Diablo 4 Devs Explain Why the Necromancer Class Is Appearing Sooner Than Anyone Expected
Many Diablo fans wanted to see the Necromancer added to the latest entry in the series, but few expected the powerful sorcerer to make the initial cut. Nevertheless, the Necromancer will be part of the anticipated sequel’s initial class lineup, joining the Barbarian, Sorceress, Rogue, and Druid.
Speaking with IGN in a new interview for Summer of Gaming 2022, Diablo 4 developers Joe Shely and Rod Fergusson discussed the decision to add the Necromancer — a class that topped fan polls but seemed unlikely to be added given that two caster classes had already been revealed.
In explaining the choice, Shely says the Necromancer “works so well in the Diablo gameplay,” and that the Necromancer fits well with the theme of “returning to the darkness” of the original game and its sequel. In addition, Blizzard feels the Necromancer hits at other elements the team wants to include, such as “crunchy mechanics” and the “faster paced action combat of Diablo 3.”
“We’ve made innovations across the board, but when we are looking at the classes, we wanted to make sure that we were hitting those classes that players have loved throughout the franchise and always want to experience. And necromancer is front center,” Shely says.
Fergusson says that the Necromancer is his favorite class of the bunch.
“[I]t really speaks to that idea that return to darkness that Diablo 4 represents, that idea of the tone of [Diablo], as Joseph has talked about, that idea of working with the cult and dark magic and summoning the undead. And so, it really leans into that feeling of it.”
The Necromancer was first introduced in Diablo 2 along with the Amazon, Barbarian, Sorceress, and Paladin (the Druid and Assassin were later added in the Lord of Destruction expansion). His skills included the ability to raise corpses (and blow them up) as well as debilitating status effects.
With the addition of the Necromancer, Diablo 4 is increasingly filled with Diablo 2 alumni, which ties in with Blizzard’s determination to get back to basics. But the class won’t be a complete retread. In Diablo 4, the Necromancer will get the “Book of the Dead,” which makes it possible to turn skeletons into skirmishes, mages, and priests. The Iron Golem will also be making a return.
“Now you can have skeletal warriors and there’s up to three different kinds. You can have skeletal mages and there’s three different kinds. You can different golems, there’s three different kinds,” Fergusson says. “And so how do you choose to your play style? Do I want to play aggressive? Do I play defensive? In fact, there’s a way to sacrifice all your minions to just make yourself more powerful. So you can just be this sort of Uber, dark magic necromancer that he doesn’t even summon anything, but is able to use blood magic to destroy everything on the battlefield.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Shely and Fergusson touch on character customization and loot while also shedding additional light on the endgame. It’s all part of a run-up to what will hopefully be a 2023 release date for the sequel. after multiple delays.
Impatient fans can also check out Diablo Immortal, which recently became available on mobile devices, but has been marred by a heavy reliance on microtransactions.
For lots more info on events season, check out everything announced at Summer Games Fest 2022 and the Microsoft’s Xbox and Bethesda Showcase, as well as IGN’s full Summer of Gaming hub.
Kat Bailey is a Senior News Editor at IGN as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.
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