D2R on Steam: New Player Guide - Which Edition to Buy & How to Start

Ben Author

Created - 18.03.2026 Updated - 18.03.2026

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Diablo II: Resurrected has received quite a lot of content in the previous month to celebrate 25 years of D2’s existence. For those who did not know, Blizzard launched the Reign of the Warlock DLC for D2R, which added the Warlock Class to the roster.

With the release of the said DLC, Diablo II: Resurrected has enjoyed higher peak numbers, which is actually awesome, considering that the game is just a remastered version of Diablo 2.

Having said that, if you want to dive in but you don’t know which edition to buy, then I want you to read further. For today, I am going to talk about everything you need to know about Diablo II: Resurrected on Steam, including what edition you should buy, and some tips to help you get the most out of your purchase.

Which D2R Edition Should You Buy on Steam?

Yes, you’ve read that right! Diablo II: Resurrected can now be purchased on Steam, and it’s actually a good decision for the company, as well as the consumers. It is good for Blizzard because they have made the game available to a much wider audience. It is also great for us, the players, because of the many Steam Sales that occur throughout the year.

Now, there are some important things that you need to know about if you want to play Diablo II: Resurrected on Steam. The first is the different editions of the game. Here is a quick rundown:

• Base Game: Diablo II Resurrected without the Reign of the Warlock DLC
• Infernal Edition: Diablo II Resurrected base game (with the Lord of Destruction expansion) + Reign of the Warlock DLC
• Standalone DLC: Reign of the Warlock without the base game
• Xbox Game Pass: Base game only (Reign of the Warlock not included)

Since we are talking about the Steam Version of the game, you should look into purchasing the Diablo II: Resurrected — Infernal Edition. This package includes the base game (required for things to work), the Lord of Destruction expansion (which adds Act 5 and Baal as the final boss), and the Reign of the Warlock DLC. At the time of writing this article, the D2R Infernal Edition costs $39.99.

D2R: Infernal Edition—First Steps for New Players

Okay, now that you have purchased Diablo II: Resurrected—Infernal Edition, what should you do next? Here is a step-by-step progression guide:

Character Selection

For your first build, you should select a character that works perfectly well on budget and self-found gear. For this reason, I highly recommend that you choose the new Warlock Class in Diablo II: Resurrected.

The reason for recommending the Warlock is that he is capable of dealing huge amounts of damage (Echoing Strike) while also being able to bind demons (like Hephasto the Armorer) to get a free Infinity Runeword (Conviction Aura).

Right now, the Warlock Class has been topping the charts, both for its incredible damage output and impressive utility. You can build him as a powerful spellcaster or a formidable minion commander, whichever you prefer.

Now, if you don’t like using the Warlock Class for some reason, here are the other classes that I recommend for your first character in D2R:

• Sorceress: The Blizzard Sorc and Hydra Sorc deal decent damage and are incredibly fun to play. Both of these builds also have plenty of upgrade options later down the line.
• Paladin: You can never go wrong with any Paladin build. However, if you want to specialize in certain types of content, go for the Fists of the Heavens Paladin for a more balanced build, and the Smiter Paladin for Uber Farming.
• Barbarian: While not as strong as the previous options, the Barbarian is the preferred choice for some iconic builds, such as the Whirlwind Barb, Frenzy Barb, and even the Berserk Barbarian.

D2R: Infernal Edition Mechanics You Should Know

There are a few noteworthy additions to Diablo II: Resurrected via the Infernal Edition, and you should know about them to improve your playing experience.

The first is the new loot filter, which was a highly requested feature that lets you sift through clutter, leaving only the best D2R items on the ground for you to pick up.

Another thing that was added to D2R is the Heralds of Terror. They are new terrifying monsters that will hunt you down in Terror Zones after accumulating their ire. You must fight them a number of times for you to get the Latent Sunder Charms, which you will upgrade into their “Renewed” versions later down the line.

Sunder Charms are necessary, especially when fighting the new pinnacle encounter in the game: The Colossal Ancients. In case you don’t know, the Colossal Ancients are just the more formidable versions of the “Ancients” fight in Act 5 of the campaign.

