Class Mechanics Guide for Diablo 4: each Class has a unique mechanic that sets it apart from the others, learn about what each does and how it affects gameplay. See Skills and Combat for further tips.
- Barbarian Class Mechanic: Arsenal System
- Rogue Class Mechanic: Specialization
- Sorceress Class Mechanic: Enchantment System
- Druid Class Mechanic: Spirit Boons
- Necromancer Class Mechanic: Book of the Dead
Specialization is a unique Class Mechanic of the Rogue in Diablo 4. This system allows players to choose one out of three passive bonuses that enhance their playstyle, and it can be swapped at any time, even in the middle of combat. In this article, we will delve into the details of the Rogue's Specialization system and explore how it contributes to the build-making process.
Diablo 4 Rogue Specialization
How to unlock the Class Specialization
The Specialization system for the Rogue unlocks at level 15 after completing a special Rogue-only questline, called True Potential. This questline introduces players to the Rogue's abilities and playstyle and culminates in a challenging encounter that tests their skills.
Swapping Your Specialization
The Rogue's Specialization system allows players to swap their passive bonus at any time, even in the middle of combat. This flexibility allows players to adjust their playstyle on the fly, making it easier to adapt to different situations and enemies. However, swapping Specializations comes at a cost: each time you do it, there is a cooldown before you can swap again.
Combo Points
Diablo 4 Combo Points overview
"Your Basic Skills now Generate Combo Points. Certain skills consume Combo Points for additional effects."
Combo Points are a powerful tool that can be used to enhance any Core Skill, making it even more potent and devastating. This mechanic is especially useful in the early game when Energy recovery options are limited, and Basic Skills make up a significant portion of your attacks. By combining Basic and Core Skills, you can build up to three Combo Points, which can be used to unleash a more powerful Core Skill at no extra cost. In this article, we will explore the Combo Point system and how it can be used to enhance your Rogue's abilities.
How Combo Points Work
Combo Points are built up by using Basic Skills. Each Basic Skill generates one Combo Point when used, up to a maximum of three Combo Points. Once you have built up three Combo Points, you can use a Core Skill to unleash a devastating attack that deals extra damage and has additional effects. However, Rogues can spend 1 Combo Point or 2 Combo Points, if they have that amount at the moment. Note that Core Skills nor the game will ask how many combo points you want to spend when using a Core Skill. As soon as the Core Skill is cast, all accumulated Combo Points will be spent, be it 1,2 or 3.
| Core Skill | 1 Combo Point | 2 Combo Points | 3 Combo Points |
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 Barrage |
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 Rapid Fire |
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 Penetrating Shot |
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 Flurry |
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 Twisting Blades |
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Inner Sight
Diablo 4 Inner Sight Overview
“Attack marked enemies to fill up your Inner Sight gauge. When it's full, gain unlimited Energy for 4 seconds.”
Inner Sight, which unlocks at level 20, allows players to mark a random enemy in a group, and hitting the marked enemies fills up the Inner Sight gauge located next to the Energy bar. The gauge fills up faster with larger hits, making it more beneficial for stronger characters. Once the gauge is full, players gain unlimited Energy for four seconds, regardless of how little they had before.
This specialization is useful in two different scenarios. Firstly, if you reliably hit most of a pull with your abilities at all times, such as with Penetrating Shot or Flurry. Secondly, if you can easily target and hit the right enemy in a pull at will, such as with Twisting Blades or Shadow Step. In regular gameplay, players can expect a proc every 10–20 seconds of combat, depending on their clear speed. Against bosses, it procs even faster if the player's damage is good.
Overall, Inner Sight is an incredibly useful specialization for the Rogue class. Its ability to provide unlimited energy for a short time can be a lifesaver in many combat situations, and players can easily tailor their play style to take advantage of this unique mechanic.
Preparation
Diablo 4 Preparation Overview
Preparation is unlocked at level 30.
"Every 100 energy you spend reduces your Ultimate skill's Cooldown by 5 seconds. Using an Ultimate Skill resets the Cooldowns of your other Skills."
