Sure, defeating hordes of demons and saving Tristram from literal Hell is gratifying, but nothing comes close to the catharsis of getting some highly-coveted loot or ladder spot. It's what motivates Diablo 3 players, after all. When it comes to reaping the rewards, efficiency is the name of the game; utilizing the most effective classes for their solo clearing capabilities is a must for those looking to reach the top of the Greater Rift ladders.

RELATED: Games That Are Stuck In Development Hell (& Games That Actually Got Out)

In each season of Diablo 3, balance changes tend to upset the efficiency of the classes and shake up the game's meta. That's why it's rather important to know which classes are currently at the top this season. For those who are interested in Greater Rifts or any kind of ladder, then these classes will still satisfy the need for a fast room-clearing whirlwind of Hell hate. Here's how each of the seven classes fares, ranked from least to most efficient.

Updated October 25th, 2022 by Sid Natividad: Diablo 3 classes have always been a hot topic every quarter or so due to the seasonal content. This time around, it's Season 27 that's still ongoing. Now that the dust has finally settled, it's time for us to re-evaluate the best Diablo 3 class. Because the best solo class among Diablo 3 classes will give you better chances of obtaining legendary loot. Of course, they also shorten the time you need to clear the game's content. And if you're still serious about the Greater Rifts or ladders, then you certainly will want to at least consider how the community regards these solo classes.

7 Witch Doctor

diablo 3 witch doctor

Despite being at the figurative bottom of this ranking, you still can't go wrong with the Witch Doctor. Its top build is still Mundungu, meaning if you've already had one built for the previous seasons, then you won't have to make too much of an effort this season. Although that also means you might get bored of going to the same build again.

RELATED: Hidden Locations Even Expert Players Still Haven’t Found In Diablo 3

Where this build and class excels at the moment is in dealing area damage, making it good for clearing packs of mobs though you could say the same for most other classes. It's just that the Witch Doctor didn't get as much love this season compared to the other classes whose buffs propelled them to higher spots.

Build:

6 Barbarian

Barbarian in diablo 3

While the mighty have fallen from Diablo 2, at least it didn't fall too low. A lot of Barbarian builds and the class itself is still pretty versatile and competitive when it comes to clearing the top content in Diablo 3 Season 27. It's just that it lacks the certain ranged area damage capabilities of the other classes.

Well, this has been the issue with the melee class since time immemorial. For this season, it seems Rend is the go-to for Barbarians, and they would have to don the Wrath of the Wastes set once again in their usual Rending getup. Whirlwind comes as a good alternative if you're dealing with lots of minions.

Build:

5 Demon Hunter

d3 demon hunter

The Hungering Arrow had a notorious reputation in the past seasons for being one of the most overpowered builds. It had been nerfed prior to Season 27, but now it's back nearly on top as one of the best ranged clearing builds in the game. Other Demon Hunter builds simply pale in comparison.

The Hungering Arrow paired with Strafe and the Gears of the Dreadlands set offers a good combination of speed, damage, and area coverage. And while it might currently lack the killing power of the current top builds right now, the Demon Hunter is still a ranged class with lots of other functional advantages.

Build:

4 Crusader

Diablo-3-Crusader-Artwork

The Crusader has seen better days in the Diablo 3 meta, but we suppose it's only fair since this class did have its spotlight moments in older seasons or leagues. But we believe a disclaimer is in order here, not all Crusader builds are overpowered; you usually only want one, which is the Aegis of Valor/Fist of the Heavens build.

RELATED: Diablo 3: The Best Wizard Builds, Ranked

Everything else is somewhat suboptimal if you're aiming for full efficiency. The Crusader also barely made the cut among the top builds due to the number of nerfs for the class. But those apparently weren't enough to bring it down a notch. It's still a solid class option if you want something tanky.

Build:

3 Monk

Monk in d3

The Monk was already in a good and favorable spot last season, but it became even better in Season 27 due to the Wave of Light buff introduced by the new class power. A lot of Monk players swear by it as the best build in Season 27 and really, it's about tied with the next two classes and builds.

The Inna Mystic Ally Monk is also a viable one though it doesn't seem to be as good as the Wave of Light Monk build. Other builds are not as powerful compared to the Necromancer or Wizard's other builds though they still clear well and fast. But if you want your Monk to be on par with the top Wizard and Necromancer builds, here's the best suggestion.

Build:

2 Necromancer

Necromancer in d3

If you want a class this season whose builds are mostly strong and viable for top content, then the Necromancer should be your choice. This class has several strong builds under its name, though; the newest one is the current best, and can trade numbers with Wizards and Monks when it comes to clearing content.

RELATED: Diablo 3: The Best Pets, Ranked

That would be the Army of the Dead Necromancer build. But really, you don't have to go for the shiny new Diablo stuff if you find the other builds such as Death Nova more enjoyable. This is a well-balanced and well-rounded class this Season 27. You also can't go wrong with the Necromancer.

Build:

1 Wizard

wizard in d3

Recent buffs to the Meteor and other skills have launched the Wizard once again to the top spot. This spellcaster class has always enjoyed a relatively high spot in Diablo 3's meta. And it seems not much has changed with the Wizard's place in the status quo. It's still a powerful area-clearing class capable of nuking hell several times over.

Of course, the buff to meteor simply made that nuking process more fun. Star Pact is another good skill and with the right armor and weapon set, this build might just be one of the most powerful in the game right now. Don't be disappointed if ever it does get nerfed next season — next year, to be exact.

Build:

Next: Diablo 3: The Best Witch Doctor Builds, Ranked