Editing Diablo II (section)

===Character classes===
[[File:Diablo II characters.jpg|thumb|300px|The five character classes in ''Diablo II'' as seen during the opening selection animation. From left to right: the Amazon, Necromancer, Barbarian, Sorceress, and Paladin.]]

''Diablo II'' allows the player to choose between five different character classes: Amazon, Necromancer, Barbarian, Sorceress, and Paladin. Each character has different strengths, weaknesses, and sets of skills to choose from, as well as varying beginning attributes. The maximum level that any character can obtain is level 99.

* '''The Amazon''' hails from the islands of the Twin Seas, near the border of the Great Ocean. The Amazon is akin to the Rogue of ''Diablo'': both primarily use bows and both make equal use of strength and magic but the Amazon can also use javelins and spears. As such, her clan is a rival to the Sisters of the Sightless Eye (also known as Rogues). Many of her defensive skills are passive in nature, especially Dodge, Avoid, and Evade.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://classic.battle.net/diablo2exp/classes/amazonhistory.shtml |title=Amazon History |website=Arreat Summit |access-date=November 24, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100317140252/http://classic.battle.net/diablo2exp/classes/amazonhistory.shtml |archive-date=March 17, 2010 }}</ref> The Amazon is voiced by [[Jessica Straus (voice actress)|Jessica Straus]].<ref name="credits">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/computer/doswin/data/197113.html |title=Diablo II: Credits |website=[[GameFAQs]] |access-date=November 24, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091125104612/http://www.gamefaqs.com/computer/doswin/data/197113.html |archive-date=November 25, 2009 }}</ref>
* '''The Necromancer''' is a versatile death-themed spell caster. Necromancers are the priests of the Cult of Rathma from the Eastern jungles. His Summoning skills allow him to raise skeletons, create golems and resurrect dead monsters to fight alongside him. The Necromancer possesses powerful poison spells, which rapidly drain life from afflicted monsters. He also has "Bone" skills, which directly damage enemies while bypassing most resistances. His Curses also afflict the enemy with debilitating status ailments, sowing confusion and chaos in their ranks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://classic.battle.net/diablo2exp/classes/necromancerhistory.shtml |title=Necromancer History |website=Arreat Summit |access-date=November 24, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100310164348/http://classic.battle.net/diablo2exp/classes/necromancerhistory.shtml |archive-date=March 10, 2010 }}</ref> The Necromancer is voiced by [[Michael McConnohie]].<ref name="credits" />
* '''The Barbarian''' is a powerful melee fighter who resides on the steppes of Mount Arreat. The Barbarian is akin to the Warrior of ''Diablo'': both are experts with all weapons for frontline combat and both are able to absorb major punishment. As such, the Barbarian is the only class capable of [[dual wield]]ing weapons. His Combat Masteries allow him to specialize in different types of weapons and also passively increase his resistance, speed, and defense. His Warcries dramatically increase the combat effectiveness of him and his party, as well as afflicting status ailments on enemies. He has a variety of Combat Skills at his command, most of which focus on delivering great force upon a single foe, while some also allow him to leap over chasms and rivers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://classic.battle.net/diablo2exp/classes/barbarianhistory.shtml |title=Barbarian History |website=Arreat Summit |access-date=November 24, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100317140737/http://classic.battle.net/diablo2exp/classes/barbarianhistory.shtml |archive-date=March 17, 2010 }}</ref> The Barbarian is voiced by [[David A. Thomas (voice actor)|David Thomas]].<ref name="credits" />
* '''The Sorceress''' hails from a rebellious coven of female witches who have wrested the secrets of magic from the male-dominated mage clans of the East. She can cast lightning, fire and ice spells. Most of the lightning and fire spells are carried over from the original ''Diablo'', the ice spells can freeze enemies solid and bypass resistances while doing less damage than lightning or fire. Nearly all of these skills are offensive in nature by besieging the enemy with elemental calamity. The Sorceress's ''Teleport'' spell allows her to instantly travel to a new destination, allowing her to quickly traverse dungeons as well as making her very difficult to hit. The strength of the Sorceress is her damaging spells and casting speed; her weakness is her relatively low hit points and defense.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://classic.battle.net/diablo2exp/classes/sorceresshistory.shtml |title=Sorceress History |website=Arreat Summit |access-date=November 24, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327090651/http://classic.battle.net/diablo2exp/classes/sorceresshistory.shtml |archive-date=March 27, 2010 }}</ref> The Sorceress is voiced by Liana Young.<ref name="credits" />
* '''The Paladin''' is a crusader from the Church of Zakarum, fighting for the glory of the Light. He was part of the forces that defeated King Leoric's army in the first ''Diablo'', although his Order is eventually corrupted by Mephisto, the Lord of Hatred. To reflect his holy nature, the Paladin's combat skills range from fanatical attacks to heavenly thunderbolts. His loadout is split into Combat Skills, Defensive Auras and Offensive Auras. His auras have a range of abilities such as increasing damage, resisting magic attacks or boosting defense. Most auras either affect all party members and allies or all enemies within the area of effect. The Paladin also has specialized skills for eliminating the undead and is highly proficient in the use of a shield, being the only class that can use it as a weapon.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://classic.battle.net/diablo2exp/classes/paladinhistory.shtml |title=Paladin History |website=Arreat Summit |access-date=November 24, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100317141317/http://classic.battle.net/diablo2exp/classes/paladinhistory.shtml |archive-date=March 17, 2010 }}</ref> The Paladin is voiced by [[Larry B. Scott]].<ref name="credits" />

