Diablo 4's Imbalanced Classes: Barbarian Ignored, Necromancer Overpowered

Just 24 hours after the Deluxe and Ultimate Edition launch of Diablo 4, Blizzard has released Patch 1.02. While Patch 1.01 offered minor buffs to the Druid class, the latest patch has implemented significant changes, including nerfs to the Sorceress, Barbarian, and Rogue classes, and increased health pools for endgame enemies. However, the nerfs seem to be targeting the wrong classes, as the Druid class was previously underperforming and in need of further support in the early game. Additionally, the Barbarian class requires a buff to address its resource management issues.

Diablo 4's Barbarian Should Have Been the Recipient of a Buff

The Barbarian's Shout ability in Diablo 4 has been deemed overpowered in the current meta. Patch 1.02 brought changes to the class by removing the Shout skill cooldown affix from gear, which indirectly affects the Barbarian's build strategy. However, the class has not received a direct nerf. What's perplexing is that this early nerf comes at a time when the Barbarian already struggles with poor resource generation.

Unlike other classes that have automatic skill resource generation, the Barbarian's Fury pool can only be generated through receiving damage. This forces players to adopt a kamikaze approach in combat, especially in the early game when they are weaker and facing increasingly dangerous enemies. If the Barbarian is required to rush headfirst into combat to generate skill resource, it would have been more appropriate to receive a buff rather than a nerf in the early game.

The Necromancer, not the Rogue or Sorceress, Needs Nerfing

While the Barbarian class received a slight nerf in Patch 1.02, the Sorceress and Rogue classes also saw some minor balancing adjustments. The Flame Shield ability for the Sorceress now has a full cooldown when equipped, and the Rogue experiences a four-second delay after the Inner Sight skill expires. These changes may not be significant, but they are surprising for classes that were not as unbalanced in the early game as the Necromancer. The Necromancer is a force to be reckoned with in the early-to-mid game of Diablo 4, as players can use their skeletons to draw aggro and attack enemies from afar. With the Corpse Explosion skill unlocked, the Necromancer becomes a deadly wave of destruction. In comparison, the Rogue and Sorceress require skillful maneuvering to avoid danger while dealing damage.

As Diablo 4 is in its early release stage, it's expected that Blizzard will continue to release more patches before its official launch on June 6. However, there may be some disappointment among players as it seems like other classes could have also benefited from the early release patch notes. It's worth noting that the game is currently available for early access and will be fully launched on June 6 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.