Diablo 4 is about to get a massive overhaul with its 2.0 update arriving alongside Season 6 in October. This update, dubbed ‘Vessel of Hatred,’ is bringing a plethora of changes, including a new class, a new zone, raid-like dungeons, and a new story campaign. But the real highlight is the 2.0 update which is shaking up the core gameplay in a major way, making significant changes to how difficulty, leveling, itemization, and character progression work.
One of the most notable changes is the introduction of a new class, the Spiritborn, which will offer a unique playstyle. The update also introduces a new zone, the ‘Pitt,’ which will be similar to the Greater Rifts from Diablo 3 and will serve as the new location for upgrading Glyphs.
The 2.0 update brings back the iconic Runewords system from Diablo 2, allowing players to combine runes to create powerful effects. These Runewords will include abilities from other classes, adding a new layer of customization to character builds. Additionally, the Glyph system is being reworked to resemble the Legendary Gems system from Diablo 3, making them more powerful and allowing them to evolve into Legendary Glyphs.
The leveling system is getting a major overhaul as well. The maximum level is being reduced from 100 to 60, and the Paragon system is being redesigned. Players will now earn Paragon points account-wide after hitting level 60, similar to Diablo 3. However, these points are locked until players reach level 60 on each character.
The difficulty system is also being reworked with a focus on character level. Monster levels are being removed, and instead, enemies will scale to the player’s level. There will be four difficulty tiers for leveling: Normal, Hard, Expert, and Penitent. Once players hit level 60, they can unlock four new difficulty tiers: Torment I, Torment II, Torment III, and Torment IV, which will impact all activities in the world, making Torment IV Helltides considerably more challenging than Torment I Helltides.
The new difficulty system also introduces a new type of item: Ancestral Items. These rare drops will only be available in Torment difficulties and will always have a ‘Greater Affix’ – a boosted stat. The update also removes Sacred Items, streamlining the itemization system.
Beyond these core changes, the update also includes a slew of quality-of-life improvements, including new inventory tabs for separating usable items from socketable items, a system to bind your favorite town to your Town Portal summon, and a new Party Finder system for easier group formation.
The 2.0 update is a massive undertaking for Diablo 4, promising a completely new experience for returning players and new players alike. With new content, revamped systems, and quality-of-life improvements, Diablo 4 is gearing up to be a significantly more refined and rewarding experience.
