Looking for the Shovel Knight character? Different game. This page is about Blizzard's Diablo 5 class.
The 30-second version
- Confirmed[B1] news.blizzard.com · verified Oct 9, 2026An all-new class, the first new one announced for Diablo 5.
- Confirmed[B1] news.blizzard.com · verified Oct 9, 2026"The embodiment of walking death."
- Confirmed[B1] news.blizzard.com · verified Oct 9, 2026Spreads disease, then consumes it for power.
- Confirmed[T2] warcraft.blizzplanet.com · verified Oct 6, 2026Heavily armored.
- Confirmed[B1] news.blizzard.com · verified Oct 9, 2026No skills, resource or skill tree revealed yet.
Concept art · not final · © Blizzard Entertainment
What does the Plague Knight do?
Blizzard's pitch fits in three words: walking death. The official recap ("Forging the Next Era") describes a class that moves through a fight seeding sickness, then feeds on it. Confirmed[B1] news.blizzard.com · verified Oct 9, 2026
On stage at BlizzCon, game director Joe Shely introduced it plainly: "This is a heavily armored class. It's a walking death." He then laid out the loop: roam, spread disease, consume it for power (panel video). Confirmed[T2] warcraft.blizzplanet.com · verified Oct 6, 2026
| Fact | Status |
|---|---|
| All-new class, the first new one announced for Diablo 5 | Confirmed[B1] news.blizzard.com · verified Oct 9, 2026 |
| "The embodiment of walking death" | Confirmed[B1] news.blizzard.com · verified Oct 9, 2026 |
| Spreads disease and pestilence, consumes it for power | Confirmed[B1] news.blizzard.com · verified Oct 9, 2026 |
| Heavily armored | Confirmed[T2] warcraft.blizzplanet.com · verified Oct 6, 2026 |
| More on combat, progression and builds "to come" | Confirmed[B1] news.blizzard.com · verified Oct 9, 2026 |
| Official portrait: spiked armor, large sword, black cloak | Provisional[B1] blizzard.gamespress.com · verified Oct 7, 2026 |
Why it matters
It is the only new class so far. The other two confirmed classes, the Demon Hunter and the Monk, return from earlier games. → All Diablo 5 classes Confirmed[B1] news.blizzard.com · verified Oct 9, 2026
In a BlizzCon group interview, Shely said a large roster lets the team "explore new classes" like this one, with fewer "heated discussions" than a returning class brings (MMORPG.com). Interview[T3] mmorpg.com · verified Oct 8, 2026
Per PlayDay's paraphrase, the team groups it with the classes that lean toward darkness. Interview[T3] playday.one · verified Oct 6, 2026
Is it a tank? A control class?
Blizzard hasn't said. All that's confirmed is the heavy armor and the disease theme. Its group role, survivability or any "battlefield control" identity are not announced. Confirmed[T2] warcraft.blizzplanet.com · verified Oct 6, 2026
What we don't know yet
As of October 9, 2026, Blizzard has not revealed:
- its skills or resource;
- which weapons it uses (the portrait doesn't confirm it);
- its skill tree;
- whether it has summons or pets;
- how it looks in-game.
Sources
- Blizzard: Diablo V: Forging the Next Era (Sept. 12, 2026). Tier 1. Checked Oct. 9, 2026.
- Official Diablo channel: "Forging the Next Era" panel (Sept. 12, 2026). Tier 1.
- Blizzard: Diablo V press kit (Sept. 13, 2026), class portrait. Tier 1.
- Blizzplanet: panel transcript. Tier 2.
- MMORPG.com: BlizzCon group interview (Sept. 22, 2026). Tier 3, interview.
- PlayDay: group interview with the team (Sept. 15, 2026). Tier 3, interview.
FAQ
What is the Plague Knight in Diablo 5?
The first all-new class in Diablo 5: a heavily armored knight who spreads disease and pestilence across the battlefield and consumes it for power.
What are the Plague Knight's skills?
Blizzard has not revealed any skills, resource or skill tree. More details are promised later.
Is the Plague Knight a tank?
Blizzard has only said it is heavily armored. A tank role or a "battlefield control" playstyle has not been confirmed.
Confirmed[T2] warcraft.blizzplanet.com · verified Oct 9, 2026
What weapon does the Plague Knight use?
Unknown. The official class portrait shows a large sword, but it is concept art and does not confirm the class's weapons.
Provisional[B1] blizzard.gamespress.com · verified Oct 9, 2026
Changelog
- 2026-10-09: first version.