Sanctuary Redefined: Or Why There’s No Better Time to Play Diablo 4

Diablo IV is currently in a great state and well worth playing. Here’s a look at what’s changed since launch!

Blizzard’s Diablo franchise dates back to the 1990s; however, there have only been four mainline entries, with the latest debuting in June 2023. Diablo IV’s launch was successful and a massive hit for the studio and the broader Xbox brand. Thanks to the game’s engaging combat mechanics, dark and cinematic story, and vast open world chock full of dungeons and other challenges, millions had fun dispatching untold millions of demons during that time. 

However, as with any action RPG, Diablo IV’s debut was not without faults. Looking past things like ability and item balance, activities began to feel repetitive after a certain point, and many of the game’s systems and mechanics felt like they still had room to grow. Some builds lacked a little oomph, and crafting felt like an afterthought - a solid foundation waiting for an expansion and some refinement. 

Traditionally, Diablo games get an extensive rework or update with an expansion, a staple of Blizzard games since the days of Warcraft II. Each game in the series gets one, from Diablo: Hellfire to Diablo II: Lord of Destruction to the iconic Diablo III: Reaper of Souls, which coined the term ‘Loot 2.0.’ However, with Diablo IV launching a decade and change after Diablo III, Blizzard has adapted its update cadence to match the times. 

Diablo IV got its ‘Loot 2.0’ update months before the Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred expansion, so playing it today is a different experience from playing it a year ago. For action RPG fans looking for a game to visit and revisit time and again, Diablo IV is in a great place (and space) right now. Here’s a look at what’s changed and why there’s no better time to jump in and melt some of Hell’s minions.

Diablo IV

Author: Kosta Andreadis
Date: November 18, 2024

Faster Combat, More Engaging Builds

Diablo IV’s tone and visuals are more like Diablo II than III in that they’re darker and more gothically violent. At launch, this Diablo 2-inspired look filtered down to the mechanics, combat, and itemization - with a slower and more measured pace than Diablo III’s crank-it-up-to-eleven approach. Fast forward to Vessel of Hatred and Diablo IV’s combat is now faster and more immediately engaging. The good news is that character and class identity haven’t changed; they have simply been amplified to accommodate the need for speed.

"Every major patch and Season has improved this side of the experience, offering more tools, options, synergy, and speed."

In late 2024, each Diablo IV class - from Barbarian to Druid to the new Spiritborn - has several builds and playstyles that are all fun, fast, and different in their own way. This is an essential aspect of the isometric action-RPG genre that Diablo created. Build, abilities, items, and Legendary powers you choose are often intrinsically tied to how fast you can kill monsters and how well your items, skills, and abilities synergize. Every major patch and Season has improved this side of the experience, offering more tools, options, synergy, and speed. 

Loot 2.0 and Crafting Overhaul

‘Damage on Tuesday’ is a meme that became popular among Diablo fans because of the sheer number of overly specific item affixes you could find in Diablo IV. Whether it was course correction for Diablo III’s simplistic affix system (where it was a sea of Damage, Critical Hit Chance, Attack Speed, and so forth) or a desire to ramp up the complexity - it made trying to find an item with all of the right stats a nightmare.

Ahead of Vessel of Hatred’s launch, Blizzard overhauled the game’s loot and itemization. Affixes were consolidated, improved, and simplified. Thanks to crafting, the idea of trying to ‘find the right item with the perfect stats’ became a step-based process. Tempering allows you to add the stats you want, with an element of chance, while Masterworking lets you ‘level up’ your items as your character grows in power. Diablo IV’s ‘Legendary Power’ system, which enables you to change the power on items, was also improved with the Loot 2.0 update. Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred refines it again, better connecting all of the Loot 2.0 stuff with the core game, season journey, and endgame activities.

Dungeons, Helltides, Boss Rush Modes, and Pit Runs

Diablo is a series that can be enjoyed solo, co-operatively, and in a pure one-and-done fashion. Diablo IV’s campaign sets you on a journey through its open-world Sanctuary, with a non-linear take on the classic Act structure of the series. With several notable ‘oh’ moments and cinematic set pieces, it’s a journey that also sees you grow in power - equip powerful Legendary items and transform into a mighty slayer of demons. This is an experience that Vessel of Hatred expands upon with a new chapter set in the new region of Nahantu.

"Ahead of Vessel of Hatred’s launch, Blizzard overhauled the game’s loot and itemization. Affixes were consolidated, improved, and simplified. Thanks to crafting, the idea of trying to ‘find the right item with the perfect stats’ became a step-based process."

For action RPG fans who play Diablo for tens or hundreds of hours, the campaign can quickly become a distant memory as they jump into each Season to create a new character. This means ‘endgame’ activities, the stuff you do that isn’t tied to pushing the story forward, takes center stage. 

Diablo IV’s endgame chalice is overflowing and dripping with red liquid. Nightmare Dungeons offers materials used for crafting. The Pitt offers increasingly challenging dungeons and a way to improve Paragon Board Glyphs. Helltides offer bounty rewards and lots of loot. The Infernal Hordes mode is a fun (and relentless) horde mode that lets you choose what sort of reward you’re after. Bosses you can summon with specific items drop specific build-changing Unique Items. Vessel of Hatred’s new Kurast Undercity dungeons and Dark Citadel co-op raid add even more variety. The list goes on.

Revamped Difficulty and Leveling

Diablo IV’s leveling and difficulty system was tied to monster levels at launch, with new difficulty tiers unlocking after you completed certain dungeons. The problem was that item tiers and item power were also tied to the difficulty, so each season felt like a mad dash to reach World Tier 4. With Vessel of Hatret, Blizzard has ditched monster levels and re-introduced Diablo III’s Torment system.

Once you hit or get close to the new level cap, you can fine-tune the challenge without limiting access to the best items. In a way, it makes Diablo IV feel more like a direct sequel to Diablo III - which is not a bad thing.

Seasonal Content and Overhauls

Diablo IV is a game you can shelve and return to every Season for a few weeks or every other Season. It doesn’t demand that you play every day or non-stop; it’s designed to be finite and fast. You can take breaks. And when you return, you can have fun and become influential in hours, not hundreds of hours. 

"With Diablo IV, each Season has also overhauled at least one or two of the game’s major systems, which helps keep things fresh and fun."

Diablo IV’s Seasonal Journey is about rolling a new class and experiencing new things or revisiting a build or playstyle from a different perspective. There’s a seasonal story arc, progression, new activities and mechanics, new Legendary and Unique items, and enough balance changes to redefine each build’s potency and capabilities.

With Diablo IV, each Season has also overhauled at least one or two of the game’s major systems, which helps keep things fresh and fun. So even though Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred and Season 6 marks the perfect spot to jump back in or play for the first time, Season 7, 8, and 9 will continue to push the game forward. Which, for the first time in the franchise’s long history, will lead to more Vessel of Hatred-style expansions that will redefine Sanctuary.

About the Author

Written By Kosta Andreadis
Kosta Andreadis is a veteran gaming and technology writer with decades of experience across news, reviews, and in-depth articles. Between Diablo seasons, he can be found creating new electronic jams (music, not the digital condiment) and tinkering with retro gaming hardware.
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