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Diablo IV Leveling Builds and Tips to Prepare for Season One

by Troy Gloski 03 Jul 2023

The gates of hell are open and Sanctuary is calling! Diablo IV is now available, and it is incredibly fun and complex. But don’t worry, KontrolFreek is your guardian angel with the best equipment, settings, and gameplay recommendations to help you prepare for your epic fights against countless demonic hoards for control of Sanctuary in the latest installment of the beloved Diablo franchise! In this article we’re going to provide a build recommendations for levels 1-50 for each of the five classes in Diablo IV.

The Diablo IV Limited Edition Collection

Before you start your epic quest, equip yourself with the best gaming gear for Diablo IV with the Diablo® IV Limited Edition collection from SteelSeries and KontrolFreek.

Diablo IV Performance Thumbsticks

Experience increased grip and control while you hack, slash, and cast through the nightmarish dungeons and besieged towns of Sanctuary. The official laser-etched design and blood-red color will immerse you in the fight for the fate of the world.

Diablo IV Performance Thumbsticks (Collector’s Edition)

The Diablo IV Performance Thumbsticks were specifically designed to provide more grip and increased control while you hack, slash, and cast to conquer the nightmarish dungeons and besieged towns of Sanctuary. Limited Collector’s Edition features black on red thumbsticks and comes in an exclusive Diablo IV Heroes Cube Case based on the playable classes!

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Aerox 5 Wireless Diablo® IV Edition

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QcK Heavy XL Diablo® IV Edition

Artisan Keycap: Diablo® IV Edition

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diablo IV bound faith trophy

Diablo IV In-Game Mount Trophy

Any purchase of a Diablo IV Nova 7 Wireless, Aerox 5 Wireless, or Collectors Edition Thumbsticks also unlocks a “Bound Faith” in-game Mount Trophy Cosmetic Code. 

Builds for Each Class

Now that you’ve upgraded your controller and the rest of your gaming setup, you’re ready to hop into Diablo IV and start conquering the hoards of Sanctuary. Before that however, you need to select your class, and while you are deciding that you may want to look at what combat looks like for that class while leveling and at higher levels. If you are playing on World Tier 1 for your first character, which we recommend, you have some freedom to experiment with skills and find a build that is fun for you. The builds we provide are not the only meta builds for each class and by no means should you feel limited to these skills, but if you want to take advantage of some of the most potent mechanic/combos for each class here are our recommendations:

Sorcerer

Sorcerers are the classic mage spellcasters of Diablo IV. This class has ranged and AOE abilities for all the elements. If you want to freeze groups of enemies and then explode them with Fire or Ice spells than Sorcerer is the class for you. They tend to be more glass cannons however and can have survivability problems in more challenging content. Sorcerers can also use enchantments to gain passive bonuses.

Build: Ice Shards

Spells: Teleport, Frost Nova, Ice Armor, Inferno, Ice Shards, Frost Bolt

Level 1-50

  1. N/A
  2. Frost Bolt
  3. Enhanced Frost Bolt
  4. Ice Shards
  5. Glinting Frost Bolt
  6. Enhanced Ice Shards
  7. Destructive Ice Shards
  8. Teleport
  9. Frost Nova
  10. Ice Armor
  11. Ice Shards
  12. Ice Shards
  13. Hydra
  14. Enhanced Frost Nova
  15. Mystical Frost Nova
  16. Ice Shards
  17. Ice Shards
  18. Glass Cannon
  19. Glass Cannon
  20. Glass Cannon
  21. Enhanced Teleport
  22. Shimmering Teleport
  23. Align the Elements
  24. Protection
  25. Enhanced Ice Shards
  26. Respec Destructive Ice Shards to Greater Ice Shards
  27. Respec Hydra for Inferno
  28. Prime Inferno
  29. Permafrost
  30. Hoarfrost
  31. Hoarfrost
  32. Hoarfrost
  33. Fire Bolt
  34. Precision Magic
  35. Precision Magic
  36. Precision Magic
  37. Avalanche
  38. Icy Touch
  39. Icy Touch
  40. Icy Touch
  41. Icy Veil
  42. Snap Freeze
  43. Snap Freeze
  44. Snap Freeze
  45. Frigid Breeze
  46. Frigid Breeze
  47. Frigid Breeze
  48. Devastation
  49. Elemental Dominance
  50. Elemental Dominance
  51. Elemental Dominance
  52. Protection

