Project Diablo 2 · Season 14
Build Guides
Step-by-step guides for 18 builds: skill order, gear for every budget, a leveling route from level 1 and the right mercenary. Pick your class and what you want to do.
League start tier list HCHardcore
18 guides · ranked for league start (Hardcore)
S S tier HC4
Druid Summon Druid (Wolves / Grizzly / Spirits)Mapping ABossing SLeague start SFarms Travincal to Uber Tristram on cheap gear while minions tank everything: the safest HC start.
Amazon Summon Amazon (Valkyrie / Decoy)Mapping ABossing ALeague start SValkyrie and Decoy take aggro while you farm Chaos, keys and Uber Tristram on starter gear; very safe in HC.
Barbarian War Cry Barbarian (Singer)Mapping SBossing DLeague start SNeeds no weapon to farm early targets, and high life plus Battle Orders make it an HC favourite.
Paladin Holy Bolt / Fist of the Heavens PaladinMapping CBossing BLeague start SFarms every early target from range on cheap gear, with paladin defenses keeping it safe in HC.
A A tier HC6
Assassin Venom Blade Sentinel AssassinMapping SBossing SLeague start AFarms every early target and scales into endgame, though the assassin life pool adds some HC risk.- Assassin Wake of Fire TrapsinMapping SBossing BLeague start ATraps need little gear and work from range, keeping early HC play safe.
Necromancer Bone Necromancer (Teeth / Bone Spear)Mapping SBossing CLeague start ARange and Bone Armor keep it safe through Chaos and early maps, and it grows into a top mapper.- Druid Fire Elemental Druid (Boulder / Fissure / Volcano)Mapping SBossing CLeague start ALevels as itself from level 1 on cheap gear, with druid life for HC.
Sorceress Meteor Sorceress (Fire)Mapping BBossing ALeague start AThe classic cheap sorceress starter, but low sorceress life makes it riskier in HC.- Paladin Hammerdin (Blessed Hammer Paladin)Mapping ABossing CLeague start AA proven early starter where Holy Shield and block keep you alive in HC.
B B tier HC4
- Necromancer Poison Nova NecromancerMapping SBossing BLeague start BThe fastest mapper this season, but it needs +poison skills and -poison resistance gear first.
- Sorceress Blizzard Sorceress (Cold Mastery)Mapping ABossing ALeague start BA safe cold starter without standout early farms that becomes a strong mapper later.
- Druid Cold Elemental Druid (Arctic Blast / Hurricane)Mapping SBossing DLeague start BA top mapper once geared; start as a Wind Elemental and transition.
- Amazon Lightning Fury JavazonMapping SBossing DLeague start BShines once Titan's Revenge or Thunderstroke and +Javelin skills are found, but weak before that.
C C tier HC4
- Barbarian Whirlwind Barbarian (Two-Handed)Mapping ABossing CLeague start CNeeds a strong two-handed weapon and leech to survive in melee, which is risky early in HC.
- Sorceress Frozen Orb Sorceress (Cold Mastery)Mapping ABossing DLeague start CA top mapper later, but weak early and fragile in HC until it is geared.
- Sorceress Lightning Nova SorceressMapping ABossing DLeague start CNeeds Energy Shield gear and +lightning skills before it works, which makes it a poor starter.
- Paladin Physical Zealot Paladin (Zeal / Fanaticism)Mapping BBossing CLeague start CZeal needs a strong weapon and leech first; Vengeance or Smiter are easier paladin melee starts.
Tier ranks are our provisional Season 14 read, based on cited community tier lists and patch notes -- each guide explains its rank and links its sources. Only builds with a full guide are listed. Player-written guides · Write your own