Season 9 PTR Winners: Builds & Classes Thriving Right Now
Season 9’s PTR brings fresh energy to Diablo 4’s meta, spotlighting certain classes and Diablo 4 Items builds that are currently dominating thanks to the new Horadric Powers system and balance tweaks. Here are the standout winners you need to know:

1. Sorcerer — Lightning Beam Horadric Builds
The Sorcerer has emerged as a clear frontrunner in the Season 9 PTR. Combining the newly introduced Horadric Powers with classic Sorcerer spells, builds focused on Lightning Beam damage excel in both single-target and AoE scenarios.

Why it’s strong: Horadric Infusions add significant damage-over-time effects while Arcana modifiers provide crowd control and survivability boosts. This synergy creates devastating beam spells that chain between enemies, making Sorcerers incredibly effective for both clearing packs and boss fights.

2. Barbarian — Whirlwind Enhanced by Horadric Catalysts
Barbarians continue to thrive with their iconic Whirlwind skill, now supercharged by Horadric Catalysts that add crowd control effects like knockback and stun.

Why it’s strong: The combination of mobility, sustained AoE damage, and the new spell augmentations offers unmatched clear speed and survivability. Horadric Jewels further amplify damage and defense, making the Barbarian a reliable powerhouse on the frontline.

3. Rogue — Shadow Trap & Multi-Arrow Builds
Rogues benefit significantly from the PTR changes, especially builds centered on Shadow Traps and rapid-fire Multi-Arrow attacks enhanced by Horadric Powers.

Why it’s strong: The new Horadric Infusions that amplify shadow damage and stack debuffs pair perfectly with Rogue crit mechanics. This allows for high burst damage and excellent crowd control, while maintaining the class’s signature agility and evasiveness.

4. Necromancer — Summoner Builds with Bone Spirit Catalysts
While some Necromancer builds struggle (more on that later), summoner-focused builds using Bone Spirit Catalysts have found new life in the PTR.

Why it’s strong: Horadric Powers that enhance summons’ damage and survivability help Necromancer minions shine in both solo and group play. When combined with the right Infusions and Arcana, this build can control the battlefield effectively.

Summary
The Sorcerer, Barbarian, and Rogue stand out as the clear winners in the Season 9 PTR meta, each leveraging Horadric Powers to push damage, utility, and survivability to new heights. Players willing to buy Diablo 4 Items experiment with these builds will likely find themselves ahead of the curve when the full season launches.