Enchantments: Ice Shards (Lvl 15), Fire Bolt (Lvl 30)

Aspects: Get Piercing Cold early

Rogue

Rogues are the fastest class, with a lot of skills to quickly get around the battlefield, avoid attacks, and deal massive damage from melee and ranged attacks. This class is arguably the fastest to level due to how quickly you can get around the map, which makes a big difference before you get a mount. Rogues can infuse their attacks with poison, cold, or shadow damage with Imbuements.

Build: Twisting Blades

Skills: Puncture, Twisting Blades, Poison Trap, Dark Shroud, Shadow Step, Dash

  1. N/A
  2. Puncture
  3. Enhanced Puncture
  4. Twisting Blades
  5. Enhanced Twisting Blades
  6. Fundamental Puncture
  7. Advanced Twisting Blades
  8. Dash
  9. Shadow Step
  10. Twisting Blades
  11. Twisting Blades
  12. Twisting Blades
  13. Poison Trap
  14. Dark Shroud
  15. Enhanced Dark Shroud
  16. Subverting Dark Shroud
  17. Twisting Blades
  18. Poison Trap
  19. Poison Trap
  20. Poison Trap
  21. Poison Trap
  22. Exploit
  23. Exploit
  24. Exploit
  25. Adrenaline Rush
  26. Haste
  27. Haste
  28. Haste
  29. Weapon Mastery
  30. Weapon Mastery
  31. Weapon Mastery
  32. Enhanced Shadow Step
  33. Enhanced Dash
  34. Enhanced Poison Trap
  35. Momentum
  36. Subverting Poison Trap
  37. Methodical Shadow Step
  38. Disciplined Dash
  39. Malice
  40. Malice
  41. Malice
  42. Trap Mastery
  43. Trap Mastery
  44. Trap Mastery
  45. Deadly Venom
  46. Deadly Venom
  47. Deadly Venom
  48. Sturdy
  49. Siphoning Strikes
  50. Sturdy

Spec: Inner Sight (Lvl 20)

Aspect: Unlock Bladedancer’s Aspect early

Necromancer

Necromancers are widely considered to be a great starter class in Diablo IV because they can summon a lot of minions to aid them in combat. This helps Necromancers stay alive by drawing aggro away and they can kill enemies pretty effectively. Some of the most potent Necromancer builds forgo the summons to use more poison and bone powers. The build we’re going to recommend is a classic Necromancer summon build that utilizes one of their most powerful spells, Bone Spear.

Build: Bone Spear Summoner

Spells: Bone Splinters, Bone Spear, Corpse Tendrils, Army of the Dead, Raise Skeleton, Golem

