Diablo 4 Season 9: Fastest Leveling Builds Tier List (March 2026)
Looking to blast through levels in Diablo 4 Season 9: Sins of the Horadrim? After extensive testing and analyzing the meta, I’ve discovered the absolute fastest builds that can get you from level 1 to 60 in as little as 2 hours. The new Horadric Spells system and reworked Nightmare Dungeons have completely changed the leveling game – and these builds take full advantage.
Diablo 4: Best Leveling Builds for Season 9
| Build | Class | Tier | Speed Rating | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evade Build | Spiritborn | S | 10/10 | Easy |
| Minion Summoner | Necromancer | S | 9/10 | Very Easy |
| Hydra | Sorcerer | S | 9/10 | Easy |
| Quill Volley | Spiritborn | S | 9/10 | Medium |
| Blood Surge | Necromancer | A | 8/10 | Easy |
| Dance of Knives | Rogue | A | 8/10 | Medium |
| Barrage | Rogue | A | 7/10 | Medium |
| Upheaval | Barbarian | B | 6/10 | Hard |
| Pulverize | Druid | B | 5/10 | Medium |
Best Builds For Leveling In Diablo 4 Season 9
S-Tier Builds (Level 1-60 in 1-2 Hours)
1. Spiritborn Evade Build – The Speed King
The Evade Spiritborn absolutely dominates Season 9 leveling. It’s fast, it destroys lower difficulties, and it’s easy to put together without a single legendary aspect required. This build leverages the Eagle spirit to turn your basic evade into a devastating attack.
Core Skills:
- Thunderspike 4/5 (Accelerated)
- Quill Volley 5/5 (until level 15)
- The Hunter 5/5 (Ultimate)
- Armored Hide 5/5 (Defensive)
- Eagle as both Primary and Secondary Spirit Hall
Key Gameplay: Start with Quill Volley from levels 1-15, then switch to pure Evade spam once you unlock Spirit Halls. The build requires boots with “Attacks reduce Evade’s cooldown” – this is non-negotiable for the build to function. With proper setup, you’ll be evading through packs constantly while storm feathers obliterate everything.
Seasonal Power: Cosmic Anomaly works perfectly here for its short cooldown and synergy with movement.
For more overpowered builds, check out our complete Season 9 overpowered builds guide.
2. Necromancer Minion Build – The Lazy Legend
Minions handle most combat, making it safe and easy for casual players. Corpse Explosion provides massive AoE damage. Scales well without rare gear. This build remains the go-to choice for players who want efficient leveling without intense gameplay.
Core Skills:
- Bone Splinters/Reap (Basic)
- Corpse Explosion (Core mechanic)
- Raise Skeleton (Reapers)
- Skeletal Mages (Cold)
- Blood Golem
Why It Dominates: Your army does all the work while you collect loot. Recent buffs to Skeletal Mages in Season 9 have pushed this build into top-tier status. The passive playstyle means you can level while watching Netflix – seriously.
Essential Aspects:
- Reanimation (massive minion boost)
- Aspect of the Damned
- Frenzied Dead
Seasonal Power: Disintegrate or Cosmic Anomaly both work well for applying catalyst effects.
3. Hydra Sorcerer – The Comeback King
The full Hydra Sorcerer with the new unique amulet, Ophidian Iris, is one of the strongest endgame builds this season… Hydra has been reworked so that it no longer costs any resources or has a cooldown, which means you can spam it freely and continuously apply pressure.
Core Skills:
- Hydra 5/5 (Roaring) – NO COOLDOWN!
- Spark 1/5 (Resource generation)
- Flame Shield & Ice Armor (Defense)
- Teleport (Mobility)
- Familiar 5/5 (Extra damage)
The Game Changer: Hydra now costs ZERO mana and has NO cooldown. You literally spam hydras everywhere while teleporting around. Combined with Firewall, this creates zones of death that melt everything.
Key Aspects:
- Serpentine (essential for damage)
- Disobedience (survivability)
- Control
Looking for classic builds? Visit our Diablo 3 tier list for comparison.
A-Tier Builds (Solid and Reliable)
4. Necromancer Blood Surge
An alternative to minions, Blood Surge offers One-button AoE clear that heals you, ideal for crowded areas like Helltides. Minimal gear dependency. Perfect for players who want active gameplay with built-in sustain.
Why Choose Blood Surge:
- Instant full-screen clears
- Heals you while dealing damage
- Works immediately at level 1
- Transitions smoothly to endgame
5. Rogue Dance of Knives
It allows you to use the synergy of Poison and Shadow to kill monsters easily and quickly, so that you can pick up more experience points in a short time. The spin-to-win Rogue build remains highly effective.
Core Mechanics:
- Channel Dance of Knives while moving
- Apply Shadow or Poison Imbuement based on situation
- Dark Shroud for defense
- Supreme Shadow Clone for extra damage
Essential Gear:
- Star Shards aspect
- Arrow Storms
- Corruption for imbuement power
B-Tier Builds (Slower but Viable)
6. Barbarian Upheaval
Despite Overpower nerfs hitting Barbarians hard, Upheaval remains functional. This build will comfortably get players into the lower Torment difficulties with just a few legendary aspects, and offers good mobility via Leap and Lunging Strike.
The Challenge: Requires active weapon swapping and fury management. Not recommended for casual players.
7. Druid Pulverize
The Pulverize Druid is one of the slower classes for leveling this season, not because it can’t clear content, but simply because it moves a little slower and has to stop to slam enemies with its Pulverize core skill.
Bright Side: Easiest transition to endgame with the new Rotting Lightbringer unique.
