Diablo 2: Reign of the Warlock (2026) review
A dark delight.
I’ve said it enough times to lose count. If Blizzard had kept making new expansions for Diablo 3 rather than stopping after 2014’s Reaper of Souls, I would have bought every single one without even a moment’s hesitation.
While the franchise has moved on since then – via both the mobile-first spin-off and a glossy fourth installment – the storied studio is now turning its gaze backwards and releasing a new expansion that follows up on the success of Diablo 2: Resurrected.
Eldritch cast
Announced and released on an otherwise quiet afternoon in February, Reign of the Warlock brings with it a new playable class, a number of new endgame challenges for Diablo 2 veterans and a slew of quality of life upgrades that promise to make this iconic action RPG more accessible to modern audiences.
There’s an easy line to be drawn here between this late addition to the legacy of Diablo 2 and what’s been happening with other PC gaming classics like Age of Empires as of late. In a time where more traditional game development efforts are increasingly risky and expensive, an
However, as opposed to that specific example, your mileage with Reign of the Warlock really is going to boil down to how interested you are in the titular class. The first addition to Diablo 2’s roster of classes since 2001, the Warlock is a combat-centric caster that sits somewhere between the sorcerer and the necromancer. You can enslave demons for various buffs, channel their dark magic into weapon-attacks or unleash powerful magical attacks that turn hellfire into a weapon.
There’s a lot going on here, though the constrained tempo of character progression in Diablo 2 means that you’re probably going to favor one of these three paths more-so than the others. Although the Warlock is a blast to play in the way you’d hope, it does feel a little over-engineered. By comparison to the more anachronistic archetypes embodied in the base game’s classes, there’s a density of ideas here that feels distinctly modern.
Still, it’s hard to complain too much when the experience is as instantly crowd-pleasing as it is. Where some of the other classes in Diablo 2 are a bit of a slow-burn, the Warlock feels like a caster who can get up close with enemies and a summoner who can stand toe-to-toe with their minions right from the get-go. Though I can’t help but wonder how more hardcore players will push these new mechanics to breaking point, Reign of the Warlock left me with little doubt that more casual audiences won’t take long to gel with what the new class brings to the table.
Devil’s bargain
If you’ve not dabbled with the demonslaying classic before, there’s never been a better time to try Diablo 2. Likewise, if you’re seeking an excuse to replay the resurrected version of this ARPG icon, Reign of the Warlock might be exactly what you’re looking for.
For as fun as the expansion’s addition to the class roster is, it sometimes feels like little more than just that. I don’t know if I needed an entirely new act, but a few extra side quests or zones to explore wouldn’t have gone amiss.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m a big fan of the quality of life upgrades that Reign of the Warlock adds – specifically potion stacking, loot filter and the new chronicle item tracker. However, the rest of the list here feels so aimed at hardcore audience that I’ll probably really never be able to get my head around how much value it really adds. For all that the expansion’s new items and rune words might shake up a stale endgame meta for longtime players, I can’t say I really noticed much of a difference during my time with the game.
Similarly, Reign of the Warlock’s pinnacle challenge – which sees players face off against a more difficult version of the Ancients boss fight from Lord of Destruction – seems like something I’ll probably never get around to doing. I like Diablo 2 enough to replay it over and over again, but I’m probably not going to get that deep into the endgame on my tenth time through the game. By nature or by habit, I really am more of a tourist than someone looking to sink their teeth into the crunchier end of character progression. I can't begrudge the folks who thrive on the theory-crafting, but it isn't really for me.
All this is to say that although I am sympathetic to the argument that $39.95 is quite a steep price to pay for a new class and not much else. While Reign of the Warlock’s headline act is significant, it doesn’t take long for it to feel like the only meaningful thing that the expansion adds.
The Bottom Line
The first expansion for Diablo 2 in over twenty-five years is obviously going to be a no brainer for longtime fans of the franchise. However, if you’re more of an ad-hoc ARPG fan then I reckon you’re probably better to wait for a sale. Even so, I’m thrilled that Blizzard went and made a new expansion for a PC gaming classic like Diablo 2. If they were to do another – or do the same for Diablo 3 – I’d absolutely be here for it.
Diablo 2 - Reign of the Warlock isn’t a game-changer but it does add some fresh wrinkles to the legacy of the series’ most iconic installment.
Fergus Halliday
Fergus Halliday
Fergus Halliday