Preparation is unlocked at level 30, and allows Rogues to use more frequently their Ultimate Skills the more energy they spend, which when used, resets the cooldowns of all your other skills. This creates a great synergy between using as much energy as possible to trigger Preparation, and in turn be able to keep casting Skills as fast as possible.
The Book of the Dead is a unique Necromancer-specific skill mechanic in Diablo 4 that allows the player to customize the Necromancer's minions, how minions are deployed, which minions the player can have, and how they behave. Book of the Dead unlocks once Necromancers reach level 5.
There are three categories in Book of the Dead: skeletal warriors and mages, and a golem. Each summon has three variants to choose from. And each variant has three modifications: two Upgrades (only one may be active at a time) and Sacrifice, which disables summoning that minion in exchange for conferring a permanent buff to the Necromancer.
NOTE: The following changes are applied to Book of the Dead in Patch 1.1.0a:
- Necromancer's minions will now automatically re-summon after respawning during a World Boss fight.
- Skeleton Warrior Defenders Upgrade Thorns inherited increased from 40% to 50%.
- Shadow Skeleton Mage Upgrade attacks required for an additional shadow bolt reduced from 5 to 4.
- Bone Skeleton Mage Upgrade Fortify amount increased from 11% to 20%.
- Iron Golems Upgrade attacks required for Slam attack reduced from 5 to 4.
Necromancer Book of the Dead in Diablo 4
In Diablo 4, each class comes with a Unique Class Mechanic that offers additional ways to customize your gameplay experience. The Necromancer's Unique Class Mechanic is the Book of the Dead, a powerful ability that allows you to dominate the battlefield with deeper customization of your undead army than ever before.
The Book of the Dead enables you to summon three different types of undead: Skeletal Warriors, Skeletal Mages, and the Golem. Each of these summons can be specialized in one of three ways. When Necromancers reach level 5, they automatically learn Raise Skeleton, which allows them to create their Skeleton army to do their bidding.
For instance, Skeletal Warriors can be Skirmishers, Defenders, or Reapers. Skirmishers are standard warriors but have increased damage and reduced health. Defenders have bonus health. Reapers have slower attacks, deal damage in an area-of-effect in front of them, and have a special wind-up attack that deals a high amount of damage.
To further enhance your undead army, each specialized minion has unique upgrades available to them that can change their overall playstyle. Additionally, the Book of the Dead allows you to sacrifice the ability to summon a specific unit in exchange for a personal, permanent buff. This means you can mix and match having none, some, or all the possible summoned units while still having relevant options to enhance your build.
Necromancers can have a chosen "Class" for Skeletal Warriors, 1 for Skeletal Mages and one for the Golem. Also, they can select one of two available upgrades or, a sacrifice mechanic. Upgrades, grant additional bonuses but players can only select one. Sacrifice, on the other hand, nullifies the ability to summon that type of minion, but grants the Necromancer a permanent boost.
Skeletal Warriors
Skeletal Warriors act as standard skeletons and they attack enemies at close range with their weapons. Necromancers can initially summon 4 Skeletal Warriors at a time, some Legendary Aspects may increase this number. Necromancer's minions will now automatically re-summon after respawning during a World Boss fight. There are three different types of Skeletal Warriors players can select:
Skirmishers
Sword-wielding skeletal minions that deal 30% increased damage but have 15% reduced life. Unlocks at level: 5
Upgrades & Sacrifice
You can raise one additional Skirmisher warriorEach time you critically strike, your Skirmishers Warriors' next attack Critically Strikes and deals 50% bonus Critical Strike damage. Can only happen every 3 seconds.
