spells. Other popular builds include Natural Summoner, which takes advantage of the Grizzly, Raven, and Dire Wolf summons.

Skill Trees

Being heralds of nature itself, Druids have access to a wide array of abilities. Aside from their unique relationships with animals, Druids have access to shapeshifting skills and powers of the elements. Their Skill Trees emphasize this unique set of skills, allowing Druids to become tough tanks, potent damage-dealers, and efficient support units. 

• Elemental Skills. Druids spent enough years tempering their natural powers to tame nature’s fiercest elements. This skill tree gives Druids access to devastating natural effects, giving them control over harsh winds or brutal flames. Casting the last abilities of these paths - Hurricane and Armageddon, respectively - can transform any Druid into a havoc of nature. 

• Shape-Shifting Skills. Perhaps the most unique aspect of the Druid, their mastery over nature allows Druids to change their actual physical forms. This skill tree lets Druids transform into a Wolf or a Bear, granting them access to unique abilities in the process. The Werewolf form has a faster attack speed, whereas the Werebear form taps into sheer power. 

• Summoning Skills. Druids can call upon other denizens of nature to help them in their quest to vanquish the forces of Hell. This skill tree allows Druids to call upon various creatures to aid them in battle - with allies such as the Dire Wolf, Solar Creeper, and Grizzly becoming invaluable against hordes of enemies.

4 Amazon

The Rogue from Diablo returns as the Amazon class, serving as the ranged specialist. As nomads from tropical islands, Amazons specialize in defending their forests and homes from invaders with their weapon mastery. Like rangers, they employ bows & arrows, crossbows, javelins, and even spears to demonstrate their combat prowess.

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Amazons specialize in becoming mobile characters suitable for killing certain types of enemies. Thanks to their elemental arrows and deadly attacks, they can easily kill mobs, bosses, or other threats– such as players in PVP.

Popular Amazon builds include the Javazon and Bowazon builds, focusing on the javelin and bow, respectively. Players also use the Thunderfury-Lightjab build, which focuses on building upon the Thunderfury and Light Jab abilities.

Skill Trees

Being trained in their unique form of martial and arcane arts, the Amazon specializes in mid-range to long-range combat. Their Skill Trees can help the Amazon excel in the use of polearms, ranged weaponry, as well as a unique set of combat spells. 

• Javelin and Spear. This set of skills specialize the Amazon’s potency when using polearms - emphasizing throwing and thrusting attacks. Aside from giving them access to more diverse Javelin and Spear attacks, they come with skills that pack a punch. Power Strike (Lightning) and Plague Javelin (Poison) become the backbone of their element-infused attacks. These combos build up to more powerful area skills such as Fend and Lightning Fury. 
• Bow and Crossbow. This cadre of abilities emphasizes the Amazon’s specialization towards ranged attacks. Given that arrows and bolts already serve as the Amazon’s “missile” weapons, this skill tree doesn’t provide them with new attacks. Rather, they amplify arrows and bolts by imbuing them with new abilities. These take the form of enchantments, such as Cold Arrow that slows and Immolation Arrow that explodes.  
• Passive and Magic. This set of abilities capitalize on the Amazon’s special training - emphasizing the need for endurance to outlast demons. This skill tree adds survivability options to the Amazon - such as damage mitigating Evade, Avoid, and Dodge. While the rest of the skill tree also improves the base attack of their weapons, the Valkyrie summon gives the Amazon a handy tank to protect them against stronger foes.

3 Sorceress

The Sorceress serves as the counterpart to Diablo's Sorcerer class. As a member of one of the most powerful mage clans in Sanctuary, the Sorceress is a master of the elements. She's capable of amassing power from fire, lightning, and ice– helping her easily dominate the battlefield.

The Sorceress is a fan favorite with her specialization of elemental spells. Her abundance of AOE abilities make her a force to reckon with in any battleground, and the Sorceress is almost a perfect fit for a DPS character. She boasts great cooldown times, natural teleportation, and skill versatility.

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Interestingly, the most popular Sorceress builds capitalize on her skill trees. Most of these builds rely on Teleport and Energy Shield to secure mobility. Meanwhile, their primary damage and gimmick depends on their element of specialization– be it Blizzard, Fire Ball, or Frozen Orb.

Skill Trees

Thanks to their mastery over magic, the Sorceress has access to the fiercest spells the elements have to offer. Her control over Fire, Lightning, and Cold allows Sorceress to command the very nature of matter itself and cast them in the form of vicious spells. The Sorceress Skill Trees embody the elemental-heavy toolkit that builds up her naturally-high DPS. 

