Diablo 4 Season 1 Tier List – Best Classes & Builds

Diablo 4 Season 1 is upon us, and with it, a chance to create the seasonal hero you'll use in Season of the Malignant, leveling up as you go. I played Druid during my first playthrough, but this time, I'm looking forward to exploring other classes and builds in this seasonal challenge. But with various classes being hit with nerfs, you may wonder how they all rank for the new season. Here is a tier list of all classes for Diablo IV Season of the Malignant!

Class Tier list for Diablo 4 Season 1

All classes for Diablo IV Season of the Malignant ranked

We ranked all the Diablo IV Season of the Malignant classes and how they fare in the game. With the added option to skip the campaign entirely, players can partake in a short continuation of the story, exploring other classes and builds at their disposal. This tier list Ranks all classes compared to each other using what we consider the strongest build for each class to rank them. Remember that Diablo 4 has been subject to frequent balance changes by Blizzard and that this list may be changed in the future.

Best Diablo IV Season 1 Class (S Tier)

Necromancer (Bone Spear build)

Necromancer has shifted in the current class meta by evading most of the nerfs that other classes have been hit with, making it the best starting class for Diablo IV Season of the Malignant. Its Bone Spear build remains the smoothest build to level a Necromancer with, working beautifully in the endgame by providing high critical hits. Its ability to create sufficient corpses remains strong, making this class my favorite for the Season 1 playthrough.

Related: How to get all Uniques in Diablo 4

A Tier Diablo IV Season 1 Class

Sorcerer (Ice Shards build)

The Sorcerer class has taken a horrible hit in the nerf wave but remains solid as the fastest-leveling class in the game. With its Ice Shards build, the Sorcerer still keeps the late-game viability by issuing a massive damage output despite the damage and passive buff reductions. They remain the biggest glass canon in the game, and keeping them alive will also be a challenge throughout Season 1.

B Tier Diablo IV Season 1 Class

Rogue (Twisting Blades build)

The Rogue class has received significant buffs lately, making them climb the tier list ranks of Diablo IV. The melee Rogue variant will still outperform the ranged variant, much to the dismay of old-school Diablo players like me. Their skill ceiling remains very high, and keeping them alive will challenge players, just like the Sorcerer class. This, combined with their lower damage output than the Sorcerer, ranks them just below the said class.

The Twisting Blades build will be a way to go in Diablo 4 Season of the Malignant, providing exceptional mobility that will keep you alive, allowing you to dish out maximum damage potential. Like all other Rogue builds, it requires careful playing and cooldown level management but feels rather rewarding, and it will level you up fast.

C Tier Diablo IV Season 1 Class

Druid (Pulverize build)

Druid is certainly a tankier and easier class to play than the Rogue class, which unfortunately comes at the cost of being less effective in the damage output compartment. The Pulverize build is the most optimal way to play Druid due to its high DPS output. It is centered around the Pulverize ability, which uses a large area of effect to control the enemies and deal large amounts of damage.

Related: Diablo 4 – How to fix progress not carrying over to Seasonal Server

D Tier Diablo IV Season 1 Class

Barbarian (Whirlwind build)

Barbarian is the class that has been hit hardest by all nerf waves by Blizzard recently. With the Whirlwind build still going strongest, the Barbarian class in its current state can't compete effectively with other classes in overall damage output. They are slow to level up, but this has happened before. This fact, coupled with reductions to their passives and Unique items, makes them the current bottom feeder on this list.

Looking for more Diablo 4 guides to help you fight the demonic hordes? You're in the right place! Check out Diablo 4 – How to complete Holding Back the Flood and How to get Bound Faith cosmetic in Diablo 4 here on Pro Game Guides!