They're fine for PvM until Hell, and then things get dicey unless you have the good gear to work with. If you are poor or do not trade a lot it can be a challenge to play with any degree of success in some parts of Hell. They are always a fun character to use and I find no problems doing Pit runs with mine. I would have to say they were more dominating in 09 than in 10, but that's the way the game goes. Today it is the age of the Pally and Necro, or at least it seems that way in all the public games I go to.