Talic, Korlic, and Madawc are immune to fire, cold, and lightning damage, respectively. Hence, the need for specific sunder charms according to your build. For example, if you play the Fire Warlock build, having the Latent Flame Rift Sunder Charm makes fighting Uber Talic a whole lot easier.

In a nutshell, you should:

• Set up your loot filter so that only the best items are seen on the ground.
• Fight the new Heralds of Terror for a chance to get Latent Sunder Charms, which will make the Colossal Ancients encounter more bearable.
• Engage with the Colossal Ancients for a chance to get unique jewels that unlock the true potential of your D2R build.

Recommended Builds for D2R: Infernal Edition Beginners

Are you struggling to find a build to start the new ladder season in Diablo II: Resurrected—Infernal Edition? If so, here are some good builds for you to try:

• Fire Warlock: The Fire Warlock’s skills have a good AoE and deal considerable amounts of damage relative to gear investment. This build also comes with certain utility spells like Sigil: Lethargy and Bind Demon.
• Blizzard Sorceress: One of the most well-rounded builds in Diablo II: Resurrected Season 13, the Blizzard Sorc freezes enemies and shatters them for huge damage. Its impeccable crowd-control abilities are enough to warrant some playing time.
• Blesser Hammer Paladin: Also known as the “Hammerdin,” this build is incredibly tanky, easy to learn, and handles any type of content in D2R. Good positioning is key to the success of the build, but that is something that you should be able to handle quite easily.
• Lightning Fury Amazon: The “Javazon” only deals lightning damage, but that is more than enough to beat even the new Colossal Ancients. The items needed for this build to function are inexpensive, allowing you to have a fun experience without breaking the bank.
• Echoing Strike Warlock: If you are looking for a build that you can bring with you until the endgame, then look no further than the Echoing Strike Warlock. This build utilizes a skill that deals both physical and magic damage, making it ideal for endgame scenarios where only a few enemies can negate the latter.

Why Play D2R: Infernal Edition on Steam Instead of Battle.net?

While you can certainly enjoy Diablo II: Resurrected—Infernal Edition on the Battle.net client, I still recommend that you play the game on Steam. Here are just some of the reasons why:

• Steam offers huge discounts during every major platform sale (Steam Summer Sale, Steam Winter Sale, etc.).
• By now, you probably have an extensive library on Steam, and adding D2R: Infernal Edition to it makes you enjoy everything all in one place.
• You can play Diablo II: Resurrected—Infernal Edition on the go via the Steam Deck.
• Steam lets you seamlessly save your progress, whether you are playing on your PC or on the Steam Deck.
• It’s much easier to communicate with your friends on Steam rather than on Blizzard’s own platform.

FAQ

What is Included in D2R: Infernal Edition?

Diablo II: Resurrected allows you to enjoy what the Reign of the Warlock DLC has to offer. It includes the following:

• Base game (all 4 acts, all five original characters)
• The Lord of Destruction expansion: (Act 5 plus the Assassin and Druid Classes)
• Reign of the Warlock DLC: The new Warlock Class, loot filter, Heralds of Terror, and Colossal Ancients.

The D2R: Infernal Edition costs $39.99, but it will go down in price, especially since Steam has plenty of sales throughout the year.

Does the Xbox Game Pass Include the D2R: Reign of the Warlock DLC?

At the time of writing this article, only the base game is part of the Xbox Game Pass. This means that if you want to enjoy the new content introduced in the Reign of the Warlock DLC, you must purchase the “Infernal Edition” on Steam.

Can I Play D2R on Steam and Battle.net Interchangeably?

Yes. However, it is important to note that you have to purchase Diablo II: Resurrected—Infernal Edition on both platforms (Battle.net and Steam) for you to do this.

Keep in mind that your progress is only saved when you play online. If you are playing in Offline Mode, your saved data is stored locally (on your PC) and will therefore not be available when you hop online to play with other people.