Rob (a popular Diablo 4 content creator) recently shared his decision-making process on selecting a starter class for Season 9. Based on his analysis and gameplay considerations, here’s a detailed guide to help you choose your path.
🤔 The Two Finalists: Hydra Sorcerer vs. Spiritborn
- Hydra Sorcerer
- Pros: Low-effort gameplay—just cast the Hydra and let it handle enemies.
- Cons: Passive style; lacks active engagement, which Rob prefers now.
- Spiritborn
- Pros:
- Top-tier endgame viability — one of the strongest builds in content tiers.
- Solid leveling and farming using Evade + Quill Volley (QV) build.
- Adaptable to controller or limited input setups, ideal for “chill” play.
Rob chose Spiritborn, emphasizing its versatility, power, and ease to control even with limited dexterity.
🚀 Starter Build: Evade + Quill Volley
Levelling (1–60)
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- Use Quill Volley with Evade, and add Thunder Spike to reset Evade cooldown.
- Speedy, efficient for Diablo 4 boost progress, and consistent in Nightmare difficulty.
Farming Transition
-
- Continue with Evade-QV build into Tier 4+ content to quickly collect Diablo 4 gold and farm legendary items.
- Expect “insane movement speed” and stable damage output.
Endgame Boost: Thorn Spiritborn
-
- Once key uniques like Pants-Balazan’s Maxtlatl are acquired, transition into the Thorn-based Spiritborn build.
- Offers top-tier boss killing and high-pit performance, recognized as S-tier.
🌱 Why Spiritborn Works
- Chill yet powerful: Evade-QV is fun, fluid, and forgiving.
- Accessibility: Minimal inputs—ideal for lighter gameplay or limited mobility.
- Robust scaling:
- The early game focused on speed and evasion.
- Late game evolves into high-damage Thorn builds that melt bosses.
- Stable performance: Neither significantly nerfed—Evade and Thorn remain strong this season.
- Perfect for efficient farming, rerolling, or target farming Diablo 4 items
🛡 Comparison Table
Stage |
Build |
Playstyle Highlights |
Leveling |
Evade + Quill Volley + Thunder Spike | Fast, mobile, easy to control |
Mid-Game |
Evade starter variant | Smooth farming in T4+ |
End-Game |
Thorn Spiritborn | Highest boss DPS, elite dungeon clearing |
📝 Additional Community Insight
- Reddit users also highlight the strength of Hydra Sorcerer, Minion Necro, and Poison/Pulverize Druid for Season 9.
“Hydra for life. It finally has a time to shine!”
“Minion necro is supposed to be quite good this season!”
✅ Summary Recommendation
If you’re looking for:
- Easy and fun gameplay,
- Strong endgame viability,
- and flexible control requirements —
Start with Spiritborn using Evade + Quill Volley, then transition to Thorn Spiritborn for max performance. The Hydra Sorcerer remains a solid alternative if you prefer passive, stationary play.
💡 What Should You Pick?
- Prefer low-effort, auto-attacking?
→ Go, Hydra Sorcerer. - Want a chill build that scales excellently and plays smoothly?
→ Start with Evade Spiritborn, then switch to Thorn Spiritborn for endgame.