Two additional character classes, the Druid and Assassin, were added in the expansion ''[[Diablo II: Lord of Destruction]]''.

*'''The Druid''' is a shapeshifter with the ability to transform into a werewolf or werebear form. He can summon wild animals such as ravens or wolves as allies and attack with nature-based vines or elemental magic like wind or fire. The Druid offers a wide versatility of skills and can be built in several different playstyles. The Druid is voiced by [[Michael Bell (actor)|Michael Bell]].
*'''The Assassin''' is a [[martial arts]]-based class from the Viz-Jaq'taar clan who fights with claw blades and supplements her attacks with the use of shadow magic skills and fire or lightning elemental traps, which remain stationary and affect groups of enemies. The Assassin is voiced by Carrie Gordon.

The player can enlist the help of one hireling (computer-controlled [[mercenary|mercenaries]]) from a mercenary captain in the town; Rogue Scouts (archers with Amazon abilities), Desert Mercenaries or Town Guards (melee fighters with Paladin auras), Iron Wolves (elemental spellcasters with occasional melee capability), and Barbarians (melee fighters with [[Tank (video games)|many hitpoints]]), from Acts I, II, III, and V, respectively. In the original release of the game, hirelings would not follow the player through different Acts, nor be revived if killed. The expansion allows players to retain their mercenary throughout the entire game as well as equipping them with armor and weapons, plus hirelings gain experience and attributes like the player although their level cannot surpass that of their master character.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://classic.battle.net/diablo2exp/basics/hirelings.shtml |title=The Arreat Summit - Basics: Hirelings |website=Classic.battle.net |access-date=September 15, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130715021422/http://classic.battle.net/diablo2exp/basics/hirelings.shtml |archive-date=July 15, 2013 }}</ref> Typically, players choose a hireling that provides something missing from their character class; for instance, the melee-focused Paladin may choose an Iron Wolf for ranged magical support.

In ''[[Heroes of the Storm]]'' (2015), playable characters Cassia and Xul represent the Amazon and the Necromancer classes, respectively.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-03-29|title=Cassia, Diablo 2 Javelin Amazon, joining Heroes of the Storm|url=https://blizzardwatch.com/2017/03/29/cassia-diablo-2-javelin-amazon-joining-heroes-storm/|access-date=2020-09-20|website=Blizzard Watch|language=en|archive-date=January 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121024305/https://blizzardwatch.com/2017/03/29/cassia-diablo-2-javelin-amazon-joining-heroes-storm/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-01-21|title=Heroes of the Storm gets new Diablo characters — including an old favorite|url=https://venturebeat.com/2016/01/21/heroes-of-the-storm-gets-new-diablo-characters-including-an-old-favorite/|access-date=2020-09-20|website=VentureBeat|language=en-US|archive-date=January 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121090432/https://venturebeat.com/2016/01/21/heroes-of-the-storm-gets-new-diablo-characters-including-an-old-favorite/|url-status=live}}</ref>