Your Critical Strike Chance increased by 5%, but you can no longer raise Skeletal Warriors
Defenders
Durable Shield-bearers with 15% increased Life. Unlocks at level: 8
Upgrades & Sacrifice
Every 6 seconds your Skeletal Defenders negate the next instance of direct damage they would takeIncrease the amount of Thorns that Defender Warriors inherit from you by 50%. You gain 15% Physical Resistance, but you can no longer raise Skeletal Warriors
Reapers
Wields a powerful scythe that has a special wind-up attack, dealing heavy damage every 10 seconds. Unlocks at level : 12
Upgrades & Sacrifice
Reaper attacks against enemies who are Immobilized, Slowed, Stunned or Vulnerable reduce the cooldown of the powerful wind-up attack by 2 seconds.Reapers have a 15% chance to carve the flesh off enemies, forming a Corpse. You deal 10% increased Shadow Damage, but you can no longer raise Skeletal Warriors
Skeletal Mages
Skeletal Mages bombard enemies with spells at range. Necromancers can initially summon 3 Skeletal Magess at a time, some Legendary Aspects may increase this number
Shadow
Shadow Mages wield power from the beyond dealing moderate Shadow Damage. Unlock at level: 15
Upgrades & Sacrifice
Shadow Mage attacks have a 10% chance to Stun for 2 seconds. This cannot happen on the same enemy more than once every 5 seconds.Shadow Mages fire an additional Shadow Bolt every 4th attack. Your Maximum Essence is increased by 15%, but you can no longer raise Skeletal Mages.
Cold
Cold Mages attacks will chill enemies eventually freezing them in their tracks. Unlock at level: 18
Upgrades & Sacrifice
Each time your Cold Mages damage enemies with their primary attack, you gain 2 Essence.Enemies who are frozen by or damaged while Frozen by your Cold Mages' primary attack are made Vulnerable for 4 seconds. You deal 15% increased damage to Vulnerable enemies, but you can no longer raise Skeletal Mages.
Bone
Bone Mages use their own bodies as projectiles, dealing heavy damage at the cost of their own life. Unlock at level: 22
Upgrades & Sacrifice
Reduce the Life cost of your Bone Mages' attacks from 15% to 10%. After being alive for 5 seconds, Bone Mages deal 40% increases damage.Each time a Bone Mage dies from its own attack, they leave behind a corpse and Fortify you for 20% of your base life. Your overpower damage is increased by 40%, but you can no longer raise Skeletal Mages.
Golems
To unlock the Golem, Necromancers have to complete the priority quest Call of the Underworld. Golems are massive, hulking, and intimidating creatures. Necromancer's minions will now automatically re-summon after respawning during a World Boss fight.
Bone
A horrid protector that taunts enemies, forcing them to attack the Golem: 25
Upgrades & Sacrifice
Each time your Bone Golem takes up to 20% of its Maximum Life as damage, it sheds a corpse.Your Bone Golem gains 10% Maximum Life and the amount of Thorns they inherit from you is increased from 30% to 50% You gain 10% increased Attack Speed, but you lose the ability to summon a Golem.
Blood
Drains Life from nearby enemies to heal and bolster itself. Unlock at level: 28
Upgrades & Sacrifice
Your Blood Golem absorbs 15% of damage you would take.While Healthy, your Blood Golem gains 25% Damage Reduction and 50%[x] increased damage. Your Maximum Life is increased by 10%[x], but you lose the ability to summon a Golem.
Iron
An amalgamation of steel that slams the ground and Stuns enemies. Unlock at level: 32
Upgrades & Sacrifice
Every 4th Iron Golem attacks causes a shockwave, dealing X [30%] damage to the primary enemy and to enemies behind them.Your Iron Golem's slam attack also makes enemies Vulnerable for 3 seconds.You deal 30%[x] increased Critical Strike Damage, but you lose the ability to summon a Golem.
The Arsenal System is the unique Barbarian Class mechanic in Diablo 4. It allows them to assign a specific equipped weapon for every attack skill and grants additional bonuses.
Diablo 4 Barbarian Arsenal System
Arsenal System Class Mechanic Overview
Due to their unique class mechanic, known as the Arsenal system, Barbarians can equip and swap about four weapons at a time, allowing for better customization. These include the main hand, off-hand, bludgeoning, and slashing weapons. Doing so allows you to freely assign specific equipment to certain skills based on your needs. For instance, Bash, which lets you stun and heavily damage targets, is well suited using a bludgeoning weapon. But if you wish to raise this ability's stun duration even more, then you should opt to switch to a two-handed bludgeoning weapon instead.
