All Diablo 4 difficulty levels, explained
There are various Diablo 4 difficulty levels that can be both diverse and challenging. Depending on your build and proficiency, you can experience the epitome of hell in-game. Of course, there are perks of pushing your character to its limits, but they do come at a cost. The grind will be long and tiresome, but the rewards will be worth it in the end.
That said, here is everything you need to know about the numerous Diablo 4 difficulty levels and what to expect from each one.
Standard Diablo 4 difficulty levels
There are four standard Diablo 4 difficulty levels. Each one increases the amount of gold and XP bonus you receive while scaling combat.
Normal
If this is your first time playing Diablo, opt for Normal. You will get no gold or XP bonuses, but you can navigate your way to the end game with ease. Take your time to test out builds/classes, and play around with different monsters. This is the lowest of all Diablo 4 difficulty levels. Here, you are a god.
Hard
The second stage of Diablo 4 difficulty levels is called Hard. This ups the ante slightly for your character. Monsters/bosses will be tougher, but you will also receive 75% more gold and XP. If you're a returning player who's played Diablo before, this is a good place for you to start. It's challenging but fair.
Expert
Stage three of the Diablo 4 difficulty levels is called Expert. As you might have guessed, this difficulty will test your skills and is only available after you've completed the Campaign Prologue. If you want to gain more gold and XP, this difficulty will grant you 125% more of each. That said, keep in mind that things will not end well if you aren't well-equipped.
Penitent
Penitent is one of the toughest Diablo 4 difficulty levels. You will get 175% more gold and XP from monsters, but at what cost? Well, your skills are tested and pushed to the limit. Micromanagement in battle will be key to survival. This difficulty will only unlock after completing the Campaign.
Torment Diablo 4 difficulty levels
Once you complete the standard Diablo 4 difficulty levels, you will unlock the option to undertake Torment difficulty levels. These are more challenging and feature four levels.
Also read: Diablo 4 Vessel of Hatred review - Stay awhile, and listen
Torment 1
Torment 1 is when you start to realize that the developers are planning to set you up for failure. It unlocks after you reach level 60 and manage to complete Pit level 20. In this difficulty, you can earn 300% more gold and XP, but you will also get a -250 Armor and -25 to all Resistances.
The odds of you finding Legendary, Unique, and Mythic Unique also increase. This remains the case for all Diablo 4 difficulty levels from here on out. Ancestral quality items will also become available.
Torment 2
Torment 2 is similar to the previous difficulty. The ante is upped slightly, and you will get 400% more gold and XP from monsters. However, you will also receive a -500 debuff to Armor and -50 Resistances. This difficulty is unlocked after reaching level 60 and completing Pit level 35.
Torment 3
Torment 3 is a huge leap from the previous difficulty. You unlock it once you've hit level 60 and have completed Pit level 50. You will get 500% more gold and XP from monsters in this mode, at the cost of -750 Armor and -75 for all Resistances. Given the massive debuffs, your character's survival is not guaranteed.
Torment 4
Do you seek adventure, fortune, fame, and the continuation of life? If yes, Torment 4 is not for you. This is the final Diablo 4 difficulty level that is unlocked after reaching level 60 and completing Pit level 65. You will receive a whopping 600% more gold and XP from monsters. Coming to the debuffs, they are also high: you get -1000 Armor and -100 for all Resistances.
As mentioned, your odds of survival are bleak. But if you manage to stay alive, exciting loot awaits you.
Read more Diablo 4 articles here:
- Diablo 4 Season 6 review: Decent content overshadowed by Vessel of Hatred
- Next Diablo 4 dev stream to discuss the upcoming big mid-season patch