The Blizzard Entertainment recently announced Diablo 4: Season 4 officially. This time, the theme is “Loot Reborn,” and it’s the first season without a specific theme. Season 4 brings a bunch of changes. One notable addition is mercenaries, which were previously suggested as a potential theme for the season. The focus is on making many improvements to endgame features and the equipment system.
Diablo IV’s Season 4, Fresh Loot, kicks off right after the Public Test Realm on May 14th. Utilize the revamped item system and new strengthening and refining techniques to turn an ordinary blade into a fearsome weapon. Throughout all levels of the world, the Helltide rises anew: defeat monstrous creatures to raise your threat level, catching the attention of the Helltide as its prey. Get ready to team up with the Iron Wolves—a skilled group of mercenaries determined to eradicate the demon threat.
Reforged Items: Finishing, Crafting and Much More
Source: Blizzard
Diablo IV’s seasons leave their mark on Sanctuary’s seasonal domain, offering fresh quests and new mechanics to discover and master. Season 4: Fresh Loot unveils a novel theme, revamping many core systems of the game, altering how you acquire, utilize, and enhance items while progressing through different world tiers during the season.
In contrast to prior season-specific themes confined to the Seasonal Realm, Season 4: Fresh Loot extends its changes beyond the Seasonal Realm, affecting the Eternal Realm as well. Continue reading to understand how you can gather and utilize loot throughout Diablo IV.
All updates to our new items, classes and skills can be found in the Season 4 patch notes, which will be available here after our developer update stream on May 2ndwill be found.
General Item Updates
Our aim with item changes is to simplify the process of identifying upgrades when items drop. We’ve streamlined the number of item affixes to three for legendary items and two for rare items, making these affixes more impactful. Instead of encountering affixes reliant on situational stats (such as +10% damage to uninjured elite enemies), you’ll now come across affixes that boost fundamental aspects like your base movement speed or specific levels of a core skill.
The dropped items are now easier to evaluate, with their intricacy and customization now integrated into our new crafting systems, Crafting and Finishing, which we’ll delve into shortly. Moreover, we’ve enhanced the overall value of these affixes, ensuring they feel more potent.
By bolstering the inherent power of items, we’ve significantly reduced the quantity of items dropped by defeated monsters. The objective is to spend more time engaged in combat rather than sorting through numerous dropped items.
Consequently, while fewer items will be dropped overall, those that do appear are more likely to hold significant value. To offset this change and maintain consistency with regular items, the crafting materials acquired through salvaging have been adjusted accordingly. Furthermore, Whisper Bounties now yield Forgotten Souls and are less frequently dropped by elite adversaries. We’ve also set a cap on the gold cost for re-rolling items during enchanting, and decreased the amount of Blacksmith material required for all activities.
Additionally, the world tier you’re playing in directly impacts the rarity of the items you discover. Holy or higher-tier items exclusively drop in World Tier III, while Ancestral items are found solely in World Tier IV. Similarly, legendary items dropped by enemies above level 95 will always possess an item power of 925.
Nevertheless, be on the lookout for unique items—some may emerge in World Tier I and World Tier II. All unique items have a chance of appearing at World Tier III, while uber-unique items may surface after defeating level 55 monsters with maximum item power.
Revisions to the Codex of Power
Extracted aspects from legendary items are now stored in the Codex of Power and can be utilized indefinitely. Rather than occupying space in your inventory, the Codex of Power serves as a repository for your most potent extracted aspect, which you can access as frequently as you need.
The Codex of Power displays all available aspects, allowing you to focus on obtaining the highest-quality aspect possible. Once an aspect has been extracted with its maximum potential value, a distinct indicator confirms its completion.
In the Codex of Power, aspects can now be marked as favorites, and a tooltip will indicate whether you already have a particular aspect equipped while browsing. It’s important to note that your Codex of Power will reset at the conclusion of the season in the Seasonal Realm, while retaining your learned affixes for the Eternal Realm. If you’ve already acquired the same aspect in the Eternal Realm, the Codex of Power retains the higher of the two values.
