The latest argument has gathered momentum in October, with players singling out Warlock's so-called shotgun build for its enormous burst damage, crowd-control protection and survivability. A Reddit discussion posted on October 6 attracted complaints from opponents who say a well-equipped Warlock can decide an entire Battleground match. One player even admitted switching to the build after repeatedly facing it, only to conclude that it really does need another nerf.
But the opposing argument is more interesting than a simple demand to leave Warlock alone. Some players believe Blizzard has already weakened so many of the class's alternatives that the current controversy is really about a handful of specific combinations rather than Warlock as a whole.
The Shotgun Build Is the Latest Target
The shotgun setup has become the centre of the argument because of how quickly it can deliver damage. Players describe devastating bursts that can eliminate opponents in a fraction of a second, particularly when combined with protection against crowd control and the ability to recover health.
In a recent community discussion about shotgun Warlock, several players argued that its combination of offensive pressure and defensive tools leaves too little opportunity to respond. One lower-Resonance player, however, noted that the build still requires positioning, timing and substantial Armor Penetration to work effectively.
That distinction matters. A build capable of spectacular damage in the hands of a heavily optimized character is not necessarily equally powerful with ordinary equipment. Diablo Immortal's PvP environment includes enormous differences in Resonance, secondary attributes, Legendary Gems and equipment investment. Those differences can make the same class feel unstoppable in one encounter and surprisingly fragile in another.
Warlock Players Say They Have Already Lost Enough
Criticism of another Warlock nerf has also appeared in discussions about the class's Battleground damage. Some Warlock players point to earlier changes affecting channelled attacks, farming builds and other combat setups, arguing that Blizzard keeps reducing their options while leaving equally frustrating combinations available to Demon Hunters, Crusaders and Druids.
We covered that concern when the August Warlock balance changes raised fears of a Demon Hunter-dominated meta. The patch adjusted several Legendary Essences, including Measured Halves and Supply and Demand, to reduce some of Warlock's oppressive PvP interactions. Two months later, the controversy has not disappeared. It has simply concentrated around different builds.
Interestingly, not every Warlock player is defending the current situation. One self-described Warlock player acknowledged in the late-September discussion that the shotgun build's damage was excessive, while suggesting that newer equipment sets may contribute to the problem. That is a community interpretation, not a confirmed technical diagnosis, but it raises a useful question: is Blizzard trying to balance an overtuned class, or an equipment interaction that happens to benefit that class particularly well?
Soulgorger Is Still Part of the Problem
Damage is only half the complaint. Warlock's Soulgorger summon has generated frustration since the class arrived because it can interfere with targeting, absorb attacks and complicate fights around Battleground objectives. Players have previously described situations where their attacks lock onto the summon instead of the opposing player.
The frustration is understandable. Defeating an opponent is difficult enough without first negotiating with their unusually persistent demonic assistant.
We have also examined how extreme burst-damage combinations are affecting Diablo Immortal PvP. Warlock is not the only class capable of producing alarming numbers, and mechanics that reward enormous individual hits can amplify existing balance differences. Fixing one ability may therefore do less than players expect if the underlying problem affects several classes.
Can Blizzard Balance PvP Without Ruining PvE?
This is where the debate becomes more complicated. A change designed to reduce Warlock's Battleground damage may also affect ordinary farming, dungeon clearing or raid performance, depending on the ability involved. We have already seen that problem elsewhere, including a Wizard player's documented PvE damage loss following the August balance patch.
There is also the familiar problem of competitive players changing classes. Diablo Immortal makes class switching relatively accessible, which means reducing the strongest build does not necessarily produce a more varied Battleground environment. Sometimes everyone simply moves to the next strongest option, and the argument begins again wearing different armour.
For now, the October discussions establish genuine community frustration, not a definitive class ranking. There is no controlled comparison here proving that Warlock dominates every Resonance bracket or every PvP matchup. Equally, the existence of previous nerfs does not establish that the current shotgun build is balanced.
What the disagreement does reveal is a class whose strengths and weaknesses vary enormously depending on equipment, build selection and the situation in which players encounter it. That is a difficult problem to solve through another round of percentage reductions.
Some players want Warlock weakened immediately. Others want Blizzard to examine the equipment combinations and wider Battleground environment before touching the class again. Both are asking for something familiar: a fight in which the outcome feels decided by more than the character standing on the other side of the screen.
Sanctuary has never promised fairness. Battlegrounds probably should make a better attempt.
```
