In Diablo 4, the hunt for items will play an important role. However, there are some differences in the item system compared to Diablo 3. These were introduced in a new quarterly update.
What is changing? Diablo 4 is said to lie in the complexity of the item system between Diablo 2 and 3. According to Blizzard, items are meant to enhance the identity of the classes, but only support them and not define them.
In the quarterly update, they explained where the similarities and differences compared to the other games lie. Especially the legendary equipment has been adjusted, so that it no longer has static affixes, but random ones.
Also, unique items are returning, which will now take on the role of legendary items from Diablo 3.
How equipment works in Diablo 4
How do weapons work in Diablo 4? As is typical for the genre, each weapon is supposed to offer advantages and disadvantages in combat. One-handed weapons are generally meant to strike faster, while two-handed weapons deal more damage:
- Those who shoot frost bolts with a wand channel them faster, but they deal less damage
- Those who shoot frost bolts with a two-handed staff deal more damage, but channel them more slowly
What is Blizzard changing about the quality of items? While in Diablo 3, players only looked for yellow and later orange or green items in the late game, in Diablo 4, items of all rarities are still supposed to play a role in the endgame.
At higher levels, rare and better items are supposed to receive more affixes. Additionally, the number of different affixes has been increased overall.
This is supposed to make them potentially more interesting than legendary or unique items. Because there are also changes here.
Legendary items receive random affixes
What is changing about legendary items? Legendary items are supposed to function in the future like rare items that have exchanged an affix for a special effect.
These affixes and effects will be randomly rolled for each item. Additionally, there are special effects for the legendary items that are available only to specific classes.
Unique items return with Diablo 4
The unique items from Diablo 2 are making a return in Diablo 4 and are replacing the mystical items from Diablo 3:
- Unique items have fixed affixes that are immutable
- They have a special, theme-related design
- They offer class-specific effects
When you get such an item, you may have to build your playstyle around it.
When will there be more information about Diablo 4? In addition to the regular quarterly updates, there will also be new information about Diablo 4 as part of the BlizzCon on February 19 and 20.
It is expected that there will be a new class, as hinted in the quarterly update. MeinMMO editor Patrick Freese, however, hopes for a specific class that he believes is a must for Diablo 4.
When exactly Diablo 4 will be released is still unclear. It is possible that there will be new information about that at BlizzCon as well. If you really want to play a new hack’n’slash but don’t want to wait until the release of Diablo 4, here is a selection of alternatives:
Games like Diablo – Who needs Diablo 4? Here are 11 current alternatives
