Blizzard Entertainment, a titan of the gaming industry, has marked a double milestone in 2026: its own 35th anniversary and the 30th anniversary of the legendary Diablo franchise. In celebration, the company has unleashed a wave of changes that have sent shockwaves through its global fanbase—chief among them, the introduction of the Warlock, the first new playable class in Diablo II in a staggering 25 years.
On February 12, 2026, Blizzard released the much-anticipated DLC, Diablo II Resurrected: Reign of the Warlock, as reported by Yonhap News. This expansion marks the first time since the 2001 Lord of Destruction expansion that players can choose a new hero to take on the demonic hordes. The Warlock, a spellcaster wielding forbidden demonic powers, brings a fresh and complex playstyle to the game, one that both honors the past and pushes the franchise forward.
According to Gametoc, the Warlock is anything but a simple reskin of previous summoning classes. Its design is built around three distinct skill trees: Demon, Eldritch, and Chaos. The Demon tree is all about summoning and mastering up to three unique demons—Goatmen, Corrupted, and Destroyers—on the battlefield. But unlike the Necromancer, whose minions often act independently, the Warlock’s summoned demons can be commanded directly. Players can point to specific locations or enemies, ordering their demonic allies to attack or reposition instantly, a feature that dramatically enhances tactical play and addresses the mobility issues that have long plagued summoning builds.
There’s more: the Warlock isn’t just about summoning and standing back. The Eldritch tree shifts the focus to weapon manipulation and hex curses, allowing the Warlock to enchant their weapons, inflict debilitating effects on enemies, and engage in direct combat. Skills like Hex: Bane and Hex: Siphon add magical effects to attacks, while abilities such as Blade Warp and Echoing Strike provide dynamic movement and piercing blows, making for a fast-paced, hands-on experience.
The Chaos tree, meanwhile, is a pyromancer’s dream. It features area-of-effect spells like Ring of Fire and Flame Wave, capable of scorching large swaths of the battlefield. The standout here is the Apocalypse skill, which, as ZDNet Korea describes, covers more than half the screen with devastating firepower—an endgame tool that’s as visually impressive as it is deadly.
But what truly sets the Warlock apart is the strategic resource management woven into its core. Demons aren’t just disposable minions—they’re both assets and resources. Players can choose to keep their demons in play, commanding and empowering them, or they can consume (literally) their summoned creatures to regain health and activate temporary buffs. This duality creates a constant tension: should you bolster your army or sacrifice it for personal gain? It’s a refreshing twist that rewards thoughtful play over mindless summoning.
“The Warlock’s gameplay is fundamentally different from the Necromancer,” notes Gametoc. “Rather than overwhelming with numbers, the emphasis is on how you use, combine, and sometimes sacrifice your demons.” This approach, as ZDNet Korea points out, delivers a “fantasy of domination” that’s both new and satisfying for longtime fans.
The Warlock’s arrival isn’t the only headline. Blizzard has also rolled out a suite of long-requested convenience features, making the grind of Diablo II smoother and more accessible than ever. The new in-game loot filter allows players to highlight or hide dropped items based on their preferences—no external mods required. According to ZDNet Korea, this not only reduces visual clutter but also lets the community share filter settings, fostering collaboration and customization. The stash system has received a makeover as well, with advanced tabs for storing materials, gems, and runes, and support for item stacking. These changes, as Gametoc observes, “bring previously external tools into the heart of the game,” making inventory management faster and less tedious.
For existing Diablo II: Resurrected players, the Warlock class is available as part of the new DLC, which requires a separate purchase. Blizzard has also released the Inferno Edition, bundling the base game with the expansion for newcomers. The update is live and playable as of February 12, 2026, according to Yonhap News.
The impact of the Warlock’s debut is set to ripple far beyond Diablo II. Blizzard has confirmed that the Warlock will join Diablo IV in its upcoming expansion, Lord of Hatred, scheduled for release on April 28, 2026. This expansion will also introduce the Paladin class, setting up a thematic clash between “the light-wielding Paladin and the darkness-fueled Warlock,” as Blizzard’s development team explained to Yonhap News. The new content includes a Mediterranean-inspired region called Scobos, the city of Themis, and a completely overhauled skill tree system that allows for much more intricate character builds. Passive skill choices now dramatically alter the function of core abilities—one example cited is the Hydra spell, which can be morphed from a fire-breathing serpent to one that spits snowballs, depending on passive investments.
Players can also expect new systems for customizing and strengthening their characters, including unique items called Relics and Talismans, and the addition of the Horadric Cube for item crafting. The loot filter system, praised in Diablo II, will also be part of the Diablo IV expansion, providing continuity and quality-of-life improvements across the franchise.
Mobile gamers aren’t left out, either. The Warlock will soon make its way to Diablo Immortal along with new gameplay systems, ensuring that the franchise’s latest evolution is felt across every platform.
Industry observers, including ZDNet Korea, see the Warlock’s arrival as more than a simple class addition. It’s a revitalization of Diablo II itself, blending the nostalgia of the 1999 original with the expectations of today’s players. The update “significantly extends Diablo II’s lifespan,” they argue, by marrying classic atmosphere with modern convenience and refined controls. For veterans and newcomers alike, there’s never been a better time to return to Sanctuary—or to step into its haunted world for the first time.
Blizzard’s dual anniversary celebration has thus proven to be more than a party—it’s a statement of intent, showing that even decades-old classics can learn new tricks and captivate audiences all over again.