With the newly revealed roadmap for Diablo 4, we looked at the upcoming seasons arriving in 2025. But most importantly, we learned that a new class is coming with the 2026 expansion.
The Holy Warrior Returns?
The first-ever Diablo 4 roadmap included a subtle hint at a new class arriving in 2026. While the devs didn’t drop any names, we can still guess at what it’s going to be.
In a leaked image titled “Heroes”, dating back to 2023, we can see all five base classes fighting off demons – alongside one unknown shield-bearing holy warrior. As we know, with the Vessel of Hatred, the Spiritborn made its debut instead of the long-rumored Paladin or Crusader. But that still leaves the mysterious figure in the image unexplained.
“From One to Paladin…”
In a recent interview with Game Director “Brent Gibson”, Rhykker asked several questions about the future of Diablo 4. Near the end of their interview, he couldn’t resist asking about the potential return of the Paladin.
Rhykker asked:
“From a scale of one to Paladin, how much exactly will the Paladin Paladin?”
Gibson didn’t confirm anything outright, but he didn’t shut it down either. In fact, he may have done the opposite.
As the interview came to an end, Gibson dropped one last tantalizing line:
“I think we are going to surprise people with what we have in store… and keep on talking about the paladin every single day”
That’s about as close to a playful confirmation as we’ve gotten.
Crusader, Paladin… or Something Completely New?
It remains unclear whether Blizzard will bring back the Paladin exactly as we remember from Diablo 2, or whether they’ll evolve the class, perhaps blending in elements from the Diablo 3 Crusader.
The datamined image gives off strong hybrid vibes — suggesting a holy warrior with both melee and support potential, and maybe even the return of iconic auras in a new form. Thematically, it would make sense. With the Cathedral of Light, the legacy of the Zakarum, and Inarius all playing major roles in Diablo 4, a class rooted in divine conviction would fit perfectly into the ongoing narrative.
Until Blizzard reveals more later this year, all we can do is speculate. Would you like to see the return of the paladin class? Or do you think Blizzard has something completely new in the works? Let us know!