Diablo 4 players may finally get their long-requested Paladin class. Wowhead reports that data miners have uncovered a vendor build name 2.5.Xpaladin.67961 in the game’s encrypted files, strongly hinting at an upcoming class addition, likely tied to the patch 2.5/season 11 update.
This “vendor build” is essentially the packaged client Blizzard deploys across platforms, and its naming conventions often reveal internal coding cues—even if unintentionally publicized. Players online are buzzing that this could be a Paladin—or perhaps a new class with similar flavor—reviving nostalgia for Diablo II’s iconic warrior of light.
In Diablo lore, Paladins are zealous warriors of the Zakarum faith, wielding holy auras and blessed weapons to smite demons and shield allies. Their spiritual successor in Diablo III was the Crusader, a grittier, armor-clad tank with a heavier focus on flails, shields, and area control. While both classes share a devotion to holy magic, Paladins traditionally lean into aura-based buffs and versatile melee combat, whereas Crusaders favor brute force and crowd-clearing holy wrath.
If Blizzard brings the Paladin back for Diablo 4, it could mean a return to more aura-centric builds, potentially with skill synergies that bolster party play—something largely absent in the game’s current roster. That distinction could help the Paladin stand apart from the Crusader while still scratching that holy-warrior itch.
Still no word from Blizzard, and that’s par for the course. But if this bit of internal labeling is anything more than a placeholder, Diablo 4‘s second expansion may just deliver the sword-and-board fantasy fans have been missing since launch.
