“Any challenge can be overcome with the right build.” That is the core promise from Diablo 5 senior game director Joe Shely, and it signals a meaningful shift in direction for Blizzard’s next action RPG.
Writing on X, Shely laid out the combat philosophy for the upcoming sequel — and the distinction he drew between different types of action RPG combat is worth unpacking. While Diablo 5 will retain some moment-to-moment execution mechanics, Shely described the game as fundamentally an intelligence and strength-based experience focused on planning and investment, rather than reflexes.
Understanding the DEX vs INT/STR Divide
The framework Shely is using comes from a video by former Path of Exile game director Chris Wilson, who recently analysed where Diablo 5 sits on the spectrum between dexterity-based and intelligence/strength-based combat design.
In Wilson’s taxonomy, dexterity games reward quick reflexes — dodge-rolling out of attacks, positioning strikes in real time, reacting faster than your opponent. Diablo 4 leans heavily in this direction, where mechanical skill can overcome a mediocre build. Diablo 2, by contrast, is a preparation game. Your success depends on how well you have planned your character, chosen your skills and equipped your gear before the fight begins.
Shely’s exact words: “While Diablo V will continue to feature some DEX mechanics, on balance the game will be an INT/STR game (planning and investment).”
Most action RPGs blend both approaches, but the balance matters enormously for how the game feels. Soulslikes have pushed the entire genre toward faster, more reflexive combat in recent years. Diablo 3 and 4 followed that trend, gradually shedding the heavier RPG elements that defined the series’ earliest entries.
Concrete Signs of Diablo 2’s Return
The combat philosophy is not the only area where Blizzard is looking backwards. At BlizzCon 2026, Shely confirmed several specific mechanics inspired directly by Diablo 2 and its 2021 remaster, Diablo 2: Resurrected.
Items will once again occupy multiple inventory slots, bringing back the Tetris-like inventory management that many fans consider essential to the series’ identity. Stat requirements on equipment are returning, meaning you cannot simply wear the highest-numbered gear available — you need to invest in the right attributes first. The belt slot is back, replacing what Shely called the less exciting pants slot. And Runeword crafting, a cornerstone of Diablo 2’s endgame, will make a comeback.
“Diablo is a game where, in many ways, your character is constantly getting stronger. When monsters get stronger at the same time — particularly outside your control — it undermines that sense of progress.” — Joe Shely
That last quote, from a separate BlizzCon interview, hints at another significant change: level scaling. Shely acknowledged that automatic enemy scaling in Diablo 4 robbed players of the feeling of genuine progression. While he did not confirm the exact replacement system, he made clear that Diablo 5 will take a different approach — likely returning to fixed-level areas where revisiting older zones lets you demolish enemies that once challenged you.
The comparison with Path of Exile is inevitable. Wilson’s team left Blizzard to build a game that explicitly returned to Diablo 2’s design principles, and Path of Exile has thrived as a result. Now the original studio is following the same logic — acknowledging that the heavier, more deliberate style of play has an audience that never stopped wanting it.
Why This Matters for ARPG Fans
The significance of Shely’s statement extends beyond one game. The action RPG genre has been drifting toward action for years, with each new release prioritising moment-to-moment feel over deep character building. Path of Exile 2, Last Epoch and others have tried to hold the line, but Diablo’s influence on the genre means its direction matters enormously.
If Blizzard genuinely commits to build-focused design — where preparation trumps reflexes and your gear choices carry real weight — it validates the approach for the entire market. It also gives lapsed Diablo 2 fans a compelling reason to return, even if the wait until Spring 2029 feels long.
Diablo 5 is in full production at Blizzard and targets a 2029 release. The game was announced alongside classes including the Demon Hunter, Monk and the new Plague Knight.
