# Diablo 5's first new class is a walking plague

> BlizzCon 2026 gave us the Plague Knight, two familiar faces, and a promise of the biggest class roster Diablo has shipped.
- Title: Diablo 5's first new class is a walking plague · TechRadar
- Summary: BlizzCon 2026 gave us the Plague Knight, two familiar faces, and a promise of the biggest class roster Diablo has shipped. Diablo 5 arrives Spring 2029 with…
- Keywords: diablo 5, blizzcon, rpg, game classes, blizzard, technology, Diablo, 5's, first, class, walking, plague
- Source: TechRadar — https://techradar.com/gaming/a-diablo-5-new-class-has-already-been-revealed-with-the-plague-knight-being-a-walking-death-across-the-battlefield-while-two-returning-classes-have-also-been-confirmed
- Published: 2026-09-13T05:34:24+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: diablo 5, blizzcon, rpg, game classes, blizzard, technology
## Three classes, one brand new
At the Forging the Next Era panel at BlizzCon 2026 in Anaheim, Blizzard named three Diablo 5 classes. One of them has never been in a Diablo game before.
## Meet the Plague Knight
Game director Joe Shely introduced the first new class as heavily armored and relentless, built to grind through a battlefield rather than dance around it.

> The Plague Knight is the first new class that will be joining Diablo 5. This is a heavily armored class; it's a walking death.
## Disease is the resource
The Plague Knight spreads sickness across a fight, then eats it back for power. Infection is both the weapon and the fuel loop.

> You're going to be roaming the battlefield, spreading disease and consuming it for power.
## Demon Hunter and Monk return
Two fan favorites are confirmed back. Neither has appeared in every Diablo, so their return fills obvious gaps in the roster.
## The biggest roster yet
Shely says Diablo 5 will ship with more classes than any Diablo at launch, and more total than any Diablo has ever had.

> I don't just mean more classes than another Diablo game at ship. I mean more classes total.
## Easy in, deep down
Blizzard's pitch for every class is instant fun on pickup with real build depth underneath. Expect more reveals before the Spring 2029 launch.

> They're approachable... But there's also deep ARPG mastery there, and a multitude of builds to explore.
## Key takeaway

Diablo 5 arrives Spring 2029 with the most classes any Diablo has launched with, led by a disease-spreading heavy armor bruiser called the Plague Knight.