Crafting: Sharpen Your Steel and Make It Sing
If you discover and master crafting guides, blacksmiths across Sanctuary can utilize these guides to enhance the quality of your equipment. Crafting empowers you to incorporate potent affixes into your items.
Crafting guides are scattered as regular items throughout the game. Once acquired, they can be employed without limit, akin to the recent adjustment to the Code of Power.
Each crafting guide encompasses a select array of affixes, typically falling into six distinct categories: Weapons, Attack, Defense, Mobility, Versatility, and Resource. Simply visit the blacksmith to employ Crafting on your item and integrate one of the available affixes, considerably expediting the process of obtaining your desired affix. Ancestral items have the capacity for two crafted affixes from different categories!
Keep in mind, Temper Durability signifies the number of times you can temper an item…even the sturdiest blades can dull over time. The skills you acquire in the Seasonal Realm persist until the season’s conclusion, while those learned in the Eternal Realm endure indefinitely.
Completion: Refine Your Weapon to Unimagined Levels
By utilizing the rarest materials extracted from the deepest mines and caverns, you can enhance your weapons to their utmost potential. Completion stands as a long-term crafting system, allowing you to utilize materials acquired in the Artificer’s Pit to elevate your weapons.
Completion amplifies the potency of all your weapon’s affixes, and with every fourth level attained, one of your equipped affixes experiences a significant enhancement. This boosted affix is highlighted in blue. If the same affix undergoes further upgrades, it transitions to yellow, and in rare instances, it may turn orange upon receiving a third upgrade.
Should you reach the maximum completion level of a weapon and find its enhancements unsatisfactory, you have the option to reset it and initiate the process anew.
Big Affixes
Major affixes exclusively manifest on legendary and unique ancestral items, presenting as 1.5 times more potent iterations of normal affixes. When dropped, items bearing significant affixes emit a distinct sound to alert you and are adorned with a unique icon both in the world and in your inventory. In World Tiers III and IV, each affix of an item holds the possibility of being a major affix. It’s crucial to note that you cannot convert a regular affix into a major one—its extraordinary power can only be stumbled upon.
Gemstones
Gem mechanics have been refined to offer a smoother and more efficient experience as your character progresses through their journey. Raw gems have been phased out, and crafting levels have been reset. Normal gems become accessible at level 51, flawless gems at level 71, and royal gems at level 91. Furthermore, all diamond resistance values have undergone augmentation. Topazes now bestow increased intelligence, while sapphires grant additional willpower. Amethysts enhance strength, and emeralds now provide extra dexterity.
Hell’s Flood Reborn
In a resurgence of hellish fury, the legions of the burning hells gather for a formidable display of power in a revitalized hellflood. Drawing inspiration from the vampiric blood harvest witnessed in the Season of Blood, your combat prowess attracts the attention of increasingly formidable adversaries.
Only the strongest and most prepared individuals can endure the formidable onslaught. Unless specified otherwise, the alterations to Helltide will impact both the Eternal and Seasonal Realms, persisting beyond the culmination of Season 4: Fresh Loot.
Threat Levels and Hell Marked
Traversing through the infernal deluge, you now instigate threat. The magnitude of threat accrued hinges upon the difficulty level of the monsters you vanquish and the frequency of Tormented Gifts unveiled within Helltide. Three threat levels exist in total, each escalating the peril and frequency of ambushes. Upon attaining level 3, you become Hellmarked.
Once Hellmarked, you’ll be besieged by a deluge of densely packed monsters. Surviving this onslaught earns you the title of Hellspawn—a distinguished warrior fallen from Sanctuary’s ranks, now an immensely powerful emissary of Hell. The Hellspawn can manifest in any of Diablo IV’s classes. Your threat level resets upon activation of the Hellspawn Ambush or upon succumbing to the overwhelming forces of Hell.
Unholy Blasphemy: Cursed Ritual
The Cursed Ritual, situated amidst gruesome bloodshed, serves as the ultimate testament to the depraved lengths to which the insane cultists will go to fulfill their sinister desires. You can commence the Cursed Ritual at this site.