It's also worth noting that upon the skill's activation, you'll instantly equip the best weapon in your loadout. Furthermore, every weapon the Barbarian uses has a corresponding expertise stat, thereby leveling up their ranks accordingly. For example, if you wish to boost your Critical Strike chance, then wielding a one-handed ax will come in handy.
Because of this, it's highly recommended to collect and prepare a wide variety of melee weapons to take advantage of this class's build diversity and itemization progression.
How to unlock the Arsenal system?
Barbarians unlock the Arsenal system automatically when they reach level 5. They get access to the expertise tab, which can be opened by pressing shift + C, which shows all the different weapon types and their respective bonuses when using them. They all start at level 1 and can be leveled up to level 10 by using them in battle.
How do I level up the Arsenal system?
In order to level up the Arsenal system, players have to use the corresponding Weapon type to level it up. It is a natural process that occurs as you play, given that the Barbarian switches Weapons on the fly and uses diverse types. There are two important details that players will have to take into consideration.
- Weapons gain Experience to level up on hit, NOT ON KILL. This means that if you are over-leveled and are one-hitting everything on sight, it won't count much towards that weapon-type experience level, unlike a more challenging and defiant zone in which you will have to hit enemies multiple times to defeat them.
- Weapons do not gain experience points in PVP mode. Defeating or facing other players DOES NOT grant experience to your weapons.
Weapon Technique
The Technique Slot allows the player to choose a Weapon Expertise Effect that applies to all of their attacks, regardless of which weapon they are using.
Select an expertise of rank 1 or above to set your technique.
Players unlock Weapon Technique by completing Masters of Battle.
Weapons Expertise table
Weapon Expertise |
Rank 10 Power |
Rank 10 additional bonuses |
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 One-handed Axe Expertise |
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 One-handed Mace Expertise |
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 One-handed Sword Expertise |
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 Two-handed Axe Expertise |
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 Two-handed Mace Expertise |
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 Two-handed Sword Expertise |
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 Polearm Expertise |
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Spirit Boons in Diablo 4 is the class Mechanic for the Druid class. Druids can access their Class Mechanic once they reach level 15, by completing a Priority Quest called Spirits of the Lost Grove. This quests tasks players to head to Scosglen, the home of the Druids to speak with the Druid Ardreth. Players have to spend offerings, to unlock Spirit Boons. Druidic Spirit Offerings drop randomly from defeated Enemies, when Druids reach level 15. Also note that offerings only drop for Druids
How do Spirit Boons work?
Druids have to give offerings to spirit to unlock Druid Boons. Each of the Animal Spirits has 4 different Spirit Boons, and they cost a different amount of offerings.
- Tier 1: 25 Offerings
- Tier 2: 50 Offerings
- Tier 3: 75 Offerings
- Tier 4: 100 Offerings
Spirit Bonding
Druids can unlock Spirit Bonding by unlocking every Boon from every spirit to gain access to Spirit Bonding. This will let you activate an additional Boon with a spirit of your choice.
Diablo 4 Druid Spirit Boons
Deer
Increase your reputation with this spirit by giving its offerings. The spirit will reward you with Boons.
Eagle
Increase your reputation with this spirit by giving its offerings. The spirit will reward you with Boons.
Snake
The snake has no trust in humans, therefore all Boons are hidden. You must give 100 offerings at once to unlock its boons.
Overlord
Lucky Hit: Dealing Lightning damage has up to a 20% chance to cause the target to emit a static discharge, dealing 60% Lightning damage to surrounding enemies.
Masochistic
Requires Lucky Hit chance of 75%. Critical Strikes with Shapeshifting Skills Heal you for 3% Maximum Life (#).
Calm Before the Storm
Lucky Hit: Nature Magic Skills have up to a 10% chance to reduce the Cooldown of your Ultimate Skill by 2 seconds.
Wolf
Increase your reputation with this spirit by giving its offerings. The spirit will reward you with Boons.
Packleader
Lucky Hit: Critical Strikes have up to a 20% chance to reset the Cooldowns of your Companion Skills.
25 Offerings
Sorceress in Diablo 4 utilizes an Enchantment system as a unique class mechanic. With this system, the Sorceress can gain up to two special passives that enhance the use of their Skills.
