The Warlock is, together with the Paladin, the newest class in Diablo 4 and the only one that juggles two resources at once: Wrath for regular skills and Dominance for summoning Greater Demons. It arrived on 28 April 2026 with the Lord of Hatred expansion. This guide covers how both resources work, what Soul Shards and Fragments do, the four archetypes Blizzard introduced for the Warlock and how it differs from the Necromancer. Current as of 19 October 2026 (patch 3.2.3, Season 15), no builds.
Class role and fantasy
The Warlock is a demonologist. Its power comes from Hellfire and the Abyss; it bends demons to its will and lets them fight, or becomes one itself: Demonform, a demonic shape, is part of its kit. It is the dark counterpart to the Paladin, which arrived in the same expansion.
The Warlock requires Lord of Hatred, and therefore the base game too. On Steam (Czech store, as of 19 October 2026) the Standard edition of the expansion costs €39.99 and includes Vessel of Hatred. The Deluxe edition adds the Infernal Apostle cosmetic pack made for the Warlock. Our editions and price guide covers the differences between editions.
Wrath and Dominance: two resources
Most classes in Diablo 4 have a single resource. The Warlock has two, and each serves a different purpose:
| Resource | What it is for |
|---|---|
| Wrath | the regular resource for skills, like Fury, Mana or Essence for other classes |
| Dominance | summoning Greater Demons, the stronger demons |
In practice you watch two meters instead of one. Wrath handles what you are doing right now, Dominance decides when a big demon joins the fight.
Soul Shards: Shard and Fragment
The Warlock’s class mechanic is called Soul Shards. It has two parts: you pick one of four main Shards and add one of three Fragments. A Soul Shard binds a demon to the Warlock.
Like every other class mechanic, it unlocks through a class quest while you level. Sources give different levels for that quest, so we leave the number out. Until then you play with the skill tree alone.
The four Warlock archetypes
On the Lord of Hatred page, Blizzard describes four ways to play the Warlock:
- Legion – hordes of lesser demons fighting for you.
- Vanguard – turning into a demon, melee combat and hellfire.
- Mastermind – control, fear and shadows.
- Ritualist – rituals, hexes and curses.
Treat the archetypes as descriptions of playstyles as Blizzard presented them, not as finished builds. Specific setups for each style are deliberately missing here, because they change with every season.
The Warlock skill tree
The Warlock uses the skill tree layout Lord of Hatred introduced for every class: Basic (level 1), Core (3), three class groups (4, 8 and 13) and Ultimate (19). A skill takes up to 15 points, has two pairs of Modifier upgrades and three Variant upgrades, of which you pick one. You only get one Ultimate. Skill points come from levels 2 to 70 and from Season Ranks.
Warlock vs Necromancer
Both classes work with creatures fighting at their side. The difference is where the power comes from and how you control it:
- The Necromancer from the base game raises Skeletal Warriors, Mages and a Golem, customises them in the Book of the Dead or sacrifices them for bonuses. It spends Essence and works with Bone, Blood and Shadow.
- The Warlock rules demons, summons Greater Demons with a dedicated resource, Dominance, and in the Vanguard archetype turns into a demon itself.
If you want a summoner without buying an expansion, the Necromancer is the obvious pick. For the opposite pole within Lord of Hatred, have a look at the Paladin.
The Warlock in other Diablo games
The Warlock is not exclusive to Diablo 4. Diablo II: Resurrected – Infernal Edition got it in the Reign of the Warlock DLC, and in Diablo Immortal the Warlock is a new class as well. These are separate games with their own abilities, so experience and guides do not carry over. Both games are compared in D2R vs Immortal. How Lord of Hatred plays as a whole is covered in our expansion review.
Getting started with the Warlock
Start on Normal if this is your first ARPG, or on Hard if you know the genre. Until the class quest you only have skills, so put your first points into a few skills that work together. Once Soul Shards unlock, try which Shard and Fragment suit you, then stick to one style rather than spreading points across the whole tree.
Join our Discord to share your Warlock experience and find teammates for the season: Discord GamersTogether.
FAQ
Wrath fuels regular skills and Dominance summons Greater Demons. The Warlock is the only class in Diablo 4 that manages two resources this way.
You choose one of four main Shards and pair it with one of three Fragments.
No. Diablo II: Resurrected has the Warlock in the Reign of the Warlock DLC and Diablo Immortal has it as its own class, but each game works in its own way.
Blizzard lists four: Legion, Vanguard, Mastermind and Ritualist.
Information verified on 19 October 2026. More class and system guides are in our Diablo 4 section.