Diablo 4 could be preparing for another major class reveal, and several leaks and rumors are pointing toward a massive announcement at BlizzCon 2026. While Blizzard has not officially confirmed the identity of the next class, recent datamined information, leaked roadmap details, and the direction of the Diablo franchise have given players plenty to speculate about.
Diablo 4 New Class Leaks: Demon Hunter, Amazon & 2027 Expansion
The biggest question is simple: What will be the next Diablo 4 class? Among the candidates being discussed, the Demon Hunter currently has one of the most intriguing pieces of evidence behind it, while the Amazon remains a popular theory because of the story and setting introduced with Lord of Hatred. There is also a more ambitious possibility: Blizzard could be developing a completely new class designed to appear across multiple Diablo games. Here is everything we know so far
Diablo 4's Next Class Release Date
Following the launch of Lord of Hatred in April 2026, Diablo 4 has already received significant new content, including new classes and the Skovos region. Blizzard's next major showcase is expected to reveal more about the game's future, making BlizzCon 2026 a natural stage for a new class announcement.
According to recent leak reports, the next class could be connected to a future expansion and potentially become available through a pre-order incentive before its full release. That would follow the model Blizzard has already used with Diablo 4's previous expansion content, although the exact release strategy remains unconfirmed.
The Hand Crossbow Leak Points Toward Demon Hunter
The most interesting clue is a Hand Crossbow entry discovered in Diablo 4's item-filter data. Hand crossbows are not currently part of Diablo 4's standard weapon lineup, making the appearance of this weapon type particularly noteworthy. The weapon immediately brings one class to mind:
Demon Hunter.
The Demon Hunter debuted in Diablo III and became one of the franchise's most recognizable ranged classes. The class is heavily associated with bows, crossbows, traps, and fast-paced ranged combat. According to the leak analysis, the Hand Crossbow entry later disappeared from the filter, creating speculation that Blizzard may have accidentally exposed an unfinished or future weapon type.
Of course, this does not prove that the Demon Hunter is coming. The Hand Crossbow could have been an unused development asset, a prototype weapon, or something intended for a completely different class. But if Blizzard is actually preparing the Demon Hunter for Diablo 4, this would be one of the strongest clues we've seen so far.
Why Demon Hunter Makes Sense for Diablo 4
Adding the Demon Hunter would also make sense from a franchise perspective. Season 15 is already embracing Diablo's history by bringing classic items and mechanics back into Diablo 4. Several legacy items returning, while other Season 15 systems draw inspiration from Diablo's older lore and gameplay. A returning class would take that nostalgia strategy to another level.
Instead of simply bringing back an old D4 Unique item, Blizzard could bring an entire classic playstyle into Diablo 4. The Demon Hunter would also fill a different fantasy from many of the existing classes. While the Rogue already covers ranged and agile combat, the Demon Hunter could focus much more heavily on:
Dual-wielded hand crossbows
Traps and explosives
Heavy ranged burst damage
Demon-slaying abilities
Mobility-focused gameplay
Classic Demon Hunter skills and visual themes
The biggest challenge would be differentiating it enough from the Rogue.
What About the Amazon?
The Demon Hunter isn't the only class being discussed. Another major theory is the Amazon, especially because Lord of Hatred expanded Diablo 4's world into Skovos, an area closely associated with Amazon lore.
According to the leak coverage, community discussions have frequently identified the Amazon as a natural candidate for the next class. Some theories even suggest Blizzard could repeat the two-class strategy used with previous major content releases, potentially pairing a returning class with a brand-new class.
However, players should be careful with supposed Amazon gameplay screenshots. Another recent report specifically states that viral images claiming to show an Amazon in Diablo 4's alpha are fake. In other words, Amazon remains a theory, not a confirmed leak. The lore connection makes Amazon plausible, but there isn't currently enough evidence to say that Amazon is definitely the next class.
A Completely New Class Could Be Even Bigger
There is another possibility that could make the next Diablo announcement much more surprising. Leaks point toward a brand-new class intended to appear across multiple Diablo games, rather than a class exclusive to Diablo 4. The report claims the class could eventually appear in Diablo 2 Resurrected, Diablo Immortal, and Diablo 4, with each version receiving adaptations for its respective gameplay and visual style.
If accurate, this would be significantly different from simply bringing back the Demon Hunter. Instead of asking:“Which old Diablo class is returning?”the better question would be:“What completely new class is Blizzard creating for the entire Diablo franchise?” That would fit particularly well with Diablo's 30th-anniversary celebrations. However, this claim is also unconfirmed, so it should be treated as a leak rather than established information.
Could Diablo 4 Shadow-Drop a Class?
This is where the rumors become particularly interesting. One theory circulating around the Diablo community is that Blizzard could shadow-drop a legacy class during its anniversary celebrations. Imagine Blizzard revealing a cinematic at BlizzCon, followed by“The Demon Hunter is available to play today.” That would instantly become one of Diablo 4's biggest surprises.
The idea also fits the game's recent anniversary-focused content. Season 15 is already bringing elements from previous Diablo games into Diablo 4, while the 30th anniversary gives Blizzard an obvious reason to celebrate the franchise's history. Still, a completely free surprise class would be a huge development commitment.
A more conventional approach would be to announce the class alongside the next expansion and use it as a pre-order incentive. The latter possibility is also mentioned in recent leak coverage, with the next class potentially being revealed at BlizzCon and launching alongside a future expansion in 2027 or later.
What Other Classes Are Being Discussed?
Beyond Demon Hunter and Amazon, the community has suggested several other possibilities.
Monk
The Monk remains one of the most requested returning classes from Diablo III. Although Diablo 4's Spiritborn already offers a highly mobile martial-arts-inspired playstyle, some players still want the classic Monk fantasy to return.
Witch Doctor
The Witch Doctor is another fan favorite from Diablo III. Its unique combination of curses, summons, poison, insects, and strange voodoo-style abilities would give Diablo 4 a very different gameplay identity.
Tempest
The Tempest from Diablo Immortal has also been mentioned as a potential candidate. Its water- and lightning-based combat could provide another distinctive gameplay style.
A Completely Original Class
Blizzard could also ignore the returning-class theories completely and introduce something that has never appeared in the franchise before. That might ultimately be the most interesting option. Diablo 4 has already demonstrated that Blizzard is willing to create original classes rather than relying exclusively on Diablo's classic roster.
What Happens With the Diablo 4 Next Expansion?
The class rumors are also connected to speculation about Diablo 4's next major expansion. Leaked map information featuring areas called Kingsport and Doom Craig, potentially representing unexplored territory on the western continent of Sanctuary. The same report speculates that the expansion could eventually bring the Prime Evil storyline back into focus, including a possible connection to Baal.
If these reports are accurate, the next expansion could introduce:
A new region
New dungeons
A new playable class
New story content
New endgame systems
Another major confrontation involving the Prime Evils
However, the reported expansion timeline is much less certain. Current speculation points toward late 2027 or even 2028, rather than a full expansion launch immediately after BlizzCon 2026.
Diablo 4 New Class: What Should Players Expect?
At this point, there are three major possibilities. Demon Hunter has the strongest gameplay-related clue because of the Hand Crossbow leak. Amazon has one of the strongest lore-based arguments because of the Skovos setting.
A completely new cross-franchise class would be the most ambitious possibility and is supported by separate leak reports, although it is also the hardest claim to verify. There is also a major possibility that the final announcement looks completely different from all three theories. That's why players should treat the current information as leaks and speculation rather than confirmed Diablo 4 news.
