During the recent Diablo 30th Anniversary Spotlight, Blizzard unveiled a dark new addition to the franchise: the Warlock. This demon-commanding archetype is set to infiltrate the rosters of Diablo II: Resurrected, Diablo Immortal, and Diablo IV, with each title offering a distinct mechanical interpretation of the profane spellcaster. While the development teams are currently keeping the Warlock’s specific abilities in Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred and Diablo Immortal under wraps, the character makes its grand debut in Diablo II: Resurrected today via the “Reign of the Warlock” DLC.
The Diablo II iteration of the Warlock focuses on three primary summons: the Tainted, the Defiler, and the Goatman. Beyond these core minions, the class possesses the unique ability to “bind” or subjugate nearly any demon encountered in the world, inheriting its specialized traits. Furthermore, Warlocks can choose to consume their bound subordinates, devouring them to gain temporary, powerful buffs tailored to the specific type of demon sacrificed.
Watch the Diablo 30th Anniversary Spotlight
“From its inception, the Warlock felt like a natural expansion of the Diablo universe,” Associate Game Director Zaven Haroutunian explained. “Narratively, Necromancers focus on the preservation of balance; they are stoic and neutral in their philosophy. Warlocks, by contrast, are flamboyant and loud. They don’t hide what they do.”
Haroutunian further clarified the mechanical differences between the two summoner classes. “The playstyle is fundamentally different from a Necromancer, who aims to build a persistent army. The Warlock views his summons as disposable assets—mere tools to be utilized and discarded as needed.”
When discussing how the class remains cohesive across three different games, Haroutunian noted that each development team was given the freedom to adapt the Warlock to fit their specific gameplay loop. He compared this process to the recent implementation of the Paladin in Diablo IV, which was designed to feel fresh while honoring the legacy established in Diablo II.
Diablo II: Reign of the Warlock is available for purchase now on Battle.net, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.
