Season 22 of Diablo 3 began a few months ago, but there's still plenty of time to earn some powerful new gear. As with each of Diablo 3's seasons, players have the option to create a brand new character and level them from 1 to 70, earning tons of loot along the way. Players who complete the first four levels of this season's Journey will also earn Haedrig's Gifts, powerful pieces of class-specific armor that provide a unique set bonus when worn together.
There are many different metrics for success in Diablo 3, and while certain classes are excellent for group play, others are much better for playing solo. This class tier list will focus on solo play and place an emphasis on speed. Seasons in Diablo 3 typically last three to four months, so Season 23 could be announced fairly soon. Players hoping to grab this season's Haedrig's Gifts will need to hit 70 as quickly as possible if they want to finish the seasonal Journey on time.
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The necromancer is an incredibly powerful class in Diablo 3, raising armies of the dead and firing bone spikes at their enemies. Necromancers have the option to stand back while their minions soak damage, but also have enough sustainability to wade into the fray if necessary. The class's Legacy of Dreams build has been top-tier for quite some time now, but the newer Bone Masquerade build has been rising in popularity since the beginning of the season. The necromancer is not included with the base game of Diablo 3, so players who want to give the class a try will need to purchase the Rise of the Necromancer DLC.
Haedrig's Gifts: Necromancers who complete the first four pages of the seasonal Journey will receive the Burning Masquerade armor set, which gives buffs their Simulacrums and Bone Spears. Given the build's chart-topping performance, this armor set is absolutely worth picking up.
The demon hunter offers mobility, versatility, and very high damage output. They can set up turrets, dodge enemy attacks, or delete hordes altogether with their plentiful area effects. The most powerful demon hunter build at the moment uses the Gear of Dreadlands armor set, which empowers their Strafe and Vengeance abilities while providing a significant boost to movement speed. The build is excellent for clearing Greater Rifts at breakneck pace, which is a huge part of Diablo 3's endgame.
Haedrig's Gifts: The Gear of Dreadlands armor set is available this season, making the class's strongest build easily attainable. Players who enjoy diving into battle and blasting their way out should absolutely consider leveling a demon hunter. However, those who prefer to set up sentry turrets and fire from a distance might want to look somewhere else.
Diablo 3's monk has two powerful builds at the moment, both of which are great for clearing Rifts quickly. The most powerful build relies on the bonus from the Patterns of Justice set, which empowers the Tempest Rush and Sweeping Wind abilities and lets monks carve a path through their enemies. Another popular build focuses on the Wave of Light ability and places greater emphasis on clearing enemies from a distance. While the monk is a very powerful class, its speed and damage potential doesn't quite reach that of the necromancer or demon hunter.
Haedrig's Gifts: Monks can earn the Patterns of Justice armor set this season, which opens up the path to their Tempest Rush build. Monk players should take the opportunity to grab this set while it's available.
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The barbarian is Diablo 3's first tank, and the class's abilities focus heavily on debuffs, damage reduction, and cleave attacks. The top build for the class focuses on a "spin to win" play style, buffing the Rend and Whirlwind abilities. Barbarians have excellent endgame potential while also offering a very smooth leveling experience. They start strong and get stronger, making them an excellent choice for new and experienced players.
Haedrig's Gifts: The barbarian might have been S-tier, but the Horde of the Ninety Savages armor set makes the class a slightly weaker choice this season. While the set is the basis of several powerful builds, it doesn't empower the Rend or Whirlwind abilities, making the choice slightly less optimal.
The crusader is the tankiest class in the game, offering multiple ways to mitigate damage and buff allies while simultaneously raining down area effects. The trade-off is that the class is also the slowest in the game, with very few ways to escape overwhelming hordes. The crusader is excellent for group play and for those who enjoy a methodical, "slow and steady wins the race" play style. Like the necromancer, the crusader is not included with the base version of Diablo 3, so players who want to give the class a shot will need to purchase the Reaper of Souls DLC.
Haedrig's Gifts: The Aegis of Valor armor set can be unlocked this season, giving players access to the class's strongest build. The crusader can be hit-or-miss each season, so players who like the idea of bulldozing their way through Greater Rifts should consider grabbing this set while they can.
The witch doctor is one of the most unique classes in Diablo 3, pairing the necromancer's numerous pets with the wizard's powerful spells. The class's strongest build makes use of the bonus from the Mundunugu's Regalia set, which empowers the Spirit Barrage ability. When paired with the Manitou rune, Spirit Barrage fires automatically, allowing the witch doctor to waltz through hordes of enemies without even needing to attack. The class's low mobility makes it less optimal for speed runs, but still a ton of fun to play.
Haedrig's Gifts: Witch doctors can unlock Mundunugu's Regalia, which is a vital component of the class's only top-tier build. The witch doctor play style isn't for everyone, but fans of the class should take advantage of this opportunity.
Wizards in Diablo 3 are capable of putting out huge amounts of damage and summoning creatures to battle their enemies. Unfortunately, they lack the mobility and survivability of other classes, creating a steep learning curve for newer players. There are quite a few powerful wizard builds this season, but no clear top dog. Energy Twister, Hydra, and Archon builds are all viable, with only the Archon build requiring a specific set bonus.
Haedrig's Gifts: Wizards can earn the Typhon's Veil set this season, which empowers their Hydra build. While this set bonus is strong, it's not strictly necessary for Hydra Wizards, and many prefer to use the Legacy of Dreams bonus instead.
Diablo 3 is available now on Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, and Xbox One.