Sorceress Enchantment System in Diablo 4
Obtaining Enchantments
Once you reach level 15 as a Sorceress, you automatically acquire the Priority Quest Legacy of the Magi. This quest line is a requirement to unlock the Enchantment Slots system.
Upon completing the quest, the Sorceress has access to one Enchantment Slot, with the next and final one becoming available at Level 30.
Enchantment Slots can be accessed from the Skill Assignment menu. From there, any non-Ultimate Skill of Rank 1 or higher can be applied to a Slot, causing its special Enchantment passive effect to become active.
Enchantment Rules
Enchantments are small but powerful additions to your build which can bolster its strengths or add versatility. The following should be noted about Enchantments:
- Skills must be non-Ultimate and have at least one Skill Point in them to be used (either from the Skill Tree or through gear).
- You can use a Skill on your action bar and in one Enchantment Slot at the same time.
- A Skill's Rank, along with its Enhanced and Upgrade choices carry through when placed into an Enchantment slot. For example, the 5-headed Hydra spawned by the Hydra Skill's Enchantment will inherit the same boosts as a normal Hydra.
- Enchantments can be swapped in and out at any time.
- The first slot unlocks at level 15, the second at level 30.
Diablo 4 Skill Enchantment Slot Effects
Basic Skill Enchantment Slot Effects
| Basic Skill | Enchantment Slot Effect |
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 Arc Lash |
When you use a Cooldown, enemies around you are Stunned for 0.5 seconds. |
 Fire Bolt |
Direct damage from Skills applies up to an additional X [23%] (33% at Rank 5) Burning damage over 8 seconds. |
 Frost Bolt |
Direct damage from Skills applies up to 15% Chill. |
 Spark |
Killing an enemy has a 14% (20% at Rank 5) chance to form a Crackling Energy |
Core Skill Enchantment Slots Effects
| Core Skill | Enchantment Slot Effect |
|---|---|
 Chain Lightning |
Chain Lightning forms automatically after spending 100 Mana. |
 Charged Bolts |
When you Stun an enemy, there's a 40% chance to release 3 Charged Bolts from them. |
 Fireball |
When you kill an enemy, they explode in a Fireball for 50% of its damage. |
 Frozen Orb |
When you cast a Non-Basic Skill, you have a 30% chance to launch a Frozen Orb at a Nearby enemy. |
 Ice Shards |
Ice Shards automatically conjure and fly towards Frozen enemies. |
 Incinerate |
Every 14 seconds, a serpent spawns and incinerates enemies for 8 seconds. |
Defensive Skill Enchantment Slots Effects
| Defensive Skill | Enchantment Slot Effect |
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 Flame Shield |
Flame Shield automatically activates when you take fatal damage. Can only happen once every 120 seconds |
 Frost Nova |
Lucky Hit: Your Conjuration Skills have a 30% chance to unleash a Frost Nova when hitting enemies. |
 Ice Armor |
Upon getting hit, you have a 5% chance to apply Ice Armor. |
 Teleport |
Evade is replaced with a short range Teleport on a 17.0 (14.0 at Rank 5) second Cooldown. |
Conjuration Skill Enchantment Slots Effects
| Conjuration Skill | Enchantment Slot Effect |
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 Hydra |
After spending 200 Mana, a 5-headed Hydra spawns for 5 seconds. |
 Ice Blades |
For every 40 seconds in Cooldowns you spend, you spawn an Ice Blades on a random enemy. |
 Lightning Spear |
Absorbing Crackling Energy has a 10% chance to conjure a Lightning Spear. |
Mastery Skill Enchantment Slots Effects
| Mastery Skill | Enchantment Slot Effect |
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 Ball Lightning |
Lucky Hit: Critical strikes have a 25% chance to spawn a static Ball Lightning. |
 Blizzard |
Every 15 seconds, a Blizzard forms over you and follows you for 6 seconds. |
 Firewall |
Lucky Hit: Up to 25% chance when dealing Burning damage to spawn 2 Firewalls for 3 seconds. |
 Meteor |
Lucky Hit: Up to a 8% chance for a Meteor to fall on enemies. |
