Hold onto your Harlequin Crests, because Blizzard just did the unthinkable. During the Diablo 30th Anniversary Spotlight, they didn’t just give us a trip down memory lane—they shadow-dropped a full-blown expansion for Diablo II: Resurrected called Reign of the Warlock. If you thought the meta was settled after twenty-five years, think again. This isn’t just a balance patch; it’s a massive revival that introduces the game’s eighth playable class, and honestly, it’s about to make the campfire look a whole lot more crowded.
The Warlock Has Entered the Chat
The Warlock is the first new class to hit the Diablo II universe since Lord of Destruction dropped back in 2001. Voiced by the legendary Rahul Kohli, this guy isn’t your typical robe-wearing bookworm. He’s described as a dark scholar who’s been busy digging through forbidden Vizjerei texts to figure out how to turn the Burning Hells’ own power against them. He’s got a “heavy metal” vibe that fits perfectly with the gothic dread of Sanctuary, and he brings a totally unique playstyle that balances demon summoning with high-octane telekinetic combat.
Mastering the Forbidden Skill Trees
The Warlock’s kit is split into three distinct trees that feel like a wild hybrid of a Necromancer and a Sorceress, but with a twist. The Demon tree is all about high-stakes summoning. You can call forth Goatmen, Tainted, or Defilers to do your bidding, but the real kicker is the Bind mechanic. You can tether yourself to a single demon to gain its passive buffs, or—if things get dicey—use Devour to sacrifice your minion for a massive, temporary power spike.
If you prefer getting your hands dirty, the Eldritch tree lets you manipulate weapons with your mind. We’re talking about levitating two-handed weapons in one hand while holding a caster Book (a brand new item type) in the other. Finally, the Chaos tree is for the blasters, focusing on Magic and Fire damage with massive area-of-effect spells like Entropy Clouds and ground sigils that turn the battlefield into a literal deathtrap.
Loot Filters and the End of Mule-Management
Let’s be real: we all love D2R, but the inventory management was a nightmare. Reign of the Warlock finally brings the quality-of-life upgrades we’ve been begging for since the remaster launched. We now have Stackable Stash Tabs specifically for gems, runes, and materials. No more “RuneMule_04” taking up a character slot! On top of that, Blizzard finally integrated Customizable Loot Filters directly into the game. You can now hide the “junk” and make sure those high runes practically scream at you when they hit the floor.
Hunting the Colossal Ancients
For the veteran players who’ve already conquered Uber Tristram a thousand times, there’s a new endgame challenge: the Colossal Ancients. In Hell difficulty, you’ll now encounter Heralds of Terror that drop mystical statues. Collecting these allows you to trigger ultimate encounters on the summit of Mount Arreat that make the original trio look like a warmup. Plus, Terror Zones have been overhauled. You can now find and trade consumables that let you manually decide which Act becomes Terrorized, giving you way more control over your farming routes.
A New Era for the Classic
This expansion essentially splits the game into “Eras.” If you’re a purist, you can keep playing Diablo II: Classic or the original Resurrected partitions. But if you want the new items, the Warlock, and the reworked skill trees, you jump into the Reign of the Warlock era. It’s a bold move that respects the “Mona Lisa” of ARPGs while finally letting it grow. The expansion is live right now for $24.99, and in a surprise twist, the game has officially launched on Steam today as well. It’s a good day to be a loot goblin.
