Party like it's 2001: Diablo II gets a new expansion, new playable class

February 13, 2026

So, here’s something that caught my attention — after over 25 years, Diablo II just dropped a surprise DLC called 'Reign of the Warlock.' And get this — it's for the 2021 remaster, not the original game, but the faithfulness makes it feel just right. According to Kyle Orland from Ars Technica, this update adds a brand-new playable class, the Warlock, who commands forbidden powers — think hellfire, shadow, and demon domination. Blizzard describes them as hunters of lost knowledge, pushing beyond luxury to chase dark secrets. Now, here’s where it gets interesting: the DLC also brings new end-game challenges and fresh inventory options, giving players more ways to tweak their gameplay. But what’s really exciting? After all these years, Diablo II still feels alive, with Blizzard clearly listening to fans who’ve been waiting for something new. As Orland points out, this isn’t just a nostalgic throwback; it’s a sign that even legends can surprise us again, and the game’s legacy continues to evolve.

It's not every day that a classic PC game gets a new content expansion 25 years after its last major update. But that's what happened last night, as Blizzard suddenly released new "Reign of the Warlock" DLC that adds a new class, new end-game challenges, and new inventory-management options to the classic Diablo II.

To be clear, the new DLC is technically not for the original 2000 release of Diablo II (which was still getting patches as of 2016) but for the game's 2021 Resurrected remaster. Still, that remastered version has gameplay and animations that are extremely faithful to the original, making yesterday's surprise update the kind of content drop that players have been waiting for since 2001's "Lord of Destruction" expansion.

The "Reign of the Warlock" DLC lets you "command forbidden power" as a new class that "wields forbidden arts, bridles hellfire and shadow, and dominates demons," according to the in-game class selection screen description. By way of backstory, Blizzard writes that most Warlocks "have the means to lead a lavish lifestyle but find the pursuit of luxury and ease stale. Instead, they leverage their elevated status in Sanctuary to hunt down lost knowledge that would enable them to continue the legacy of Horazon."

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Audio Transcript

It's not every day that a classic PC game gets a new content expansion 25 years after its last major update. But that's what happened last night, as Blizzard suddenly released new "Reign of the Warlock" DLC that adds a new class, new end-game challenges, and new inventory-management options to the classic Diablo II.

To be clear, the new DLC is technically not for the original 2000 release of Diablo II (which was still getting patches as of 2016) but for the game's 2021 Resurrected remaster. Still, that remastered version has gameplay and animations that are extremely faithful to the original, making yesterday's surprise update the kind of content drop that players have been waiting for since 2001's "Lord of Destruction" expansion.

The "Reign of the Warlock" DLC lets you "command forbidden power" as a new class that "wields forbidden arts, bridles hellfire and shadow, and dominates demons," according to the in-game class selection screen description. By way of backstory, Blizzard writes that most Warlocks "have the means to lead a lavish lifestyle but find the pursuit of luxury and ease stale. Instead, they leverage their elevated status in Sanctuary to hunt down lost knowledge that would enable them to continue the legacy of Horazon."

Read full article

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