It’s been a month since launch, and players continue to be frustrated over the itemization system present inDiablo 4. In the absence of viable sets, exciting loot, a rewarding endgame, and quality-of-life features, many fans have become nostalgic overDiablo 3and its Greater Rifts. WhereasDiablo 4seems to put greater emphasis on assembling a character’s gear, the gameplay inDiablo 3was more concerned with challenging players through increasingly more difficult Greater Rift levels. Obtaining an item set was a trifling matter inReaper of Souls, but knowing how to make the most of it and how to push beyond one’s limit was the bread-and-butter ofDiablo 3’s endgame.
Though shifting the focus of the grind toward loot as opposed to content isn’t necessarily a bad thing, the key problem thatDiablo 4players have with its endgame is that the loot they’re meant to chase is either uninteresting from a design standpoint, or nearly mathematically unobtainable.Uber Uniques inDiablo 4have a drop rate unheard of in the genre, even byPath of Exilestandards, and when their drop rate accidentally becomes viable enough to farm, Blizzard is quick to patch it out.
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However, the frustration in the community runs deeper than just Uber Uniques, as aDiablo 4player by the name of NickBucketTV pointed out that the vast majority of Rogue Legendaries and Uniques don’t feel satisfying at all. Given the current lack of balance, both in terms of class and attributes, Bows are automatically useless to Rogues due to the way Damage to Distant Enemies compares against Vulnerable Damage. Affixes and Legendary Aspects suffer from being too situational, and some players are already worried Malignant Hearts follow the same design philosophy.
One of the underlying problems behind this feeling of dissatisfaction lies with theabsurd enchanting costs inDiablo 4. It’s much easier, and far more viable to turn a Rare item into a “god roll” than it is to salvage a poorly-rolled Legendary. The excitement at endgame inDiablo 4revolves around finding the ideal Rare item with affixes that many consider boring. More often than not, a Legendary item is a disappointment, solely useful for the Aspect it may contain (provided the roll is good), and given that the top-tier Uniques are beyond reach for the vast majority of players, the community’s frustration becomes justified.
Ultimately, even thoughDiablo 4has been widely praised for its campaign, as well as for bringing open world toDiablo, it may take a while until it lives up to its true potential. Though many players are feeling exhausted from the current grind, the live service nature of the game will at least ensure thatDiablo 4and its expansionswill continue to be supported for many years to come.
Diablo 4is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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