Diablo II / Characters

Diablo II: Classes, town characters and mercenaries

Compare the seven legacy classes and the services that support an adventure.

Edition covered

Guides cover the original Diablo II: Lord of Destruction in its later legacy patch rules, including 1.13+ respecs and the legacy Cow King restriction. They do not cover Resurrected, its added content, new rune words or changed balance. Pictures are original Blizzard Arreat Summit media; the homepage image is seven-class reference artwork, not box art.

12 characters · one picture per entry · open a picture for full size.

Legacy Lord of Destruction classes

Bows, javelins and spears

Amazon

Focus a main attack and its supporting tree.

Reference

Fire, cold or lightning magic

Sorceress

Plan for resistant and immune enemies later.

Reference

Summons, curses, bone or poison magic

Necromancer

Combine the main damage plan with useful curses.

Reference

Combat skills and auras

Paladin

Choose the aura that supports the current attack.

Reference

Weapon attacks, masteries and warcries

Barbarian

Match weapon investment to the actual equipment.

Reference

Elemental magic, summons or shapeshifting

Druid

An expansion class with distinct build paths.

Reference

Traps, martial arts and shadow skills

Assassin

An expansion class with useful control tools.

Reference

Important Act I services

Healing, supplies and quest rewards

Akara

Restock and claim the Den reward.

Reference

Blacksmith and imbue reward

Charsi

Repair gear and plan the one-time imbue.

Reference

Identification after rescue

Deckard Cain

Identify several finds conveniently.

Reference

Rogue hirelings

Kashya

Hire or revive an Act I mercenary.

Reference

Travel after the act is complete

Warriv

Move east after defeating Andariel.

Reference

Quick notes

Choose among the seven Lord of Destruction classes. The original base game has five classes; Lord of Destruction adds Assassin and Druid.
Understand the town specialists. Akara, Charsi, Deckard Cain and the mercenary vendors provide distinct services.
Use a mercenary to support the chosen build. A hireling can add ranged attacks, an aura or another damage type.
Keep class advice tied to the legacy version. Resurrected has introduced balance changes and content that do not exist in legacy Lord of Destruction.

Useful tip

The homepage artwork shows the seven Lord of Destruction classes gathered at a campfire.

References

Guide references
Reference	Website
Blizzard: The Arreat Summit	classic.battle.net
Blizzard: character and death mechanics	classic.battle.net
Blizzard: original rune words	classic.battle.net
Blizzard: Horadric Cube recipes	classic.battle.net
Blizzard: legacy Secret Cow Level	classic.battle.net
Blizzard: hireling rules	classic.battle.net
Blizzard: legacy classes	classic.battle.net