Diablo 4 Primary Stats & Effects Per Class Explained

There is a tonne of ways to improve your character in Diablo 4, and many intricacies regarding Affixes, item rarity/qualities, the Codex of Power with Legendary Aspects, and more. This guide, however, focuses on Diablo 4's primary (core) stats.

We explain the defensive and offensive increases from Diablo 4's primary stats, with the latter being different for each class. Further, we discuss how reaching certain primary stat numbers on your character can improve class-specific skills, so let's get started.

Update on 19 July 2023: We've updated this article with the latest info on primary aka core stats in Diablo 4, and their effects on each class.

Primary Diablo 4 Stats & Defensive Increases

There are four primary aka core stats in Diablo 4, which increase per level. These core stats can also be increased by equipping new items, and you can get a permanent primary stat increase for all your characters for every Altar of Lilith you find and interact with.

The four primary stats in Diablo 4 are:

• Strength
• Dexterity
• Willpower
• Intelligence

Each primary stat increase has an effect on the player's character in Diablo 4. For the purpose of this section, check out the defensive stats gained by increasing your primary stats.

• Strength: +1 increase to Armor per primary stat point.
• Dexterity: +0.025% increase to Dodge Chance per primary stat point.
• Intelligence: +0.05% increase to All Resistance per primary stat point.
• Willpower: +0.1% increase to Healing Received and +0.25% Overpower Damage per point

Please note: The defensive bonuses increase from primary stats are for all classes. The next section of our guide deals with damage effects/bonuses for primary stats, which are different for each class.

Diablo 4 Primary Stats: Damage Effects Per Class

Different primary stats provide various types of increases for each class. At the time of writing, only the stat effects for the Barbarian, Sorcerer, and Rogue are known. We will update this section once the Necromancer and Druid stat effects get unveiled.

Check out the table below showcasing the primary stat increase effects on specific classes for offensive capabilities. Increases are per point of the corresponding stat.

When reaching certain amounts, primary stats can also provide additional, powerful effects for each class, which is what our next section is all about.

Diablo 4 Core Stats & Bonus Effects on Skills

In your skill tree, you will see that certain nodes have specific additional effects for a skill in Diablo 4 if you meet the required primary stats. A good example of this is the Whirlwind Upgrade for the Barbarian.

In this example, if your Barbarian has 225 Strength and 225 Dexterity or more in total, you will get +1% Critical Strike Damage per second while the channeled Whirlwind skill is active. This can stack up to 20%, making your Barbarian a devasting flurry of death and destruction on the minions of the Burning Hells.

So there you have it, everything we know so far about Diablo 4's primary stats, their effects on different character classes, and even bonus effects on specific skills. We will, of course, endeavor to update this article once more information becomes available, specifically regarding both the Necromancer and Druid classes.

For more Diablo 4, be sure to check out our dedicated section or some of our Guides & Tutorials just below:

Our section keeps growing, so check for new guides daily! Don't forget to pick up one of the Diablo 4 Editions and join the fight to save Sanctuary soon.