What difficulty should I play in Diablo 4? Normal, Hard, Expert, Penitent, and Torment difficulties explained

As a seasoned veteran of the Diablo universe, I’ve battled countless demons and faced the abyss more times than I care to remember. But fear not, young adventurer, for I shall guide you through the treacherous paths of Sanctuary with nary a misstep!

Understanding Difficulty Levels in Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred Expansion

The first four difficulty levels are unlocked from the start(ish)

What difficulty should I play in Diablo 4? Normal, Hard, Expert, Penitent, and Torment difficulties explained

At the outset of the game, you’ll have two options: Normal and Hard. To access Expert and Penitent, though, you’ll first need to complete the Prologue. Initially, it was displayed that Penitent would be accessible at level 50, but following update 2.0, this has been changed so that it becomes available after the Prologue instead. In higher difficulty levels, your character will gain more Experience Points (XP) and increased Gold acquisition.

Normal – the most suitable difficulty for new players
Hard – 75% more XP and 75% more gold
Expert – 125% more XP and 125% more gold
Penitent – 175% more XP and 175% more gold

What are Torment difficulties and how do I unlock them?

To access Torment, you must first raise your character to level 60 (the maximum level). This action opens up The Pit for you. As you progress through The Pit at different levels, you’ll unlock the respective challenges of Torment.

Torment – Clear Pit Level 20 – 300% more XP & Gold – Increased chance of Legendary, Unique, and Mythic Uniques. Your Armor is reduced by 250 and Resistance by 25%.
Torment 2 – Clear Pit Level 35 – 400% more XP & Gold – Increased chance of Legendary, Unique, and Mythic Uniques. Your Armor is reduced by 500 and Resistance by 50%.
Torment 3 – Clear Pit Level 50 – 500% more XP & Gold – Increased chance of Legendary, Unique, and Mythic Uniques. Your Armor is reduced by 750 and Resistance by 75%.
Torment 4 – Clear Pit Level 65 – 600% more XP & Gold – Increased chance of Legendary, Unique, and Mythic Uniques. Your Armor is reduced by 1000 and Resistance by 100%.

Where is The Pit?

I need to unlock Torment difficulty by playing The Pit, but where do I find it?

In the town of Cerrigar lies a significant location known as The Pit. Upon reaching the highest level with your character, you’ll be assigned a top-priority quest to explore it. Here’s what the entrance resembles:

As an observer, I notice that when you interact with the Artificer’s Obelisk, a menu appears, prompting you to choose the Pit level for gameplay. This level selection ranges from 1 to 100, each level correlating with increasing challenges in Diablo 4. Additionally, it seems that within The Pit, you can also enhance your Glyphs, which are located on your paragon board and provide additional passive benefits when leveled up.

I’m new to Diablo 4, what difficulty should I play on?

For Diablo 4 beginners, regardless if you’re embarking on the main storyline or the expansion, it’s suggested to start with the Normal mode. You can adjust this later if you find the challenge appealing or when your character is equipped with improved gear.

While testing the review build, I created a Spiritborn character with no Renown or skills to begin with, much like a fresh player would experience. Even on Normal difficulty, some enemies presented a formidable challenge for me.

I’m an experienced Diablo 4 player, what difficulty should I start Vessel of Hatred on?

If you’ve previously played Diablo 4 and accumulated some Renown, along with acquiring your Altars of Lilith, starting on Hard difficulty should be a breeze for you. You can gradually increase the challenge level as you gather legendaries and enhance your gear using techniques such as Tempering.

How do I change the difficulty in Diablo 4?

In the character selection menu, you can adjust the game’s difficulty level prior to starting. However, if you want to alter the difficulty while playing, here’s how you can do it:

In Diablo 4, you have the ability to adjust the game’s difficulty by seeking out large statues situated in every major town. Previously, this was the Inarius Statue located outside the Cathedral of Light in Kyovoshad; however, now, each main city will host a Difficulty Adjustment statue instead. These statues are easily identifiable on your map with the ‘Cathedral of Light’ flaming cross symbol as their marker.

Most importantly, pick the difficulty that you can have fun on

In Diablo 4, it’s not necessary to keep increasing the difficulty level if you find yourself frequently having trouble defeating enemies and dying often. Remember, the difficulty settings are meant to provide an additional challenge when you feel ready for it. If you prefer, you can finish the entire game on Normal mode.

2024-10-03 17:12