The best builds for all classes in the endgame

In our tier list for Season 5 in Diablo 4, we show you which classes and builds are the strongest in the endgame. We also provide a short description of the best builds and links to recreate them.

Which is the strongest class in Season 5? According to the latest information, Season 5 will feature strong buffs for sorceresses, druids and necromancers, as well as tough nerfs for barbarians. This means that sorceresses are probably in the lead at the moment.

This is how we created the list: We refer to data from Diablo expert and build theory crafter Rob as well as assessments from other experts such as maxroll.gg (especially wudijo) and Icy Veins. We also use our own experiences to classify the builds.

The tier list includes all endgame activities for Diablo 4. The builds are not always best suited for PvP, speed grinds and level builds.

Please note that this is an initial assessment based on the PTR and the known changes to Season 5. The tier list will change frequently in the first few weeks after release. You can find all the information about Season 5 here.

What does “S” to “F” mean? In the tier list, the builds are categorized in letters. In this case, “S” stands for the best builds, while “F” indicates the worst.

S+ Tier: The “broken” builds in Season 5

In the current preview, Rob has presented some builds that are currently stronger than anything else, but are probably due to incorrect behavior of items and skills. The builds are stronger than anything else, but the chances of a bug fix or nerf are high.

S+ Tier: Penetrating Shot Hunter

After the build was already extremely strong in Season 5, Piercing Shot is even better in Season 5. Despite nerfs, the new unique “Umbracrux” provides an absurd increase: You summon totems that you can attack yourself to spread damage over an area. Piercing Shot becomes stronger when it penetrates more enemies, which, together with the totem itself, leads to huge multipliers.

S+ Tier: Rapid Fire Hunter

Similar to the Penetrating Shot Hunter, Umbracrux’s rapid fire will put you at the forefront in Season 5. However, there was a bug on the PTR that caused the damage to be calculated too high if the attack was too fast. Expect a nerf!

S+ Tier: Bone Spirit Necromancer

With the Bone Spirit build, you rely on your critical hit chance and cause massive damage if you push it to the maximum. You summon a Bone Spirit that tracks down enemies and clears them from the field with an explosion. In Season 5, there are new items that strengthen skills that consume resources. Since Necromancer bone builds scale well with Essence anyway, the Bone Spirit build is probably at the top. However, at least Rob is expecting nerfs.

Season 5 will be the last season before the first expansion, Vessel of Hatred. Here is the intro to the add-on:

S Tier: The best builds in Season 5

The builds in this tier are the absolute best you can play. They have almost no weaknesses and are better than anything else in every content. There is a small weakness here and there, but usually not enough to allow other builds to overtake them.

S Tier: Punish Heartseeker Hunter

The Heartseeker build, like many hunter builds, will be even stronger in Season 5 thanks to the unique Umbracrux. The passive ability Punish ensures that your skills explode when you hit vulnerable enemies. Combined with the explosions of the Umbracrux totems, you can cause multiple instances of damage with a single skill.

S Tier: Andariel Hunter

The build revolves around the Uber Unique “Andariel’s Face”, which the bosses Duriel and Andariel can drop. As an ability, you use the blade storm and combo points to increase your attack speed – and rely on poison damage from the Uber helmet.

S Tier: Landslide Druid

With the Landslide build, you are permanently on the move as a werebear and use the synergies for both earth skills and werebear skills. The main skill, Landslide, becomes a damage-over-show effect on the ground with the unique ring Earthbreaker and has the chance to create additional landslides when used multiple times. With the buffs in Season 5, you can do several billion damage with the right equipment.

S Tier: Blizzard Wizard

Wizards receive the strongest buffs in Season 5, which puts them in the S tier with a number of builds. One reason for this is that a new item makes you virtually immortal. In addition, the damage is roughly doubled, estimates expert Rob. With the Blizzard build, you immerse the entire screen in a snowstorm and cause damage by appearing ice spikes that explode and tear enemies apart.

S Tier: Frozen Orb Wizard

You cover your opponents with frozen bullets that penetrate enemies and slow down everything in the area. A fairly simple build that works well even without uniques.

S Tier: Lightning Wizard

One of the favorites of many wizards: You let several ball lightning float around you and pull enemies towards you with the Robe of Infinity. This way, you can tie the enemies comfortably to you and fry them with your lightning balls.

S Tier: Firebolt Shatter Wizard

The Firebolt build was already in the S tier in Season 4 and was previously marked as an “Immortal” build, meaning immortal. The Flameweaver Gloves multiply the damage of Firebolts on individual enemies. Shatter provides additional damage and uses Frozen, a state that you can benefit from with further synergies. Since some adjustments mean that you can no longer be “immortal”, this build is the one most likely to be affected by a downgrade to the A tier.

S Tier: Slashing Barbarian

Although the “Bash Barb” was supposed to get a major nerf in Season 5, it is actually getting stronger. The reason for this is new synergies: you can use some new uniques to ensure that skills that consume rage become increasingly stronger. With the right equipment, you will never run out of rage and you can just happily spam blows to smash enemies.

A Tier: Strong builds for the endgame in Season 5

With A-tier builds you can still get through all the endgame content, just not as far in the pit as with the stronger builds. However, they offer you a little more choice for your playstyle and in many cases are not as dependent on individual items.

A Tier: Pulverize Druid

Thanks to the buffs for the Druid, the Pulverize build makes it into the A-tier in Season 5. You use your shapeshifting ability to buff yourself and then attack enemies with an enhanced pulverize that triggers an additional shockwave. A big damage bonus comes from Overwhelm. The build is particularly suitable for beginners because you can find many of the aspects you need in dungeons.

A Tier: Wind Shear Druid

You send cutting gusts of wind through enemies, poisoning them. Your wolves accompany you to keep enemies at bay and let you cast spells in peace.

A Tier: Chain Lightning Wizard

The wizard build that makes you feel most like Viktor Frankenstein – or like a Tesla coil. You send lightning bolts into your enemies and summon crackling energy that also electrocutes enemies.

A Tier: Frog Barbarian

Frog, Kangaroo, Rabbit: The build was given many names beforehand and they all fit. You just jump around and create earthquakes with almost endless fury. Enemies are simply crushed, literally. However, the build needs 3 Uber Uniques to be strong: Tyrael’s Power, the Grandfather and the Harlequin Crown.

More builds in A-Tier

B Tier: The solid midfield

In the B tier you will find builds that are partly experimental or have weaknesses with certain content. Some of them are strong against mob groups, but useless against bosses. The builds here are weaker than in higher tiers, but they have great potential, especially together with other players who can counteract their weaknesses.

Barbarian B-Tier Builds

Druid B-Tier Builds

Wizard B-Tier Builds

Hunter B-Tier Builds

Necromancer B-Tier Builds

C Tier: The weak builds in Season 5

C-tier builds are probably still sufficient to at least complete a lot of content, but they lag far behind in terms of performance. However, if you’re just looking for fun and just want to slaughter a few demons, you can go for it without hesitation.

F Animal: Hands off!

We generally advise against F-tier builds. Here you will find skills and builds that generally don’t work at all because they lack synergies. You may be able to make it through the content to the endgame, but from then on you will have difficulties.

Season 5 will be the last season before the first expansion, Vessel of Hatred. The add-on changes the entire class balance, brings new skills and legendary glyphs for all classes, as well as a completely new class, the Spiritborn. You can find a first impression of the new class here: I was at Blizzard and played the new class from Vessel of Hatred – This is what the Spiritborn can do