• Fire Spells. Perhaps the most damaging of all spell types, Fire Spells capitalize on burning foes into ash. Spells like Inferno, Fire Ball, and Meteor are heavy damage dealers. In terms of defense, Warmth, Fire Wall, and Enchant can help the Sorceress in terms of buffs and healing potency.  
• Lightning Spells. If Fire focuses on damage, Lightning Spells focus on dishing out unique elemental effects. All its damaging spells are imbued with Lightning damage - such as Nova and Lightning. However, Lightning Spells also have handy utility spells such as the mobile Teleport and the defensive Energy Shield. 
• Cold Spells. Players may consider Cold Spells as the weakest in terms of damaging power, but they boast the greatest potential in defense and debilitating foes. Glacial Spike, Blizzard, and Frozen Orb serve as the Sorceress’s most potent attack spells. However, more useful spells also include the slowing Shiver Armor, and a Chilling Armor that counters hits with an Ice Bolt.

2 Necromancer

Necromancers study the "Great Cycle of Being." As such, these mages have slowly honed power that links life and death, and death back to life. Thanks to their training, Necromancers are calculating and pragmatic, using everything in their disposal to eliminate threats. As such, they use curses, hexes, and even the dead as their weapons.

Necromancers are easily one of the best classes to play in Diablo 2. Thanks to their auras, Necromancers become buffed with boosts that help them capitalize on their abilities. Moreover, their summons easily turn the tide against hordes of demons as the Necromancer can call on archers and soldiers to fight for them.

Popular Necromancer builds include the bone-focused Bonemancer, the summon specialist Summonmancer, and the Poison Nova-using Novamancer.

Skill Trees

With their control over life and death, the Necromancer can tap into forbidden magics to uphold the Great Balance. In turn, their Skill Trees give Necromancers access to spells that raise the dead, poison enemies, and even curse their foes with debilitating conditions.

• Summoning Spells. Perhaps the bread and butter of Necromancers, Summoning Spells showcase the Necromancer’s ability to summon  various forces of the dead. Through corpses, Necromancers can call Skeletons and various types of Golems to attack on their behalf. With the right build, a Necromancer can rely on these creatures to tank damage for them as they dish out their more potent spells. 
• Poison and Bone Spells. A Necromancer’s approach to magic relies on the darker arts - using poison to attack with damage over time and actual bone to protect them. Corpse Explosion, Poison Explosion, and Poison Nova are incredibly potent offensive abilities to use in the Necromancer’s arsenal. In terms of defense, the Bone Wall, Bone Prison, and Bone Spirit vastly improve a Necromancer’s survivability. 
• Curses. Necromancers use their control over the balance of life and death to Curse their opponents with debilitating conditions. While Curses don’t do direct damage to foes, they do detrimental things that give Necromancers the upper hand. Weaken naturally decreases enemy damage, Terror forces enemies to run away, while Life Tap is a deathly-efficient lifesteal.

1 Paladin

Both knight and priest, Paladins defend the land from the forces of evil with their military training & faith. Unfortunately, a civil war within this Paladins order has forced the player to venture West to seek the Prime Evils and vanquish them once & for all. As such, Paladins arm themselves with weapons that help them smite their foes and auras that help them dominate in combat.

Paladins serve as strong utility characters thanks to their numerous auras. Due to his buffs, both the Paladin and his party members can outlast even the most difficult of battles. Players can consider the Paladin the best class in the game, thanks in part to his many builds and high resistances.

The Paladin's Hammerdin serves as perhaps the most popular build, focusing on Blessed Hammer buffed with other spells. However, other popular builds also include the Smite-based Smiter and the Zeal-focused Zealot builds.

Skill Trees

Paladins use their connection with the Light to imbue their abilities with blessings from the High Heavens. As a result, they unleash Auras that help their allies and repel demons, as well as charge their attacks with the fierceness of angels. Their Skill Trees demonstrate these prowesses and their martial training.

• Combat Skills. The Paladin received martial training in handling the sword and the shield, and Combat Skills demonstrate their mastery. These skills infuse their melee attacks with holy magic, enabling them to have interesting effects. Holy Bolt can damage undead and heal allies, Zeal is a multi-attack, Charge is a melee-closing bash, and Vengeance imbues elemental damage to all attacks.
• Offensive Auras. When a Paladin taps into Holy magic, they release it in an Aura that can harm their foes. Each of their Offensive Aura deals damage in unique ways. For instance, Holy Fire will hit enemies with searing flame, while Thorns will return damage to attackers. 
• Defensive Auras. When a Paladin imbues their words of wisdom with Holy magic, their Auras can become defensive. These allow them to defend themselves and their allies through blessings that improve their abilities. Like Offensive Auras, Defensive Auras don’t require Mana to stay active. Prayer and Meditation allow Paladins to heal much faster, whereas other Defensive Auras mitigate damage.

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