The November 2023 S+ Snapshot Included Nine Builds
HotA Barbarian, three Druid builds, two Necromancer builds, Twisting Blades Rogue and two Sorcerer builds appeared in the S+ image published for Diablo 4 Patch 1.2.1. The image accompanied Jezartroz’s November 1, 2023 Season 2 announcement on Wowhead.
This is a historical reference to that specific image. Its grades describe an editorial endgame evaluation for Season of Blood, rather than a measured DPS table or a ranking for a later season.
All Nine Builds Shown in the Original Image
| Class | Build label in the November 1 snapshot | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| Barbarian | HotA | S+ |
| Druid | Pulverize | S+ |
| Druid | Stormclaw | S+ |
| Druid | Werewolf Tornado | S+ |
| Necromancer | Infinimist | S+ |
| Necromancer | Pentadot | S+ |
| Rogue | Twisting Blades | S+ |
| Sorcerer | Arc Lash | S+ |
| Sorcerer | Ball Lightning | S+ |
HotA is the source’s abbreviation for Hammer of the Ancients. All nine entries share the same tier; their position in the image does not establish a numbered first-through-ninth ranking.
The announcement introduced an S+ category and described its broader evaluation as considering versatility and the builds of that period. The preserved image supplies the S+ group only. It does not provide a complete list of every lower-tier build.
Patch 1.2.1 Added a Practical Place to Compare Setups
Blizzard’s release notes date 1.2.1, Build 46666, to October 31, 2023 for all platforms. The patch added a Training Dummy room reached through an entrance in Kyovashad, with a stash available inside.
Players could choose a single dummy or a group, and Normal, Elite or Boss difficulty. Those controls made it possible to keep a basic target configuration consistent while changing a build.
A useful comparison starts with the question the build must answer. Use the same target configuration for each setup, then compare the actions needed to start dealing damage, maintain resources and repeat the damage cycle. Changing both the build and the target configuration makes the result harder to interpret.
A stationary dummy still cannot answer every dungeon question. It does not recreate traveling between packs, repositioning around danger or keeping damage going while a target moves. Treat it as one controlled comparison, then consider the encounter the character actually needs to complete.
The Refund-All Button Reduced Respec Friction
The same update added Refund All to Paragon Boards. Blizzard connected that change to players frequently reworking large portions of their Paragon allocation.
That matters when reading a list of alternatives: changing a headline skill may require changes elsewhere in the setup. Comparing two builds while leaving one with an incompatible Paragon arrangement would test an incomplete transition, rather than the intended alternatives.
Keep Later Ring Ratings Separate from This Endgame Snapshot
Patch 1.2.2 subsequently added Malignant Rings. The November 7 Necromancer ring-fit table evaluates a different question: compatibility with the Ring of the Sacrilegious Soul.
A build’s ring-fit grade and its broader endgame grade need not match. They concern different criteria and different snapshots. Use the date, patch and stated purpose together when comparing those two historical references.
