Blizzard revealed the first 3 classes of Diablo 5 – among them is a plague knight

At the Diablo 5: Forging the Next Era panel during BlizzCon 2026, Blizzard revealed the first three playable classes. Two of them will feel familiar to series veterans, while the third marks a new addition to the franchise. The Diablo 5 reveal itself came as a surprise for the event, with launch set for 2029.

The Demon Hunter returns in pretty much the same role fans remember from Diablo 3 and Diablo Immortal. The class wields dual crossbows, strikes from the shadows, and dashes around the battlefield, blending ranged and melee combat.

The Monk handles close-quarters combat. This fighter relies on martial arts and divine power, smashing demons with fists and channeling holy energy to boost attacks.

The big reveal is the Plague Knight, a class with no direct equivalent in previous games in the series. It revolves around disease, infection, and death, wearing heavy armor while spreading plague around itself, then absorbing the accumulated sickness as a source of its own power.

Joe Shely, senior game director, said:

It's walking death, you spread disease across the battlefield and absorb it for power

The roster won't stop at three classes. The studio stated that Diablo 5 will feature the largest class roster in series history, with the remaining characters revealed gradually over the coming years. Developers plan to focus on build diversity while keeping the entry barrier accessible.

The choice of the starting trio ties directly into the story. Events unfold after Diablo defeat of Sanctuary, as he seizes the Westmarch throne, with players taking on the role of the Heir of Westmarch, fleeing through the scorched ruins of the kingdom.

Development of Diablo 5 is still in its early stages, and Blizzard deliberately announced the game well ahead of release to bring the community into the process. Regular updates on progress, design decisions, and new features will begin in 2027.