# The Dominant Spiritborn Class in Diablo 4: A Toxic Titan
The launch of *Diablo 4* along with its expansion *Vessel of Hatred* has unveiled a new class that is currently leading the charge: the **Spiritborn**. This class has swiftly emerged as the preferred choice for players aiming to enhance their damage capabilities, and a specific build has captivated the gaming community. With the potential to unleash over **1 quintillion damage** (that’s 1 followed by 18 zeros), the Spiritborn has eclipsed all other classes in the game.
In this article, we will delve into the mechanics that empower this overpowering build, which mainly emphasizes **poison damage**, and examine why it’s creating such excitement within the *Diablo 4* community. We will also discuss the forthcoming balance adjustments hinted at by Blizzard’s Community Director, Adam Flechter.
## The Spiritborn Class: A Revolutionary Addition
The Spiritborn class made its debut in *Diablo 4* with the *Vessel of Hatred* expansion and has quickly gained recognition for its distinctive abilities and mechanics. Unlike conventional classes that depend on physical strikes or elemental spells, the Spiritborn harnesses the forces of the spirit realm, granting players the capacity to control ethereal powers and particularly **poison** to annihilate opponents.
What distinguishes the Spiritborn from other classes is its capability to inflict **massive damage over time** (DoT) through poisoning effects. This makes it exceptionally potent in scenarios like the **Hellish Tide**, where swarms of enemies converge on the player. In such instances, the Spiritborn can spread poison across entire clusters of foes, causing them to succumb without the player needing to intervene.
## The Poison Build: A Self-Sufficient Juggernaut
One of the most frequently discussed builds for the Spiritborn class is the **poison damage build**, which has surged in popularity due to its almost hands-off gaming style. Reports indicate that this build is so formidable that in specific game modes like Hellish Tide, players can merely observe as their character obliterates enemy throngs with minimal engagement. While players are still required to navigate their character from one location to another, the build nearly “plays itself.”
### Key Mechanics of the Poison Build
This build’s fundamental mechanic hinges on the Spiritborn’s ability to morph into a **toxic cloud**. This cloud consistently inflicts poison damage to any adversaries within its range, leading them to swiftly lose health. The poison effect is enhanced by various skills and abilities that escalate the damage over time, rendering it one of the most effective methods for clearing numerous enemies.
A particularly notable aspect of this build is its dependence on a select number of **bugs** and **exploits** currently found within the game. These bugs result in a dramatic increase in damage output, enabling players to attain the staggering damage figures that have been reported. While these exploits are expected to be addressed in future updates, they have undeniably played a role in the build’s prevailing supremacy.
### The Paragon Node: Tough Shield
A vital element of this build is the **Paragon node** referred to as **Tough Shield**. This node boosts the player’s damage by **1% for every 3% of their maximum health**. Conceptually, this suggests that if a player possesses a maximum barrier of 100% of their health, they could achieve a **33% damage enhancement**. This works synergistically with the poison build, as it empowers players to inflict even more damage over time, particularly when paired with other abilities that increase damage.
### The Mattjestic Life Build
One of the standout iterations of this build was highlighted by the YouTuber **Mattjestic Life**. In his video, he illustrates how the Spiritborn can turn into a toxic cloud and seamlessly wipe out entire waves of foes. The amalgamation of poison damage, damage boosts via the Tough Shield Paragon node, and various other synergies make it one of the most formidable builds currently accessible in *Diablo 4*.
## Balance Adjustments on the Way
While the Spiritborn class and its poison build are presently leading the gameplay, Blizzard has recognized the imbalance and is drafting a response. **Adam Flechter**, Diablo’s Community Director, recently conveyed that the classes will undergo **better balancing** in the upcoming **mid-season update**. This update is anticipated to tackle some of the bugs and exploits that have contributed to the Spiritborn’s overpowering status while ensuring other classes align more closely with its damage capabilities.
In the meantime, players are actively testing Spiritborn configurations, extending the boundaries of what the class can accomplish. While the poison build is currently the most favored, numerous other powerful combinations are likely waiting to be unearthed.
## Conclusion: The Spiritborn