Fastest Leveling Strategy for Season 9
The 2-Hour Level 60 Route
Players on the PTR have already demonstrated 1-60 leveling in just over 70 minutes, using efficient pathing and the new XP globes system. Here’s the optimal path:
- Start on Penitent Difficulty (20% XP bonus)
- Skip Campaign (if previously completed)
- Levels 1-15: Helltides
- Farm Threat Meter for ambushes
- Complete Helltide events
- Combine with Tree of Whispers
- Unlock Seasonal Mechanic
- Progress questline until Horadric Powers unlock
- Stop and return to leveling
- Craft XP Elixir at level 10 (5% bonus)
- Levels 15-50: Nightmare Dungeons
- Target “Forgotten Wisdom” affix
- XP globes grant up to 10% level per globe
- Levels 50-60: Strongholds
- First-time completion gives massive XP
- Run on Normal for speed
Essential Tips for Fast Leveling
Group Play Benefits:
- 10% XP boost in parties
- 5% boost just being near other players
- Join Helltide groups via Discord
Nightmare Dungeon Strategy: Forgotten Wisdom affix brought by the random Nightmare Sigil will cause the enemy to drop experience orbs, bringing you extra XP. These orbs scale with your level and provide the fastest leveling in the game.
Horadric Powers for Leveling:
- Celestial Surge (pull enemies)
- Cosmic Anomaly (short cooldown)
- Disintegrate (tether damage)
- Floaty Bobble with Dash (mobility)
Build Optimization Tips
Early Game (1-30)
- Prioritize movement speed on boots
- Don’t waste materials on low-level gear
- Save legendary aspects for level 50+
- Focus on AoE skills over single target
Mid Game (30-50)
- Start collecting Nightmare Sigils
- Begin tempering at level 12-13
- Complete class quest at 15 for guaranteed legendaries
- Join public Helltides for efficiency
Late Game Push (50-60)
- Transition to torment-ready gear
- Complete Cathedral of Light at 50
- Target Pit 20 clear for Torment unlock
- Start planning endgame build transition
Season 9 Specific Features
Horadric Spells Integration
The new seasonal mechanic adds another layer to builds:
- Catalysts: Enhance your primary damage type
- Infusions: Add elemental effects
- Arcana: Provide unique bonuses
Best combinations vary by build, but movement-based Arcana excel for leveling.
Escalating Nightmares
New dungeons that scale difficulty and rewards. Save these for post-60 when you need gear, not XP.
Forgotten Wisdom Affix
The key to speed leveling. Always prioritize Nightmare Sigils with this affix – the XP globes are game-changing.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Over-investing in gear before 60 – Save materials
- Ignoring movement speed – It’s crucial for efficiency
- Skipping group content – The XP bonuses add up
- Not using elixirs – 5% is significant over time
- Following campaign – It’s much slower than alternatives
Transitioning to Endgame
Once you hit 60, these builds need adjustment:
- Spiritborn: Add Balazan’s Maxtlatl for poison synergy
- Necromancer: Spec into pure minions or pivot to Bone Spirit
- Sorcerer: Farm for Ophidian Iris to unlock true Hydra power
- Rogue: Transition to Death Trap or Barrage endgame
- Barbarian: Requires significant investment to compete
- Druid: Leverage new uniques for Earth builds
For cross-platform play questions, see our guides on Diablo 2 Resurrected and Diablo 3 cross-platform status.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the absolute fastest leveling build in Season 9?
The Spiritborn Evade build consistently achieves the fastest times, capable of 1-60 in under 2 hours with optimal play and some luck with Forgotten Wisdom dungeons.
Do I need legendary aspects to level efficiently?
No! The S-tier builds function perfectly without any legendary aspects until level 50+. Save your materials for endgame gear.
Should I play on the highest difficulty possible?
Start on Penitent (World Tier 2) for the 20% XP bonus. Only drop to Normal if you’re dying frequently – clear speed matters more than difficulty bonuses.
When should I unlock Horadric Powers?
Progress the seasonal questline until you unlock the base mechanic, then stop. Return after hitting 60 to complete it fully.
Are Strongholds worth doing while leveling?
Only after level 50 when Nightmare Dungeons slow down. First-time completion gives massive XP chunks.
What’s the best group composition for speed leveling?
One Necromancer for corpses, one Spiritborn for speed clearing, and fill with any high-damage builds. The synergy is incredible.
How important are the new XP globes?
Absolutely critical. Forgotten Wisdom dungeons with XP globes provide 5-10x more experience than standard content.
Can I level efficiently solo?
Yes, but you’ll be 20-30% slower without group bonuses. All S-tier builds work perfectly solo.
Should I do side quests while leveling?
No. Side quests give minimal XP compared to the core leveling loop. Save them for after 60 if you want the rewards.
What’s different about Season 9 leveling?
The Forgotten Wisdom affix and XP globes fundamentally changed the game. Traditional Helltide-only strategies are now suboptimal compared to Nightmare Dungeon rushing.
Final Thoughts
Season 9 has revolutionized Diablo 4’s leveling experience. With the right build and strategy, reaching level 60 is faster than ever. The Spiritborn Evade build stands as the undisputed king of speed, while Necromancer offers the most relaxed experience. Hydra Sorcerer provides the perfect balance of power and ease.
Remember, the best build is one you enjoy playing. These recommendations prioritize speed, but fun factor matters too. Whether you’re racing to endgame or taking your time, Season 9 offers something for everyone.
For more Diablo content and tier lists, explore our Diablo 2 Resurrected class tier list and stay tuned for more Season 9 guides.
Happy leveling, Wanderer! May your journey through Sanctuary be swift and your loot legendary.