Diablo 4's Repeat of Classic RPG Mistakes: Analyzing Two Classes
Diablo 4's Barbarians and Druids face a challenging start in the game, with their true potential being unlocked later on Discover the reasons behind their struggle and how they eventually become powerful additions to the gameplay loop
The success of Diablo 4 is undeniable, and it has become a topic of discussion among developers and studios alike. Its marketing strategy and engaging gameplay loop have been praised, but the game is not without its flaws. One area that requires attention is the class balance, particularly the low-end performance of two classes. With five classes currently available and more to come in future expansions, Blizzard must address this issue to ensure a better player experience. While the game's return to its roots in terms of class archetypes has been well-received, the Druid and Barbarian classes are notorious for being difficult to level up in RPGs. This stereotype carries over to Diablo 4, and it is impacting the early game experience.
Why Diablo 4's Barbarians and Druids Struggle in the Early Game
Barbarians in Diablo 4 face a significant challenge when it comes to generating and managing resources, which becomes apparent in the early stages of the game. Unlike other classes, Barbarians cannot enter combat with a fully stacked Fury bar, as it depletes rapidly when not dealing damage. As a result, players need to rely on Basic Skills to build up their Fury before being able to use more powerful Core Skills. This can make the leveling experience frustratingly slow, but fortunately, there is a solution in the form of Rallying Cry.
Barbarians have historically struggled with survivability in RPGs, and Diablo 4 is no exception. Despite being at the forefront of battle, new Barbarian characters have limited HP and survival tools. To address this, Blizzard has added a 10% damage reduction to Diablo 4's Barbarians. Although this does make the game more manageable, the primary issue is getting to the point where fighting demons is enjoyable - which usually only happens towards the endgame.
The Druid in Diablo 4 faces challenges when it comes to leveling up, as their Companion skills only become available at level 13, and they heavily rely on gear and Legendary Aspects for optimal performance. For example, the Shockwave Aspect is essential for Pulverize builds. The Werebear and Werewolf builds are not the most efficient options, and using other skills comes at an increased Spirit cost. This means that the Druid requires specific requirements for any build to work effectively, making it a challenging class to use for new players. The Barbarian faces similar issues, as both classes experience slow and inefficient leveling experiences compared to other classes. However, with frequent balance patches, these issues may be resolved in the future to improve the overall gameplay experience.
Diablo 4 launches on June 6 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
