In video game discourse, adjectives like “aged like fine wine”, “magnum opus”, “path-breaking,” etc., are thrown around without much gravitas. Yes, there are plenty of games that fit them, but very few of them have left a lasting legacy, even when stripped to the barest of forms, like Diablo II. The original Diablo invented a whole new genre, but it’s Diablo 2 that elevated the genre to new heights. So much so that Diablo 2 is still the benchmark for ARPGs, even after all these years. After fumbling with the remaster of Warcraft III, Blizzard slowed down, took the utmost care in remastering Diablo 2 as Diablo 2: Resurrected. A risky move that paid off big for Blizzard, with Resurrected crossing more than 5 million copies sold.
On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the series, Blizzard surprised the fanbase by surprise-dropping a brand-new class for Diablo 2 (for Resurrected, to be specific). Releasing 26 years after the last official expansion, Reign of the Warlock adds the titular class to the enduring ARPG, bringing the total number of classes to 9! This new class comes bundled with several QoL additions that are guaranteed to make your stay in Hell much more enjoyable. On top of that, Diablo 2 Remastered and the Reign of the Warlock DLC have made their way to Steam, repackaged as Diablo 2: Resurrected- Infernal Edition. Owners of the base game will need to purchase the DLC separately for $25.
If you ask me, Diablo 2 is one of those rare games that’s perfect in almost every way, right down to its simplest form. Resurrected made it prettier (while keeping the vibe intact. Reign of the Warlock has now made it even better. While this was a surprise addition, who doesn’t love to try something new in an ARPG they’ve enjoyed for more than 20 years? It’s even better when the class is a blast to play and doesn’t break the meta completely.
As a class, the Warlock doesn’t seem all that exciting from the outside- sticking to the same mechanical pillars the other 8 have been relying on for 26 years. Warlock’s uniqueness lies in the versatility of his kit. I’d say that the Warlock is a cross between a Shaman and a Necromancer, but better. Warlock has three unique skill trees at his disposal- Chaos, Eldritch, and Summoning, with each leveraging a different playstyle. Fancy burning anyone who gets close to you in rings of fire? How about hexing and cursing enemies from afar? Or, why not let sic a demon on his own kind? The Warlock is a jack of all trades.
Whichever playstyle you choose, be glad that they’re all viable from Normal to Hell difficulty. Except for 1-2, all of Warlock’s skills work great even if you only dabble a point into them. Repackaged as Diablo II: Resurrected- Infernal Edition. I found myself gravitating towards the Chaos skill tree, sending waves of flame down narrow dungeon corridors or turning anyone getting close into barbecue. If I needed some extra juice, I could just consume the soul of the goat demon I summoned while slowing and hexing all around me.
Perhaps the most unique talent of the Warlock is his weapon levitating passive, allowing him to wield even the most cumbersome Two Hander in one hand while keeping the other free for a Shield or a Grimoire. I also dig the Warlock’s Bind Demon skill, letting you enslave and command enemies (even uniques) and turn them against their own kin.
Blizzard also added new uniques, item sets, Runewords, consumables, and cube recipes to the game. They’re all fine-tuned with the Warlock in mind and synergize exceptionally with him. All this makes the Warlock a ridiculously over-tuned class. Most of the skills work a bit too well, and one can easily clear up to Nightmare without even dying once. But unless you’re a hardcore D2 purist, I don’t think you’ll be having an issue with this lack of “balancing”.
Reign of the Warlock’s QoL changes are also very welcome additions. There is a new customizable Loot Filter that does wonders to minimize screen clutter. Stackable stash tabs are now a thing, allowing you to stack up to 99 Gems, Mats, and Runes in a single slot. Then there’s also the Chronicle, an account-wide compendium that allows you to easily track, sort through, and search for every single item in the game.
As for the endgame, the Terrorzones have received a rework, with them now changing every 30 minutes. Players can also use Terrorzone shards to terrorize entire acts when needed. Heralds have been added to Terrorzones and will drop Sunder items when killed.
All of these great changes, and I wish Blizzard had gone just an extra step to let you play the DLC content on the classic graphics. Blizzard, if you’re reading this, consider adding a 2D sprite version of the Warlock.
Reign of the Warlock feels less like a nostalgic cash-in and more like a genuine love letter to one of the greatest ARPGs ever made. By introducing a fresh, wildly enjoyable class and pairing it with meaningful quality-of-life upgrades and endgame refinements, Blizzard proves that even a 26-year-old classic can still evolve without losing its soul. The Warlock may be a little overpowered, but in a game players have mastered for decades, that power fantasy feels earned rather than excessive.