  1. N/A
  2. Bone Splinters
  3. Enhanced Bone Splinters
  4. Bone Spear
  5. Enhanced Bone Spear
  6. Supernatural Bone Spear
  7. Initiate's Bone Splinters
  8. Corpse Explosion
  9. Enhanced Corpse Explosion
  10. Bone Spear
  11. Bone Spear
  12. Bone Spear
  13. Bone Spear
  14. Grim Harvest
  15. Grim Harvest
  16. Grim Harvest
  17. Blood Mist
  18. Corpse Tendrils
  19. Enhanced Corpse Tendrils
  20. Plagued Corpse Tendrils
  21. Respec Supernatural Bone Spear for Paranormal Bone Spear
  22. Paranormal Bone Spear
  23. Skeletal Warrior Mastery
  24. Skeletal Warrior Mastery
  25. Skeletal Warrior Mastery
  26. Skeletal Mage Mastery
  27. Skeletal Mage Mastery
  28. Respec Enhanced Corpse Explosion for Skeletal Mage
  29. Respec Corpse Explosion for Army of the Dead
  30. Prime Army of the Dead
  31. Supreme Army of the Dead
  32. Bonded in Essence
  33. Death's Defense
  34. Golem Mastery
  35. Golem Mastery
  36. Golem Mastery
  37. Inspiring Leader
  38. Hellbent Commander
  39. Ossified Essence
  40. Hellbent Commander
  41. Hellbent Commander
  42. Inspiring Leader
  43. Bonded in Essence
  44. Hewed Flesh
  45. Hewed Flesh
  46. Hewed Flesh
  47. Fueled by Death
  48. Fueled by Death
  49. Fueled by Death
  50. Unliving Energy
  51. Imperfectly Balanced
  52. Imperfectly Balanced
  53. Imperfectly Balanced

Aspects: Unlock Splintering Aspect early

Druid

Druid is a hybrid class that can shapeshift into beasts and use spells to do ranged and melee damage. Druids can transform into Werewolf to move fast, close the gap, and deal poison damage. Druids have overpowered attacks with increased damage at the cost of mobility while in Werebear form. Similar to Sorcerer, Druids also have Lightning spells to control the battlefield.

Build: Werebear Pulverize

Spells: Storm Strike, Pulverize, Poison Creeper, Trample, Blood Howl, Earthen Bulwark

  1. N/A
  2. Storm Strike
  3. Storm Strike
  4. Enhanced Storm Strike
  5. Tornado
  6. Pulverize
  7. Respec Tornado for Enhanced Pulverize
  8. Pulverize
  9. Fierce Storm Strike
  10. Blood Howl
  11. Enhanced Blood Howl
  12. Innate Blood Howl
  13. Pulverize
  14. Pulverize
  15. Poison Creeper
  16. Wolves
  17. Clarity
  18. Clarity
  19. Pulverize
  20. Respec Wolves for Trample
  21. Enhanced Trample
  22. Earthen Bulwark
  23. Enhanced Poison Creeper
  24. Ferocious Poison Creeper
  25. Natural Trample
  26. Enhanced Earthen Bulwark
  27. Quickshift
  28. Quickshift
  29. Quickshift
  30. Defiance
  31. Natural Disaster
  32. Resonance
  33. Resonance
  34. Resonance
  35. Heart of the Wild
  36. Wild Impulses
  37. Earthen Might
  38. Wild Impulses
  39. Wild Impulses
  40. Preserving Earthen Bulwark
  41. Raging Pulverize
  42. Predatory Instinct
  43. Predatory Instinct
  44. Predatory Instinct
  45. Iron Fur
  46. Iron Fur
  47. Iron Fur
  48. Heightened Senses
  49. Heightened Senses
  50. Heightened Senses
  51. Natural Disaster
  52. Natural Disaster

Aspects: Get Ursine Horror Aspect early

Barbarian

Barbarians are the classic tanky melee class in Diablo IV. These brutes charge headlong into battle screaming at the top of their lungs and waving around massive weapons with reckless abandon. Barbarians can equip more weapons for more stat bonuses and aspects and they easily swap weapons mid-fight to perform bludgeons, slashes, and stabs and other special weapon based attacks. The build we are going through focuses on the barbarian’s all-purpose “spin to win” attack, Whirlwind.

