Diablo 4 Season 9: Updated Class Tier List and Top 10 Builds
Season 9 of Diablo IV has officially settled into its meta, and with the recent balance patch-likely the last major one for this season-we now have a clear picture of which classes and builds dominate the endgame. Back before the season launched, I shared my predictions for the class tier rankings and the top 10 builds. While some of those predictions held true, the meta has shifted thanks to both buffs and the discovery of some surprisingly strong builds.
In this article, we'll revisit the class tier list, dive into the updated top 10 builds for Season 9, and explore why certain classes like Barbarian and Druid are performing much better than expected.
Season 9 Class Tier List
At the start of Season 9, the class rankings were dominated by the expected heavy-hitters like Sorcerer and Spiritborn. Meanwhile, Barbarian looked like it was going to have a rough season, landing in the dreaded F tier.
But with the balance patch and the evolving player strategies, the class tier list now looks very different.
S Tier: Spiritborn (Balazan)
No surprises here-Spiritborn remains at the very top, dominating every form of content from speed farming to boss fights to Pit pushing. Multiple variations of the Thorns build (Quill Volley, Rake, and Crushing Hand) make Spiritborn incredibly versatile, with Rake outperforming all others in high-tier Pit runs. Crushing Hand is slightly tankier, which makes it better for deep pushing, but it comes with lower single-target damage.
At this point, Spiritborn is leagues ahead of other classes-clearing Pit 130 levels while second-place Sorcerer struggles to break 120.
A Tier: Sorcerer & Druid
Sorcerer: The Sorcerer's Hydra build is the main reason it ranks so high. Hydra is fast, efficient, and deadly in almost every scenario. It was briefly the number one build due to a bug early in the season, but even after the fix, Hydra remains one of the strongest builds in the game. Its only weakness? Lack of variety. Beyond Hydra, Sorcerer's other endgame options are solid but not meta-defining.
Druid: Druid has risen higher than expected this season. Although its 1-60 leveling experience is still painfully slow compared to other classes, its late-game performance has more than made up for it. Companion Druid and Pulverize Druid have emerged as powerful Pit-pushing builds, with Pulverize even receiving buffs that propelled it into the top three builds overall.
B Tier: Rogue
The Rogue sits comfortably in B tier with Twisting Blades emerging as the class's best-performing build. While Death Trap Rogue has fallen out of favor, Twisting Blades now carries the Rogue in late-game Pit pushing. It's a solid class for speed farming but lacks the sheer raw power of Spiritborn or Sorcerer.
C Tier: Barbarian
The underdog story of Season 9. Barbarian was predicted to languish in F tier but has risen thanks to overlooked builds and a few buffs. The standout is the Mighty Throw Barbarian, a high-skill, cooldown-focused build that dominates Pit pushing. However, Mighty Throw's setup-heavy gameplay (12-second prep windows between bursts) makes it less enjoyable for casual farming. Lunging Strike, while not as powerful, is easier to play and still holds its own just outside the top 10.
B Tier (Low): Necromancer
Necromancer remains a strong but somewhat narrow class. Blood Wave Necro and Summoner Necro are still fantastic builds but have been overshadowed by new Druid and Barbarian contenders. Both Necro builds remain excellent all-rounders, with Blood Wave holding steady in the top 5 builds list.
The Top 10 Builds of Diablo IV Season 9
With class tiers established, let's rank the 10 strongest builds currently dominating the endgame.
10. Twisting Blades Rogue
Rogue's pit-pushing savior. Twisting Blades emerged mid-season as the go-to Rogue build for clearing higher-tier content. While it doesn't compete with the sheer power of Spiritborn or Sorcerer, it's fast, fun, and reliable in both dungeons and the Pit.
9. Summoner Necromancer
While no longer in the top 5, Summoner Necro remains a strong and flexible build. It's great for farming and can tackle Pit content effectively, but other builds have simply outpaced it in raw power and speed.
8. Blight Necromancer
The Blight variant of Necro still shines, offering solid AoE damage and survivability. It hasn't been nerfed, but other builds (like Companion Druid) have risen in power, pushing Blight down a few spots.
7. Companion Druid
The dark horse of the season. Companion Druid has quietly climbed into the top 10 thanks to its excellent Pit-pushing capabilities. This build leverages pet synergies to dish out massive damage while remaining tanky-perfect for high-tier content.
6. Flesh-Render Druid
Another Druid powerhouse. Flesh-Render has dropped slightly from its earlier position but remains a top-tier all-rounder for both bossing and Pit farming.
5. Mighty Throw Barbarian
The build nobody saw coming. Straight out of the Chinese meta, Mighty Throw is a cooldown-heavy build that excels at Pit pushing. Its unique gameplay loop-12 seconds of setup followed by massive bursts-makes it less appealing for general farming but incredibly powerful in the right hands.
4. Blood Wave Necromancer
Still a powerhouse. Blood Wave offers great control, high damage, and solid survivability. It's a reliable pick for both group and solo play, especially for players who prefer straightforward, heavy-hitting builds.
3. Pulverize Druid
Already strong going into the season, Pulverize Druid got buffed in the balance patch and is now one of the absolute best builds in Diablo IV. It combines great AoE damage with strong defensive layers, making it a top-tier choice for both farming and Pit pushing.
2. Hydra Sorcerer
The Hydra Sorcerer build is the epitome of versatility. It's fast, efficient, and fun to play, excelling at speed farming and mid-to-high Pit runs. While it can't quite match Spiritborn's insane Pit performance, Hydra remains one of the most popular builds of Season 9.
1. Spiritborn Thorns (Rake Variant)
Unquestionably the #1 build of Season 9. Spiritborn Thorns builds, particularly the Rake variant, are outperforming every other class by a wide margin. High-end players have pushed this build into Pit 130, leaving Sorcerer and Druid far behind. Crushing Hand is another solid variant, trading damage for tankiness, but Rake is the king when it comes to raw Pit-clearing power.
The State of the Meta
The most significant surprise this season has been the rise of Barbarian and Druid, two classes that were underestimated going into Season 9. Druid now boasts three top 10 builds, while Barbarian's Mighty Throw has placed the class back on the map.
Spiritborn, however, is still untouchable. With multiple build variations and unmatched Pit-clearing potential, Spiritborn remains the class to beat. Sorcerer is holding strong in second place, while Necromancer continues to be reliable but not dominant.
Rogue, while fun, struggles to keep up with the top-tier classes, and its single standout build-Twisting Blades-is firmly at the bottom of the top 10.
Final Thoughts
Season 9's meta has crystallized around a few standout classes and builds. Spiritborn remains in a league of its own, while Sorcerer and Druid round out the top three classes. Barbarian and Necromancer are strong but niche, while Rogue continues to lag behind despite the success of Twisting Blades. Choose the build that's right for you, invest the effort, build it with Diablo 4 Gold and Diablo 4 Items, and conquer the game.
If you're looking to dominate the endgame:
Play Spiritborn if you want the strongest build in the game.
Try Hydra Sorcerer or Pulverize Druid for a mix of speed, power, and fun.
Experiment with Mighty Throw Barbarian if you enjoy high-skill, cooldown-heavy playstyles.
MMOexp Diablo 4 Team