We tried out Diablo 4’s new class

Diablo IV blew out its first candle on June 5, 2024 and has just experienced a revolution in loot management. But we will have to wait a few more months before discovering its first expansion, entitled Vessel of Hatred and scheduled for October 8. It will notably allow us to discover a class that is new in the history of the saga, while Blizzard Entertainment could have drawn on what already existed (monk, crusader, witch doctor, amazon, blood knight, etc.).

It is for narrative reasons that Blizzard Entertainment has decided to introduce a new class: the Sacresprit. This class is linked to the jungle, the main environment of Vessel of Hatred — Nahantu. It is here that a tribe of warriors with a very spiritual approach to existence has developed. These warriors are born in suffering to better develop survival techniques, notably thanks to the support of particularly powerful guardians. The demon Mephisto being linked to Nahantu, it is his return in Diablo IV which involves the appearance of the Sacresprit as a new defender against Evil.

Our first impressions of the new class of Diablo IV

The Sacresprit is a fairly unique class in the Diablo universe, as it is difficult to compare it to another. Its primary asset is its mastery of martial arts, which allows it to be very effective in close combat, with fast movements. They are so fast that you can feel the agility of the Sacresprit with each of its blows. In terms of combat dynamics, it is impressive.

Diablo IV already conveyed a nice nervousness. With this class, we move up a rank and it’s a whole different breath that shines through on the screen. The Sacresprit strikes with a vivacity and rage that are unique to it, and we are encouraged to take the initiative in the clashes. The first sensations are good and the Sacresprit has its place within Sanctuary, perfectly materializing this role of ” forest predator ” His arsenal includes breaching knives, polearms, and staves.

The Sacresprit can also unleash the powers of 4 Gods of the forest: the gorilla, the jaguar, the eagle or the centipede (an animal more original than a snake, by the way). We choose one first (at level 15), which will then imbue all the skills with the main specificities of these guardians (in the form of a passive bonus).

So, the jaguar, the most difficult to master as you have to manage your energy, allows you to be even more aggressive and has fun with fire, while the eagle adds freer movements and ranged attacks. The gorilla? It turns you into a tank, which makes the gameplay a little heavier. As for the centipede, which already seems far too powerful, it allows you to heal yourself and poison enemies.

You can specialize in a single spirit, in order to draw out all the quintessence. However, the idea behind the Sacresprit will mainly be to promote synergies between the Gods, since nothing prevents you from selecting certain abilities of the centipede after having chosen the gorilla as your main guardian. Things get even more complicated when you have to choose a secondary God (which can be the same as the primary), starting at level 30.

The most passionate will certainly spend hours and hours refining different strategies, in order to find the most optimal builds. The Sacresprit is not 4 classes in one, but this philosophy of choice still emanates from it. Balancing promises to be quite difficult to ensure for Blizzard Entertainment, with guardians who already stand out (centipede and jaguar).

Thanks to the Sacresprit, the developers are strengthening their artistic direction a little more. The class fits in so well with its environment — the jungle, that is — that it feels like they are one. The artists really went all out with the character design. The lightly armored warrior displays his lineage with great pride. Thus, the Sacresprit who prefers the centipede will be frightening, while the one who has set his sights on the jaguar will be more feline and elegant.

It should also be noted that the Sacresprit can be associated with a more original — and badass — mount than a simple horse. Diablo 4 continues to shine with its graphic beauty, which teems with thousands of details in the settings that we cross and clean. Blizzard Entertainment has also not failed to work on the animations, drawing inspiration from real martial disciplines (taekwondo, muay-thai).

As for the Nahantu region, located south of Sanctuary, it seems promising. We will find there what constitutes the salt of the other zones, with dungeons, caves to explore, a handful of places to live or even bastions. The atmosphere promises to be particularly gloomy, since there will be a form of homage to Diablo 2and bloody, judging by the latest trailer. We remind you that the story will be built around Neyrelle, a character that we meet in Diablo 4 and who tries to get rid of the evil spirit of Mephisto.