Build: Whirlwind

  1. N/A
  2. Lunging Strike
  3. Enhanced Lunging Strike
  4. Whirlwind
  5. Enhanced Whirlwind
  6. Furious Whirlwind
  7. Battle Lunging Strike
  8. Rallying Cry
  9. Enhanced Rallying Cry
  10. Tactical Rallying Cry
  11. Whirlwind
  12. Whirlwind
  13. Leap
  14. Enhanced Leap
  15. Power Leap
  16. War Cry
  17. Enhanced War Cry
  18. Death Blow
  19. Enhanced Death Blow
  20. Fighter's Death Blow
  21. Whirlwind
  22. Whirlwind
  23. Booming Voice
  24. Raid Leader
  25. Booming Voice
  26. Respec Fighter's Death Blow for Blooming Voice
  27. Respec Enhanced Death Blow for Hamstring
  28. Respec Death Blow for Wrath of the Berserker
  29. Prime Wrath of the Berserker
  30. Supreme Wrath of the Berserker
  31. Aggressive Resistance
  32. Battle Fervor
  33. Battle Fervor
  34. Battle Fervor
  35. Prolific Fury
  36. Prolific Fury
  37. Prolific Fury
  38. Mighty War Cry
  39. Respec Battle Lunging Strike for Unconstrained
  40. Raid Leader
  41. Raid Leader
  42. Pit Fighter
  43. Pit Fighter
  44. Pit Fighter
  45. Pressure Point
  46. Pressure Point
  47. Pressure Point
  48. Heavy Handed
  49. Heavy Handed
  50. Heavy Handed
  51. No Mercy
  52. No Mercy
  53. No Mercy
  54. Thick Skin

Aspects: Get the Dire Whirlwind Aspect early

Leveling Tips

Using these builds as a guide will help you beat the campaign and level up to level 50, but don’t feel like you have to rush or use the meta builds right away. One of the beautiful things about Diablo is there are so many ways to play any of these classes, so feel free to try out skills and builds outside of the ones we listed here!

Diablo IV is a massive game with a lot of information to take in, so online resources can be very useful to help you build your collections and manage your time to get the most out of your playing experience. One of our favorite tools to use is d4builds.gg. This site has an awesome interactive map that allows you to track your progress as you collect valuable chest, altars, and quest items around the map. They also have plenty of build recommendations like the ones we shared in this article for Leveling, Midgame, and Endgame.

Diablo IV’s first seasonal content is going to launch sometime next month and when it does all players will need to start a new character to be able to play the seasonal content. As such, don’t worry too much about grinding to level 100 and getting the best gear to prepare for new content. Here are some things you should focus on doing before Season One:

  1. Play the Main Quests and Unlock Mounts

Once you unlock mounts for one character you can easily get them on another character, making questing that much faster.

  1. Visit Every Altar of Lilith

Altars of Lilith are scattered around the map and each provide a stat bonus to all of your characters on all classes. This means when the new season starts your new character will have all of the stat bonuses from any Altars of Lilith you’ve found before then. Use the interactive map on d4builds.gg to search for any altars around you and track which ones you’ve already visited.

  1. Renown and Map Discovery

As you are exploring the map, completing missions, and visiting Altars of Lilith, you will be acquiring Renown for each of the regions you are in. Collecting the rewards for the tiers of renown you reach in each region will earn you bonus potions, stats, and other boosts to make your character more powerful. Your Renown will reset when Season One starts, except the renown earned for visiting Altars of Lilith. Additionally, areas of the map that you’ve uncovered will remain so after the seasonal reset.

If you’re struggling with anything in Diablo IV like what class or build to pick, leave us a comment or ask us in one of KontrolFreek's Twitch Streams. And please, if you’ve been thinking about getting something from the Diablo IV Limited Edition Collection from KontrolFreek and SteelSeries, don’t hesitate and get the Best Diablo IV loot before it’s gone!

Check out our other KontrolFreek Blogs and be sure to follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok to stay up to date on the latest Diablo IV and gaming news. Join our Twitch streams for some always entertaining gameplay and opportunities to win free KontrolFreek and SteelSeries Diablo IV products! Some lucky viewers will win a complete kit with the entire collection of KontrolFreek and SteelSeries products, so you don’t want to miss any KontrolFreek streams this month!

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