Season of Loot Reborn (2024)

Season of Loot Reborn is the name/theme of the fourth season of Diablo IV. It began on May 14, 2024, and will end on August 7, 2024.

Plot[]

The legions of the Burning Hells regroup to coordinate a most formidable display of force through Helltides. Inspired by the Blood Harvest in Season of Blood, the ferocity of the Wanderer has caught the attention of increasingly dangerous foes. Only the strongest and most well-prepared can survive this potent onslaught. Meanwhile, members of the Iron Wolves have been dying under suspicious circ*mstances. The Wanderer seeks out the source of the slaughter to earn the Wolves' favor.^[1]

Gameplay[]

Itemization[]

Season 4 overhauls many core game systems to refresh how items are earned, how they function, and how they improve as players level through World Tiers during the season. Unlike previous seasonal themes that affect only the Seasonal Realm, with Season 4, these itemization changes persist beyond the Seasonal Realm and affect the Eternal Realm as well.^[1]

One of several goals for the itemization changes is to make it easier to understand which items are upgrades when they drop. The number of affixes on items has been reduced (down to 3 on Legendary items, 2 on Rare items), while each affix has been made more effective. Instead of seeing an affix that relies on conditional values (e.g. +10% damage on non-injured Elites), players will see affixes such as base increases to their Movement Speed, Max life, or single ranks of a Core Skill. Dropped items are now simpler to evaluate, and the developers have moved their complexity and customization to new crafting systems, Tempering and Masterworking.^[1]

By making items more individually impactful, the developers have decreased the number of items that drop when slaying monsters. The goal here is to spend more time obliterating and less time sorting through the many items that drop. The result is that fewer items will drop overall, but those items will be more likely to be valuable. To compensate and stay on par with the norm, materials gained from salvaging and crafting have been adjusted to match this change. Also, Forgotten Souls can now be earned from Whisper bounties and are a rare drop from all Elites. The gold cost to re-roll items when Enchanting now has a maximum, and the developers have cut down on the materials needed to perform all activities when at a blacksmith.^[1]

Additionally, which World Tier the player plays in will directly affect the rarity of the items they earn. Sacred items or higher only drop in World Tier III, and only Ancestral items will appear in World Tier IV. Similarly, Legendary items dropped from enemies over Level 95 will always have a value of 925 Item Power. All Uniques have a chance to drop starting in World Tier III, and Uber Uniques can start appearing once killing monsters that are Level 55 at max Item Power level.^[1]

Codex of Power[]

Salvaging Legendary items stores their powers as Legendary Aspects in the Codex of Power to be reused indefinitely. Players can upgrade their Legendary Aspects by salvaging legendary items of higher power value at the blacksmith. Instead of taking up space in their inventory, any legacy Aspect items a player possess will automatically be converted into appropriate upgrades in the Codex of Power when players first log in after Season 4 begins.^[1]

Aspects can now be searched, filtered, and favorited within the Codex of Power. When selecting a power for imprinting at an occultist, an icon and a tooltip will denote which powers the player already has equipped. Note that in the Seasonal Realm, when the Season ends, the player's Codex of Power will be transferred to the Eternal Realm. If a player already has the same Aspect learned in the Eternal Realm, the Codex of Power will keep the higher value of the two.^[1]

Helltide Reborn[]

The game's Helltide system has been changed, and is now available at World Tier I onwards. Overall monster density will shift in accordance with tier.

As a player cleaves their way through a Helltide, they now generate Threat. Threat is earned based on the difficulty of the monsters slain and how often a player opens Tortured Gifts within a Helltide. There are three Threat Levels in total, with each level increasing the danger and frequency of ambushes. Once you hit Level 3, a player becomes Hell-Marked.^[1]

When a player has been Hell-Marked, they'll be besieged by a frenzy of densely packed monsters. If they make it out alive, a Hellborn will come for them.^[1]

Accursed Rituals have also been added to Helltides, and a new elixir, Profane Mindcage, will be available for the season.^[1]

Other[]

Appearing only on Ancestral Legendary and Unique Items, Greater Affixes are 1.5x more powerful versions of normal affixes. Items with Greater Affixes drop with a distinct audio cue, alerting you to their presence, and have a unique icon both in the world and within your inventory. Each affix on an item has a chance to be a Greater Affix in World Tier III and IV. Players cannot Enchant an affix into a Greater Affix—their awesome power may only be discovered.^[1]

Gems are simpler, streamlined and more effective across your Character’s journey. Crude Gems have been removed, and crafting levels have been shifted back. Normal Gems are available at Level 51, Flawless at 71, and Royal at 91. Diamonds have had their All Resistance values increased. Topaz now provide increases to Intelligence, and Sapphires increases to Willpower. Amethyst increases your Strength, and Emeralds now provide bonus Dexterity.^[1]

The Pit of Artificers has been added, as has the Echo of Andariel and Tormented Echo bosses.^[1]

Reception[]

The season was well received.^[2][3][4]

References[]