The classes in Diablo 4 have garnered much admiration since the first beta, and despite some necessary balance changes, they represent a successful evolution from past iterations in the series. The Necromancer, for instance, boasts a Book of the Dead class specialization that sets it apart from its predecessors, granting players a free skill and the ability to summon up to four skeletons. Each class in Diablo 4 differs from its past versions in distinct ways, with the most notable being the Barbarian's loss of Find Item from Diablo 2. The game's skill tree system is a comprehensive take on the original abilities and upgrades from Diablo 2, featuring a more intricate character customization process that prioritizes passive nodes and skills over stats, with gear playing a significant role as well. Although the game's loot system is generous in terms of rewards, and the Barbarian remains a valuable support class in multiplayer, the loss of Find Item is a double-edged sword.
The Argument For and Against Diablo 4's Barbarian to Have Find Item
Find Item was a unique skill in Diablo 2 that required players to actively cast it on an enemy's corpse in order to trigger the drop of loot as if the enemy had been defeated again. In contrast to the standard method of defeating enemies in a party to increase the chances of better loot, Find Item had its own 1% bonus chance per skill level, independent of the number of players. This made Find Item a valuable tool for obtaining additional loot from enemies that had already been identified as good sources of gear. Due to the effectiveness of this skill, Diablo 2's Barbarian was a popular choice for endgame play, as players could double their loot in certain encounters with impressive results. However, the Barbarian in Diablo 4 took a different approach, for better or for worse.
While the exclusion of Find Item in Diablo 4 may have created a power imbalance due to its exclusive availability to the Barbarian in previous games, the class remains a top contender in endgame support due to the sheer strength and utility of its shouts. Although some may argue that Find Item is unnecessary in Diablo 4, it was a defining feature of the Barbarian in Diablo 2 and could have added some much-needed variety to endgame builds. With a focus on the powerful shouts, the Barbarian may have a different role in Diablo 4, but it still shines as a strong and impactful class.
Diablo 4 launches on June 6 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
