The sixth season of Diablo 4 is finally here and is making some major changes to the core game. It should come as no surprise that this new update to Diablo 4 has made it out now, as its appearance coincides with the release of the game’s first expansion pack, Vessel of Hatred. With a bevy of unique content including a new region, a new class, and a new endgame dungeon to explore, Blizzard’s latest game looks to expand on the base game’s lore and mechanics in a big way.
One way in which Diablo 4 will be overhauling itself is with the inclusion of new difficulty options. As the 2.0 patch hits Diablo 4, the current World Tiers system will be replaced entirely with a new set of difficulty levels, providing an entirely different level of challenge for new and returning players. This new system will also emphasize choice and give players the opportunity to tether the game to their own distinct preferences, while also opening the door for some major challenge.
Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred Timed Its Release Perfectly
Vessel of Hatred, the upcoming paid expansion for Blizzard's popular action RPG Diablo 4, is launching at a very opportune time.
Diablo 4’s Eight Difficulty Options Explained
Diablo 4 Comes With Four Standard Difficulty Settings
Diablo 4’s latest update brings with it four Standard Difficulties, helping move the player through the process of reaching the new level cap of 60. The four Standard Difficulties are Normal, Hard, Expert, and Penitent. Naturally, the amount of gold and experience players receive will rise upon each increase in difficulty, and these options serve as the way to unlock the second set of difficulty levels.
Not all of these options will be unlocked from the start, as only Normal and Hard will be the default options. The Expert difficulty will be available to players once they complete the prologue of Diablo 4, which takes a few hours to get through. On the other hand, Penitent is unlocked once the player reaches Level 50, meaning players should get ready to grind if they want to reach the highest Standard Difficulty.
Diablo 4 Adds Four More Challenging Difficulties
Those options are not the only difficulty levels being added to Diablo 4, as there will also be a set of four Torment Difficulties. Naturally, these will provide an even greater challenge in Diablo 4 than the Penitent option, and completing them will be the mark of a hardcore Diablo player. Much like the Standard Difficulties, there are four Torment Difficulties, all of which are reached after hitting the Level 60 cap.
These endgame Torment Difficulties are tied to the Pit, which unlocks upon reaching Level 60. As players clear out levels in the Pit and reach higher levels there, the Torment Difficulties will also increase. Torment Tier I appears upon beating Pit Tier 20, Torment II unlocks after finishing Pit Tier 35, Torment III is available after completing Pit Tier 50, and Torment IV becomes playable upon getting through Pit Tier 65.
Torment Difficulties In Diablo 4 Will Be Brutal
Torment Difficulties will be a true test, especially as they introduce a new feature known as Curses. With these Curses, Armor and Resistances are reduced in Diablo 4 as players move through difficulty options. Torment 1 drops Armor by -250 and All Resist by -25%, Torment 2 sets Armor down by -500 and All Resist by -50%, Torment 3 drops Armor down by -750 and All Resist by -75%, and Torment 4 shoots players all the way down -1000 Armor and -100% All Resist.
Doing away with the World Tiers in favor of difficulty settings will afford players greater choice to play at their own pace in Diablo 4. What’s more, it also serves as a major test for hardcore Diablo players and gives brand-new levels of challenge to incentivize increased playtime. Whether it’s new players or returning players, Diablo 4’s new difficulty settings are an exciting addition to the Vessel of Hatred expansion.
Diablo 4
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 88 /100 Critics Rec: 93%
WHERE TO PLAY
Diablo® IV is the ultimate action-RPG experience with endless evil to slaughter, countless abilities to master, nightmarish dungeons, and legendary loot.
Embark on the epic campaign solo or with friends, meeting memorable characters through a gripping story in a beautifully dark world, or explore an expansive end game: battle iconic bosses for powerful loot, fight back the encroaching onslaught of Hell in Helltides, master the Forge to create your ultimate weapons and progress powerful characters, with cross-play and cross-progression on all available platforms.
Discover the critically acclaimed franchise that defined the Action RPG genre. As the battle between the High Heavens and Burning Hells rages on, hatred devours Sanctuary as evil spreads and a new wave of cultists and worshippers arise to embrace Lilith’s coming. Only a brave few dare to face this threat and bring light to the all-consuming darkness.
Expansive Open WorldForge your own path through the corrupted lands of Sanctuary, an ever-growing, fully explorable world teeming with challenges, quests, enemies, and loot. Join your fellow adventurers, rescue and retake besieged towns, delve into nightmarish dungeons and uncover lost secrets as you fight back evil. The many zones of Sanctuary are yours to explore, and with rotating areas of extreme peril like World Bosses and Helltide, danger lurks at every turn.
Immersive Character DevelopmentCreate and customize your character to face the encroaching darkness. Choose from one of five classes and build your hero with skills, abilities and cosmetics, creating a champion that is uniquely your own. Grow stronger as you progress through powerful Skill Trees and develop even more unique end game specializations with Paragon Boards.
Legendary Gear, Epic BattlesDiscover and experiment with a vast arsenal of powerful weapons, armor and more to fight back against the demons threatening Sanctuary. Explore unique combinations, create your own upgrades and collect a plethora of powerful tools to battle in immersive, action-packed combat against the deadliest of enemies.
Seasons & EventsThe tales of Sanctuary continue to unfold. Create Seasonal Characters and join in fresh adventures - master new mechanics and take on the latest threats in each new Season. Complete harrowing feats of the Season Journey and earn new Battle Pass rewards. Plus, sharpen your swords and get in the spirit of the seasons when Limited-Time Events sweep through Sanctuary.
End Game UndertakingsThere’s even more Diablo® IV to explore as you reach higher levels and more fearsome World Tiers. Face the greatest challenge yet as you take on the most powerful demons in The Pit, steel yourself against Uber Bosses to reap uber unique rewards, fight back overflowing armies of Hell as Helltides emerge across Sanctuary, battle larger-than-life World Bosses, and master the Forge to create the mightiest weapons fit for a hero.
- Franchise
- Diablo
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Hack and Slash
