Blizzard Entertainment has introduced a new class for Diablo 4 known as the Spiritborn, diverging from the traditional pet-centric design seen in other MMO games like World of Warcraft.
Rather than focusing on a class that relies heavily on animal companions to perform the majority of combat tasks, the Spiritborn class brings a fresh approach with its unique mechanics. This class is characterized by its ability to summon Spirit Guardians—spiritual entities in the forms of jaguars, gorillas, eagles, and giant centipedes—that assist players in battle.
Game designer Bjorn Mikkelson highlighted that the developers deliberately avoided creating a “pet class” where the fun is predominantly outsourced to companions. Instead, the Spiritborn class is designed to integrate the Spirit Guardians more closely with the player’s own actions and decisions.
The Guardians are not permanent fixtures but rather appear when summoned, creating a dynamic interaction between the player and the spirits.
The design philosophy behind the Spiritborn involves a deep connection between the player’s character and the summoned spirits. Mikkelson described the intention to make the gameplay feel as if the character’s emotions and actions directly influence the behavior of the spirits. This interaction is intended to foster a more engaged and immersive experience, rather than having the spirits operate independently of the player.
Associate narrative designer Eleni Rivera-Colon emphasized the “harmonious relationship” between the Spiritborn and their Spirit Guardians. This relationship is envisioned as a cooperative partnership where the player’s engagement with the spirits is integral to the gameplay. This approach aims to create a balanced dynamic where both the player and the spirits contribute meaningfully to the combat experience.
During the development of the Spiritborn class, the team experimented with numerous prototype skills—around 60 in total—before settling on the final design.
While some ideas did not make it into the final version, there is potential for these concepts to be revisited and possibly included in future updates or expansions. This iterative process underscores Blizzard’s commitment to refining gameplay and ensuring that each element of the Spiritborn class feels both enjoyable and integral to the overall experience.