Doom Hearts can be acquired by unveiling Tormented Gifts within the Infernal Flood and by vanquishing Hellspawn adversaries. Discard three Doom Hearts to initiate the ritual, which commences with a swarm of demonic enemies. This onslaught culminates with the arrival of the formidable Bloodmaiden, an immensely powerful demon whose demise yields a substantial reward.
Contributing Doom Hearts to initiate this sinister ritual grants you an augmented reward bonus. Sacrificing additional Doom Hearts yields supplementary individual rewards!
Hellfloods in World Tiers I and II
To acquaint adventurers with the formidable threat of Helltide early in their character’s odyssey, Helltide now infiltrates World Tiers I and II. The overall monster density is adjusted to suit these world tiers, with the absence of roaming bosses or lethal meteor strikes.
Additional Hellish Changes
For daring wanderers seeking to test their mettle against the Infernal Tide’s extremes, a highly coveted elixir, the Desecrated Mind Cage, now awaits. Imbibing the Desecrated Mind Cage elevates the Helltide monster levels by 10 and heightens the likelihood of Embers dropping.
Embers are guaranteed to descend upon slaying Hellbloods. Notably, the efficacy of raising monster levels diminishes nearing the level cap—continue your journey through the world to reap the same benefits from this potent elixir. The Desecrated Mind Cage is available only until the conclusion of Season 4: Fresh Loot.
Fresh diabolic occurrences have been interwoven into Helltide, including encounters with the renowned Iron Wolves. Remain ever vigilant for these encounters steeped in demonic treachery.
A notable alteration since the public test realm for Season 4: Fresh Loot is the discontinuation of Doomsayers dropping Doomsaying chests. Instead, they now yield loot commensurate with what a Doomsaying Chest would have proffered posthumously—eliminating the erstwhile Ember cost.
Read Also: Diablo 4 Update: Patch 1.3.4a Enhances Gameplay and Fixes Bugs
Your Biggest Challenge: The Pit of The Workman
Whispers circulate of peculiar ores nestled deep within the labyrinthine network of dungeons that snake through northern Sanctuary—ideal for crafting extraordinary armor utilizing clandestine Horadrim methodologies. Yet, the horrors that lurk, awaiting intrepid explorers seeking to unearth these riches, are indescribably dire.
Upon breaching World Tier IV, you’ll be entrusted with a paramount quest—to conquer a level 46 nightmare dungeon. Upon triumph, you’ll amass Rune Shards through various long-term content activities. These shards materialize upon encountering Helltide Chests, World Bosses, Legion Events, Nightmare Dungeons, and Whisper Bounties.
Accumulate rune shards to activate the obelisk in Cerrigar, granting access to the depths of the pit. Your mission: annihilate enough monsters to summon a final boss before the 10-minute deadline elapses. Each demise subtracts time: the first deducts 30 seconds, the second 60 seconds, and subsequent deaths dock 90 seconds.
Once a sufficient number of monsters have been vanquished, a portal will materialize, transporting you to the boss arena. Your objective: defeat the boss before the time elapses to secure the coveted Completion Materials and progress to the next grueling level of the Pit. Should you defeat the boss with ample time remaining, you’ll receive additional rewards. If 4-6 minutes remain, you’ll bypass a stage and unlock an extra level of the pit. If the boss falls with 6 or more minutes left, two additional stages will be unveiled. There are a daunting 200 difficulty levels in the pit awaiting those bold enough to undertake the challenge.
You can venture into the pit in groups of up to four players, with the individual who initiates the pit using the rune shards garnering the lion’s share of the materials. Solely the player who opened the Pit stands a chance of acquiring the alluring Stygian Stones utilized to summon Tormented Echoes—the level 200 iterations of Diablo IV’s summonable bosses. As you delve deeper into the Pit, these Stygian stones become increasingly prevalent.
Andariel Joins the Fight & Tortured Echos
The Mistress of Torment, Andariel, makes her triumphant return in all her tormented glory. She enters the fray alongside her brother Duriel, boasting the same drop rate for uber-unique items. Armed with a lethal combination of shadow, fire, lightning, and her infamous poison attack, Andariel stands ready to confront all who dare to challenge her.
