Diablo 4 Season 12, now being tested on the 2.6 PTR, is bringing some noticeable changes to endgame. The new kill streak system is the biggest one — the more enemies you chain together, the more speed and damage you stack, which naturally pushes builds that can stay in combat longer. Add in Paragon board reworks and some targeted buffs, and the early PTR meta feels a lot more fluid. A handful of builds are already pulling ahead in high Pit tiers and the new Tower content, but overall class balance looks healthier than past seasons, even if Paladin currently has the edge Diablo 4 Items.

Paladin's "Captain America" Blessed Shield Thorns build is easily the standout so far. It plays like a mobile wall of damage, using Clash for resource flow and Blessed Shield — specifically the Shield of Retribution upgrade — to convert thorns scaling into heavy offense. Defiance paired with Rite of Thorns boosts group damage massively, and when kill streak bonuses kick in, the build barely loses momentum. With aspects like Juggernaut's and Vanguard's Chastisement plus uniques such as Ward of the White Dove, it scales well into very high Pit clears while still being comfortable in Helltides and group content.

Barbarian is back near the top thanks to Hammer of the Ancients variants, especially the Hammerage spin setups. Paragon nodes like Weapons Master and Warbringer add explosive seismic damage, turning HotA into a chain-detonation machine. Mantle of Mountain's Fury and Harlequin Crest help round out survivability and skill ranks, while Sabre of Tsasgal adds stacking damage based on your kit. It's a very straightforward but powerful playstyle — tanky, hard-hitting, and smooth once kill streak speed buffs start rolling.

Druid continues to be one of the safest high-tier picks with Pulverize. It's durable, consistent, and benefits a lot from the new streak system since it can sit in packs without getting blown up. Paragon buffs improved both uptime and damage flow, and players are experimenting with companion and storm hybrids depending on content. It may not spike as hard as Paladin, but it's extremely reliable for solo Pit pushing.

Sorcerer got more subtle gains but they're noticeable. Blast and broader Elemental setups feel better thanks to expanded Paragon paths and smoother scaling. These builds lean on chain reactions and area control, using the kill streak movement boosts to reposition and stay alive. They're still on the fragile side, but capable of pushing deep tiers when played cleanly, especially with vulnerability and stun layering.

Rogue remains an S-tier staple through Dust Devil and Carnage variants. Dust focuses on wide AoE clears, while Carnage leans into rapid melee bursts. The kill streak system fits Rogue perfectly — fast engagements, constant movement, and quick resets between packs. High skill ceiling, but very rewarding in higher Torment content and leaderboard pushes.

Necromancer rounds things out with improved Shadowblight and minion tech. Builds like SKULM are pushing very high Pit tiers by stacking damage over time through Blighted Corpse Explosion and Soul Rift interactions. Paragon updates made minions sturdier and improved essence flow, which helps maintain pressure in longer fights. Whether you go pet-heavy or more technical DoT setups, Necro feels stronger and more consistent than in previous seasons.

So far, Season 12's PTR meta feels surprisingly balanced. Every class has at least one build capable of serious endgame pushing, and the kill streak mechanic keeps gameplay fast without forcing everyone into the same playstyle diablo 4 gear buy. Things will likely get tuned before launch, but early testing suggests higher Pit ceilings and more build diversity across the board.