rAlthough there’s no still no release date forDiablo 4, hype is steadily growing for Blizzard’s upcoming action-RPG. Details have been trickling out of the California-based studio over the past year, including that the game will include five playable classes. Only three of these have been revealed so far, including the Sorceress, who makes her return inDiablo 4after being absent in its predecessor.
Having first appeared in the popular titleDiablo 2, the Sorceress is fondly remembered by fans of the series. By all accounts she’ll be much the same in herreturn inDiablo 4, a mistress of elemental magic able to harness the destructive power of fire, frost and lightning. Like most ofDiablo’s spell-casters, the Sorceress is sure to put some players off, while being a perfect fit for others. To help with the decision of who to play first, here’s our case for playing the Sorceress inDiablo 4.
Mistress of the Elements
Blizzard has stated that the Sorceress is a high-risk, high-rewardclass inDiablo 4. In practical terms this means she fills a glass-cannon role, able to dish out terrifying amounts of ranged and area damage, but squishy and lacking in close-combat skills. In order to use her active skills, the Sorceress draws from her Mana pool. This resource may share the same title as the Witch Doctor’s fromDiablo 3, but in fact it functions more like the Wizard’s Arcane Power from the same title.
Just like Arcane Power, the Sorceress' Mana is a limited pool that regenerates extremely quickly. This makes the Sorceress capable of serious sustained firepower, provided that players can manage the resource effectively. InDiablo 4,the Sorceresslays down this firepower through three elemental mediums: fire, cold, and lighting. Each has its own active and passive skills, as well as unique advantages and mechanics for the Sorceress. It’s up to players whether they’d like to focus on a single element, on two, or take a more generalist approach.
An Enchanting Skill-Set
One of the unique systems that may draw players to trying the Sorceress is her Enchantment ability. This new class mechanic allows her to slot her active skills into special Enchantment slots, gaining powerful passive bonuses. Allclasses inDiablo 4will have six active slotsfor their skills, but the Sorceress also has three Enchantment slots as well.
Any active skill can be placed in an Enchantment slot, where it will give a unique and powerful bonus. However, the pay-off is that the skill cannot also be placed in an active slot, meaning players will have to decide whether the passive outweighs the skill itself. This system really encourages Sorceress players to tailor and balance their loadout, and the addition of a set of powerful passives will allow a much wider range ofpotential builds and combos inDiablo 4.
Who Should Play the Sorceress?
Players who like to approach action-RPGs with a shock and awe combat style should definitely consider playing the Sorceress. Fromeverything that Blizzard has releasedso far, it seems clear that their new spell-caster will be capable of devastating displays of magic that tear up the battlefield like no-one else. Anyone who doesn’t mind being a little squishy in close-combat will also get a kick out of the Sorceress' high damage and area-of-effect skills.
Other players who’d enjoy the Sorceress include those who like to combo their skills and passives into a themed build. With access to three magical elements, each with their own special mechanics and combat style,Sorceress players inDiablo 4have more scope than any other class to focus their character on a core theme.
While some players have undoubtedly already picked the Sorceress as theirfirst playthrough inDiablo 4, it’s worth remembering that there are still two classes that have yet to be revealed. Speculation is running rampant across the community as to what these might be, and practically every former class in the series (as well as a few new ones) has been theorized about so far. It’s nice the wisest move to put all the eggs in one basket yet, but for those wanting a stylish spellcaster, Sorceress is a good bet.
Diablo 4is in development for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
