Diablo 4 looks like it will be making more than a few changes from previous games, but some fans hope some spells may make a reappearance.
Despite being revealed at BlizzCon 2019, players are yet to see what the latest entry in the Diablo series is all about. Blizzard Entertainment hasn't announced a release date yet for the much-anticipated Diablo 4, but it has confirmed that fans won't see it in 2022. Despite the murky details around its launch, Blizzard has stoked the hype with teased details around Diablo 4's classes, PvP elements, and dungeon improvements. Over the game's long development period, the developer has been fairly generous with information, including details about the game's story, setting, and mechanics.
With so many bits of information to pore over, players have been able to compare what they think Diablo 4 will be with the previous games in the series, contrasting the upcoming title's systems with its predecessors and speculating which features the newer game will improve upon. One fan-favorite aspect of previous Diablo games has been the spells, and there are one or two that gamers would like to see make a return appearance in Blizzard's newest dungeon crawler action RPG.
Spells have been a big part of all the Diablo games, becoming integral parts of the combat in later titles particularly. The first game in the series was a little different, as even though all classes could utilize spells, the heavy mana toll and extensive magic restrictions on all classes other than the Sorcerer meant that players relied more on melee attacks. In the subsequent Diablo games, magic saw much more use, setting the first title apart from its follow-up games. Some spells in Diablo were locked into certain class types as well, further restricting who could use what.
While Diablo had many different spells for both offensive and defensive uses, there were some that stood out as the most effective. Across each of the entries, Blizzard mixed up the classes on offer, as well as provided new spells and combat techniques to help keep gameplay feeling fresh and challenging. Some spells made the transition between games, but most of the time they underwent name changes and major tweaks to stop them from feeling too similar.
With the reveal of four out of five of Diablo 4's classes, players have been able to see how some abilities will function with comprehensive gameplay trailers. Magic will once again be a key element of gameplay, with classes like Sorceress and Druid making use of Diablo's classic elemental-based spells with skills like fireball projectiles and ice arrows. The Druid can also make use of shapeshifting magic, changing their form between that of a human, werewolf, or werebear to help them on the battlefield. While it looks like there are more than a few new moves in Diablo 4, some fans still think a couple of classics from Diablo would make a great addition to the upcoming game.
Mana Shield is considered by some players to be one of Diablo's best spells, particularly if they're playing as a Sorcerer with high Magic stats. Not only is all incoming damage directed at the player's mana pool instead of their health, but damage is also reduced by a third when Mana Shield is active. Defensive spells can sometimes be overlooked, especially if they're not as flashy as some attacking spells, but a good defense spell should not be underestimated. While this is similar to Diablo 2's Energy Shield for the Sorceress class, that spell doesn't involve a 33% reduction in the damage taken, which is a very useful feature.
Apocalypse was another interesting spell from Diablo that would undoubtedly have its uses in Diablo 4 as well. It blasts enemies with high physical damage, even if they're out of the player's line of sight or even hidden behind solid walls. It is also the only spell in the game capable of damaging enemies that are resistant to other elemental damage, including Magic damage. There's no doubt it causes big damage and can be useful for otherwise well-protected or resistant enemies, but it also had a high mana cost. But the name is suitably epic and suggests a very destructive ability, which would look awesome in Diablo 4's much more sophisticated aesthetics.
Stone Curse was a popular spell in Diablo, which allowed players to temporarily turn enemies to stone and freeze them in their tracks. The Dark Lord of Terror and Na-Krul were the only creatures with resistance to this spell, which made it incredibly handy for crowd control. While Stone Curse is relatively similar to some spells in later Diablo games, it actually most resembles Petrify that will feature in Diablo 4 as part of the Druid build. This shows how some spells are ripe for a comeback, with only a little bit of a facelift and some rebalancing. Fire spells like Elemental and Flame Wave are examples of offensive spells that would look great with an upgrade, as well as being useful in a fight. Diablo games always have an array of fire magic, so it's likely Diablo 4 will feature something similar.
As well as Lilith making a return as the game's antagonist after her last outing in Diablo 2, Diablo 4 seems to be trying to recapture some of the magic from earlier games. Diablo 4 appears to be emulating the darker, grittier aesthetics of Diablo 2 rather than the third game in the series, embracing its macabre roots. Along with more strategic combat, a change-up in enemy dynamics, and a focus on more complex builds, Diablo 4 isn't afraid to reassess a lot of what Diablo 3 brought to the table and take inspiration from the earlier games.
In many ways, the original Diablo was a masterclass in dungeon-crawler ARPGs. The procedurally generated environments, variety of loot, and entertainingly challenging gameplay made it a memorable experience, and Diablo 4 could do a lot worse than using the original game as a template for some features. It goes without saying that there will need to be updates, but a few of Diablo's original spells could really pack a punch in the newer game's engine and would also serve as a fun callback for fans of the series.
Diablo 4 is in development for PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
Jessica is a freelance writer with an unrepentant love of all things sci-fi and fantasy, be it in book, film, or video game format.
