All of Diablo 4’s classes represent a seasoned demon-slaying warrior, with each one being geared towards being best in either endgame, leveling, or PvP play in Season 5.
There are currently five classes in Diablo 4: the Druid, Necromancer, Sorcerer, Barbarian, and Rogue, with a sixth class, the Spiritborn, arriving in October’s Vessel of Hatred expansion. Each one offers a different combat style with unique skills, allowing players to craft a range of powerful builds.
These rise and fall in effectiveness as Diablo 4’s meta shifts seasonally, and the class with the most effective builds that season is considered the most powerful overall. Some classes may be top of the tree for leveling, while others will be more suited to endgame play or PvP battles – it all depends on the builds that work best in those arenas each season.
The good news is that this allows us to rank Diablo 4’s classes based on these three categories, so here’s where your favorite class shapes up in our tier list for Season 5.
Best classes in Diablo 4 Season 5
Leveling tier list
| Necromancer | Class |
| S | Necromancer |
| A | Rogue, Sorcerer |
| B | Barbarian |
| C | Druid |
Leveling in Diablo 4 is what you do with a brand new character, be it in the Seasonal or Eternal realm – whether you skipped the story campaign or not.
So, the above tier list is designed to explain which class is the most effective at grinding to level 50 in the current season meta.
Endgame tier list
| Tier | Class |
| S | Necromancer |
| A | Rogue, Sorcerer |
| B | Druid |
| C | Barbarian |
Endgame in Diablo 4 refers to a class that has reached level 50 and has now entered the Paragon Board. Many players may choose to respec their characters into a top endgame build once they reach this point.
This tier list represents the classes that are most powerful for the bulk of Diablo 4’s content. For new players, this could also mean after the story campaign is over and when the Seasonal Journey begins.
PvP tier list
| Tier | Class |
| S | Rogue, Sorcerer |
| A | Barbarian |
| B | Necromancer |
| C | Druid |
The PvP tier list shows which class is best in player-versus-player battles this season. There’s often overlap with endgame in this meta, as builds/classes that are best in endgame are often useful in PVP.
However, this isn’t always the case, as some top endgame builds aren’t as effective in PvP.
Our tiers explained
Here’s a rundown of how each tier for Diablo 4 breaks down:
- S-tier: The best classes you can currently play as
- A-tier: Very good classes offering a good alternative if the S-tier classes aren’t your favorite
- B-tier: Situations where these characters can perform well are few and far between
- C-tier: Avoid using unless you really like these classes
The Necromancer has dominated since Season 4 of Diablo 4 due to their Minion build being so powerful since the Loot Reborn update. This has continued into Season 5 where that build remains incredibly effective in both leveling and endgame.
However, the Minion build is not so effective in PvP when compared to some of the Rogue, Sorcerer, and Barbarian builds. While there are other powerful Necromancer builds to use in PvP that don’t rely on minions, such as the Bone Spirit build, the Rogue and Sorcerer clinch the top spot in this arena – at least for now.
The Rogue and Sorcerer are also very effective classes to use when leveling or once you reach endgame in Season 5 with the powerful Penetrating Shot and Chain Lightning builds justifying their position in the meta.
All class placements explained for Diablo 4 Season 5
Necromancer
When Diablo declared war on life, he accidentally made an enemy of death with the priests of Rathma using their macabre magic against him. The Necromancer class in Diablo 4 is the latest of Rathma’s disciples to stand against the forces of Hell.
In Season 5, the Necromancer’s Minion build is at the very top of the leveling and endgame meta, sitting right up in the S-Tier. This is mostly because that build saw a huge rise in power during the Loot Reborn update, which continues to benefit the Necromancer in Season 5.
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So, if commanding a small force of skeleton warriors, mages, and hulking Golems is your idea of a good time, while you hang back and cast bone and blood spells, then this is your season.
Sorcerer
The traditional elemental magic caster of Diablo 4, the Sorcerer is a glass cannon who blasts enemies with powerful waves of Fire, Ice, and Lightning magic. From a distance, and when it comes to AOE attacks, none can hope to match the Sorcerer class.
In Season 5, the Sorcerer has been knocked off their perch by the Necromancer, but since Diablo 4 came out, the class has been the most consistently reliable in both PvE and PvP – and we don’t imagine this is going to change any time soon.
The Sorcerer remains one of the best classes you can use in Season 5 due to their various builds continuing to be overpowered compared to other classes.
Rogue
The Rogue is a class that goes all the way back to Diablo 1. They’re masters with knives and bows, doing damage from a distance or getting in close and striking before retreating to safety. The class is also the quickest in the meta, running rings around enemies in PvE and PvP.
In Season 5, the Rogue is one of the best classes you can use across all three tier lists. If you want a reliable class to level with, enjoy the endgame, and even dabble in PvP, then the Rogue is a solid choice this season.
Their selection of powerful endgame and PvP builds keeps them in their position in Season 5, and we’d argue they’re tied with the Sorcerer in terms of effectiveness.
Barbarian
The Barbarian is a one-man/woman army that’s proficient with a range of melee weapons and has the toughness and strength to wield them all with deadly effect. This isn’t a class that casts spells or relies on minions, instead, brute force is their main power.
In Season 5 the Barbarian isn’t as effective as the Necromancer, Sorcerer, and Rogue when it comes to PvE, but they’re deadly in PvP. The Barbarian is a class for those who aren’t intimidated by hordes of enemies, especially when things get up close and personal.
Druid
The Druid is a class that uses their connection to the natural world to bring down their enemies. They’re a hybrid class who can use minions, elemental spells, and sheer strength to overcome their enemies. Oh yeah, and they can also transform into a fearsome werewolf or werebear.
Out of all of the classes, the Druid is the lowest on the Season 5 meta. However, they’re still great fun to play as, and their time at the top of the tree will likely come around again soon.
Don’t forget to check back here next Season when the meta shifts to see which class is at the top of the tier list for your preferred style of play.
Until then, here’s everything you need to know about starting a new character in Season 5, whether or not you should skip the campaign, and things you should do before starting the new season.
