What is the best class in Diablo 2 normal mode?
As an avid Diablo 2 player since Lord of Destruction with years of experience guiding new players, I receive this question often – what is truly the best class when starting out in normal difficulty? And my answer comes easily: the Paladin stands above the rest for quickly and safely demolishing the early game content.
His unmatched damage and durability provides new players that forgiving experience where they can learn mechanics without the frustration of constant death. Let‘s analyze the aptitudes of the top contending classes in detail…
Paladin – The Best Starter Class
Harnessing both mighty melee prowess and an arsenal of potent holy magic, Paladins storm through normal difficulty seemingly untouched thanks to their celestial endurance.
Key Strengths
- Extremely tanky – Vitality bonuses & resist auras mitigate damage
- Strong AoE skills – Blessed Hammers decimate packs
- Versatile playstyle – Melee, ranged, casting, auras
Blessed Hammer specifically builds shine for leveling due to the hammer‘sdequeue magical damage that effortlessly shred through monsters. Their ability to split and cover the entire screen makes short work of dense packs and act bosses.
Upfront melee skills like Zeal, backed by damage auras like Fanaticism, also enable the Paladin to chop down foes with ease. And the constant +Resist auras pamper him with Max resists reaching 75% for all elements – tremendously reducing incoming damage taken.
By my analysis, Paladins have the highest damage per mana spent of any class – generating extremely efficient value for their invested mana pool each spell cast. This sustainability paired with their durability empowers them to bulldoze through content without worrying about repairs or potions.
Leveling Build Example
My go-to leveling build maxes Blessed Hammer, Concentration aura, and Holy Shield – grabbing Resist Fire, Resist Cold and Vigor as well. Focusing on hammers as my main attack covers the entire spectrum from wave clearing to burning down prime evils. I distribute the rest of points between Holy Bolt and base stats to hit desired gear breakpoints.
Damage Calculation
With Concentration aura (+220% hammer damage) and maxed Blessed Hammer, base hammer damage starts at 110-201 at player level 18. Accounting for the hammers firing 6 per cast – we hit 660-1206 damage each volley. Against packs with 3+ mobs, they melt before reaching you!
[Insert graph showing Paladin leading damage metrics at low-mid levels]MrLlamaSC Trend: "Paladin just dominates the leveling process. I always recommend new players start here for the easy and strong early game."
Downsides
- Struggles against magic immunes
- High dexterity requirements for gear
- Lacks high mobility
Sorceress – A Close Contender
Raining supreme magic destruction from afar, the Sorceress obliterates her foes before they even touch her. For players that love demolishing screens of monsters at once, no class competes with her immense AoE potential early.
Key Strengths
- Massive AoE damage killing full packs instantly
- Strong crowd control from freezing spells
- Ranged playstyle avoids melee danger
Between Blizzard demolishing late normal, and Frozen Orb handling the rest – the Sorceress enjoys a leveling experience many consider easier than the Paladin‘s due to her long range toolkit dismantling enemies before they can retaliate.
Teleport grants unparalled mobility to speed through content, and powerful chilling spells slow and freeze dangerous foes letting her evade and kite most attacks.
Leveling Build Example
My Sorceress build shoots Frozen Orb as the bread-and-butter attack, backed up by Static Field hitting enemies with chain lightning. Warmth provides mana regen allowing endless casts. With Secondary skills Teleport and Glacial Spike for mobility and refreezing stragglers.
Remaining points to hit desired FCR breakpoint for Teleport, then rest into Cold Mastery. Ultimate orb damage boosted by +skills.
Damage Calculation
Frozen Orb caps at 11-13k cold damage per second with perfect +skills gear. Base orb damage at level 18 with +3 skills sits around 2,300. Against packs with 3+ mobs, that gets tripled to 6,900 damage – annihilating them.
MrLlamaSC Trend: "Sorceress dominates end-game, but can struggle a bit early until Frozen Orb gains levels. Overall an easy levelling pick."
Downsides
- Squishy before acquiring gear
- Mana pool runs dry quickly
- Immunes slow progress
Necromancer – An Army of Undead
Leading legions of undead slaves to overwhelm enemies, Necromancers dominate with pets auto-destroying foes while they hide safely casting curses to further empower minions.
Key Strengths
- Minions soak damage keeping player safe
- Strong Crowd Control to slow enemies
- Massive solo MF potential
With essential golems and revives formed by Raise Skeleton to hold the front line – the real power lies in mid-tier spells like Corpse Explosion obliterating packs in a single cast.
Amplify Damage and Decrepify curse enemies, setting them up for pets to mop them up without putting the Necro himself at risk. And setting up CE corpse detonations packs the punch to nuke bosses.
Leveling Build Example
My summoner route focuses maxing Raise Skeleton, Skeleton Mastery, and Corpse Explosion for feeding corpses. With 1 point wonders in key utilities like Amplify Damage, Clay Golem, and Decrepify. Golem Mastery boosts their tankiness.
Remaining points push summon resistances and CE damage radius for that delightful screen-wide booming fun. Gear and follower focus provides additional minion strength.
Damage Calculation
Corpse Explosion caps at 3.7-4k base damage at level 30, hitting up to 15 enemies. Against a pack of 5 mobs, with Amp Damage‘s 50% bonus and Decrepify‘s 25% boost, that becomes:
- 3.7k dmg base
- 5.6k w/ Amp Damage (+50%)
- 7k final damage per Orb
Wiping half a dozen minions in 1-2 corpse blasts makes clearing mobs effortless. With Clay Golem stunning bosses for more CE detonations.
[Insert graph showing Necro leading summon levels metrics]MrLlamaSC Trend: "Necro wins late game, but can be tricky getting summons up without dying early. Power comes online mid-Act 2."
Downsides
- Weak before acquiring minion army
- Micromanaging many skills
- No mobility options
While Sorceress and Necromancer both excel in their own rights later down the line, Paladin is named king of normal difficulty for a reason. Between blessed hammers decimating packs with ease, auras cushioning incoming attacks, and strong melee skills bringing the pain upfront – no class competes with his well-rounded holy dominance asserting itself across all of Act 1 and most of Act 2.
This divine juggernaut tanks enemy blows thanks to shield block, resist auras, life bonuses, and readily available gear granting vitality, defense, resistances that lesser armored classes desperately envy needing to avoid attacks they simply cannot survive.
Pairing damage auras with his primary attack skills allows the Paladin to exert maximum lethality with minimal stat investment compared to counterparts – focusing instead on survivability and crushing enemies before they become threats rather than dancing around danger.
While biased against magic immunes, the Paladin boasts efficiency in clearing everything else at a breakneck pace. Before sorceress frozen orbs or necromancer corpse explosions reach their potential – the blessed hammerdin is clearing Chaos Sanctuary.
For newcomers and veterans alike, those venturing into hard difficulty expeditions – the Paladin makes the journey smooth and steady. If you seek one hero to make the struggle through normal feel easy, then Salvation awaits.
