After the games company Blizzard last in September 2020 various information about the upcoming action RPG Diablo IV published, there are now more details in the quarterly update December 2020. According to the company, development of the game is progressing at a steady pace.

Since the last update, the Blizzard team has spent a lot of time with the skill trees in frequent internal tests. This included an extensive play test on the progression system. You are confident that you are on the right track with the development. However, further adjusting screws have to be turned here. Thus one would like to further revise and improve said systems. Blizzard also intends to respond to player feedback and take it into account as much as possible.

The planned optimizations include the grouping of related skill nodes. As a result, players don’t have to search the whole tree to find the right skill upgrades for their builds. Furthermore, skill points can be redistributed. As a reason, the Spieleschmiede cites the opportunity to try out different skills. In addition, many of the nodes of a class have additional effects.

On the other hand, the terms “angelic power” and “demonic power” have been abandoned. When they level up, the hobby adventurers receive not only skill points but also corresponding points to increase strength, intelligence, skill or willpower. With barbarians, each strength point increases the damage done by the skills. Willpower improves rage generation and dexterity grants critical hit chances. As a sorceress, however, intelligence increases the damage of the skills, willpower gives a critical hit chance here. Dexterity speeds up mana restoration. Each value also provides a secondary defensive bonus.

There are also changes in the quality of the items. The rule is that blue magic items are good, but yellow rare items are usually better. However, the developers don’t want to get to a point where players ignore all items that do not glow orange.

Because of this, the power potential of individual affixes of magical items is increased. This also affects the number of affixes for rare and better items at high levels. Legendary affixes are now randomly rolled on legendary items. Unique items will replace mythical items in the future. The new legendary affixes work just like regular affixes: they can appear randomly on different items and different item slots. Many can be used by all classes, while others are only available to a certain class.

The unique items in the fourth part of Diablo are also celebrating their return. The affixes cannot be changed here. In addition, these are only available from level 20.