To summon Andariel, venture to the east of Tasarak, to the Hall of the Hanged Man. There, utilizing summoning materials from Lord Zir and the Beast in the Ice, you can summon Andariel to engage in battle.
Tormented Echoes
All summonable bosses are now accessible as Tormented Echoes at level 200. These formidable adversaries can be summoned using their standard summoning materials and Stygian Stones, found deep within the pit. Although they require more resources to summon, they yield significantly more loot. Simply visit their usual summoning locations and select the Tormented Echo variant to summon one. Note that summoning the Beast in the Ice requires crafting another Nightmare Dungeon Seal.
Every item dropped by Tormented Echoes boasts an item level of 925. Upon defeating a Tormented Echo for the first time, a Resplendent Spark will be bestowed as a reward, bound to your account.
Fight With the Iron Wolves
Stand alongside the battle-hardened and valiant Soudeh the Anvil, a steadfast field commander of the Iron Wolves. Comprising noble southern mercenaries, the Iron Wolves are dedicated to safeguarding the denizens of Sanctuary and uphold a higher code of honor compared to other mercenary factions. Investigate the mysterious demise of some Iron Wolves members to earn the favor of this noble group.
Initiate your quest by meeting Soudeh in Kehjistan, where you’ll commence unraveling this perilous plot. Collaborating with the Iron Wolves grants you access to multiple hardening guides, crucial for unlocking your items’ potential in Season 4: Fresh Loot.
Any Iron Wolf events occurring within Helltide will persist beyond the conclusion of Season 4: Fresh Prey.
Earn Rewards with Seasonal Journey and Battle Pass
As you wage war alongside the Iron Wolves against the demonic hordes, you’ll reap rewards from the Season Journey and Battle Pass.
The Season Journey comprises chapters, each with its own set of tasks. Progressing through these chapters earns you rewards befitting the Defenders of Sanctuary, including new Legendary Aspects and three Scrolls of Amnesia, enabling a free reset of your skill tree and Paragon Board. Additionally, the journey awards Favor, a resource used to ascend the levels of the Battle Pass and obtainable through various in-game activities.
The Season 4: Fresh Loot Battle Pass commences on May 14th, featuring 90 reward tiers (28 free and 62 premium tiers).
By acquiring the Premium Battle Pass, you’ll not only receive the rewards from the free tier but also exclusive items such as the Awakened Demigod Armor Sets, Platinum, and more, including the Demigod Tabs mount armor, the Purified Demigod Thoroughbred mount, and the Divine Banner mount trophy, unlocked at level 90. Moreover, the season-specific Battle Pass features an accelerated unlock, including 20 tier jumps and the Infernal Legion Wings emote.
Smoldering Ashes earned from free tiers can be utilized on seasonal blessings, providing beneficial bonuses to fend off the legions of Hell. Season 4: Fresh Loot introduces three new blessings:
- Urn of Nightmares: Enhances the amount of Paragonglyph XP earned in Nightmare Dungeons.
- Urn of Iron: Improves your reputation with the Iron Wolves through Helltide activities.
- Urn of Burning Oboluses: Enhances the amount of Oboluses found in Hellflood Chests this season.
The bonuses conferred by these seasonal blessings remain effective until the conclusion of Season 4: Fresh Loot.
Get Amazing Treasures in Tejal’s Store
Tejal’s store offers an array of new gear, armor, accessories, and mount and mount armor packs to elevate your victories. Starting May 14th, explore Tejal’s inventory for rare finds from the far reaches of Sanctuary, including the Demon Heart Pack for the Barbarian, featuring the Demon Heart Armor Set and 2 cosmetic Demon Heart Weapons.
Community Guides for Season 4
For insightful advice on your journey through Season 4: Fresh Loot, peruse our community guides for tips and build insights for each class. From leveling up to conquering World Tier I to devising long-term builds for the pit, our trusted community resources provide invaluable guidance:
- Maxroll
- Icy Veins
- Wowhead
- PureDiablo
- Mobalytics
