More than a month has passed since the release of the Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred expansion—enough time for Blizzard to summarize the first statistical results. The company recently released some impressive data: the number of monsters and heroes killed, as well as the popularity of the two new classes. The gap is noticeable. Who did players choose—an unkillable holy warrior or a horned spellcaster with complex mechanics?
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Reasons for the Warlock popularity in Diablo IV
This nearly twofold difference is not a coincidence, but a clear signal from the community. Warlocks have been created 2.1 million times, while Paladins have been created 1.4 million times. The reasons for this are purely gameplay-related, and they go deeper than a simple “newbie vs. veteran” approach.
Analysis of game balance and endgame mechanics
Both classes remain at the top of the endgame tier lists. Warlocks consistently reside in the S and A tiers with builds like Apocalypse, while Paladins are predominantly in the A range (Wing Strikes, Shield of Retribution). However, the Warlock’s popularity stems less from their raw power and more from their playstyle. The Soul Shards mechanic, which are literally implanted into the character’s body, demon summoning, and dual resource system offer a challenge. Paladins, on the other hand, offer reliability and predictability. Some are drawn to the tattooed aesthetic, others to the familiarity, but interest in a class that breaks the mold prevails.
Impact of updates on gameplay and meta
Warlocks are a completely new archetype for the series, while Paladins were already present in Diablo 2. The novelty factor played into the Warlock’s hands: the community embraced a class that looks bolder and requires a more active build. While the Paladin excels thanks to its defensive auras and the ease of its campaign progression, the Warlock beckons with experimentation. Interestingly, in Season 14, the Necromancer is making a comeback with its skeletal detonations, but the Warlock still holds its own thanks to its uniqueness. Thus, choosing a Warlock is a choice of risk and creative expression, not simply a desire to squeeze maximum numbers out of bosses.
Boss Death and Character Selection Statistics
The main intrigue of the statistics is the death ratio. The expansion’s main antagonist, Mephisto, single-handedly sent 704,000 characters to rebirth. It’s an impressive figure, but compared to it, the 392 billion monsters killed by players seem like a mockery of the Lord of Hatred. The sheer scale of the hellish slaughter speaks volumes about how effectively the local builds are grinding through content.
Blizzard’s most intriguing data concerns the starting class selection. Lord of Hatred introduced two new characters: the Warlock and the Paladin. According to the official infographic, the former, predictably, was the favorite. The Warlock was chosen by 2.1 million players—almost twice as many as the Paladin, which held a modest 1.4 million.
Comparison of the combat effectiveness of the new classes
What accounts for this preponderance? Several factors are at play.
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First, the design: charismatic sorcerers with tattoos and horns visually outperform the armored holy warrior on the character select screen.
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Second, gameplay depth. Warlocks have flexible mechanics with Soul Shards and the ability to adapt to different playstyles.
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Third, the novelty factor: Warlock debuted with the release of Lord of Hatred, while Paladin became available in December 2025 for pre-orders.
During the months of early access, many had played the holy warrior through and through and were looking for something new at the start of the expansion. Analysts also note the balance factor: in the Season 13 meta, Paladin began to lose ground after nerfs, while Warlock was just gaining momentum, offering players one of the highest damage ceilings in the endgame.
Class Development Prospects for Season 14
At the expansion’s launch, audiences openly voted for risky mechanics with their time and class choices. In Season 14, which is currently being tested on the PTR, both classes remain at the top, but that could change. Paladin will receive several buffs in Patch 3.1, while Warlock’s Demon Form will be slightly nerfed, based on preliminary data. Stay tuned—we might see a change in the favorites, but for now, the horned ones are firmly in the lead.
