If there’s anything that makesDiablo 2fun, it’s not just necessarily its gripping story. Rather, it’s the sheer fun involved in building the best character to blast away demons from the Burning Hells. And whileDiablo 3found ways to make tearing through demon mobs fast and equally fulfilling,Diablo 2still retains its signature appeal through its infamous Nightmare Difficulty Mode.
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Unlike other game modes, Nightmare Difficulty inDiablo 2amps up the difficulty meter to 11 as players become mere mortals to even the simplest of demonic critters. AndDiabloplayers up for a challenge will have a blast building the best characters to obliterate these pests. However, just how should players approach Nightmare Difficulty?
7Understand The Setup
As with other CRPGs with multiple difficulty settings,Diablo 2andDiablo 2: Resurrectedalso have modifications to their increased difficulty levels to accommodate continuous player enjoyment. In the context ofDiablo 2: Resurrected, the game does offer special conditions within the Nightmare Difficulty thatplayers need to remember while playing. Here is the basic premise:
6Bypass Enemy Defenses With Level Superiority
Given the increased difficulty in Nightmare Mode, it’s much smarter to just rely on a common fantasy RPG quick hack: get on a higher level than the opponent. This principle makes more sense in the increased difficulty levels ofDiablo 2, as increased monster defense also affects a player’s Attack Rating.
At its core, Attack Rating determines the chance of any attack hitting an opponent. A lot of attacks and skills have this, meaning their effects aren’t always guaranteed to hit enemies with tougher defenses. To avoid this potential caveat, players should maintain a healthy 10 or so levels worth of advantage over an opponent to at least even the odds in terms of defense. This advice becomes more effective when focusing on specific builds, likethe Bowazon.
5Distance Is Always Great
It makes perfect sense for a player to rely on ranged builds in a higher difficulty level, especially for a mob-oriented game likeDiablo 2. Given how enemies have overall stronger defenses, peppering them with attacks while protected from afar still guarantees kills, albeit not as fast as in Normal. These kinds of builds would mean ensuring the player’s Mercenary is well-equipped to withstand tanking most mobs, so players can focus on providing supporting fire.
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In these instances, physical-based ranged attacks like the Amazon must rely on Attack Speed buffs to maximize damage per second. Likewise, spellcasters like the Sorceress should find ways to increase their casting time to ensure faster spellcasting.
4Keep An Eye For Teleport Charges
Players in Nightmare will likely experience running into the wrong crowd, be it an unexpectedly huge mob, a powerful elite, or even being stuck in a corner. Instead of panicking for a mobility spell or a Town Portal, a weapon with a convenient Teleport charge can help players get out of a pinch. Thankfully, as early as around Level 20, players can grab a basic Teleportation Staff for Ormus in Act 3 Normal.
When equipped on offhand, players can use the Staff to teleport out of pesky situations, like facingbosses with heavy AOE like Baal. While repairing its charges can get expensive, stocking up on Ort Runes and chipped gems can instantly repair charges. Players who face off against tougher foes would find this Staff pretty handy.
3Plan For Unavoidable Melee
Players with a penchant for dishing out damage up close will love the raging Barbarian, thestalwart Paladin, or the devious Assassin. To maximize their potential in close quarters, players might want to pay close attention to the properties of their melee weapons to give them an edge when taking down mobs, elite mobs, and even tougher bosses. Here are some properties to check for melee gear:
2Get The Right Runewords For The Right Builds
Of all slottable items in the games, Runes definitely outrank Gems in terms of overall benefits. And while players at Normal could already get decent Runes to combine into powerful Runewords, certain Runewords just dominate the rest when it comes to outlasting enemies in Nightmare runs. Here are some recommended Runewords to ensure supremacy when fighting fiercer foes in Nightmare:
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1Spam Runs To Secure Levels & Better Gear
One of the best tips for a Nightmare difficulty run is actually preparing for it in the prior Normal difficulty. This principle also applies when transitioning from Nightmare to Hell. At its core, this involves securing decent unique items and a high-enough level prior to having a better advantage in Nightmare on the get-go.
The goal here is to secure a character in the mid-to-late 30s since players at Level 20 on a Normal run could finish the game. To do this, it’s advisable to have the character do the following runs to secure higher levels and better gear:
Diablo 2: Resurrectedis currently available on PC, PlayStation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.
