Difficulties determine how challenging the game is from monster level and intelligence to the quality of items that can drop as loot or are rewarded for completing tasks. These replace World Tiers. These difficulties will apply to Diablo 4 with or without Vessel of Hatred.
There are two tiers of difficulty, Standard Difficulties where the character leveling up happens, and Torment Difficulties when you venture into the much more challenging endgame activities.
Standard Difficulties
- Normal - Slower-paced for those looking for a lighter challenge.
- Hard - Increased challenge and pace which is unlocked by default.
- Expert - Increased challenge and pace, unlocked after completing Diablo IV's prologue.
- Penitent - Much more difficult and only unlocks when reaching character level 50.
Torment Difficulties
Torment difficulties and the rise through them are tied to The Pit and require that you venture down through their levels. You need to be level 60 before you can enter The Pit to begin with.
- Torment 1 - Requires that you beat a Tier 20 Pit. The handicap of T1 is -250 Armor and -25% to all your resistances.
- Torment 2 - Requires that you beat a Tier 35 Pit. The handicap of T2 is -500 Armor and -50% to all your resistances.
- Torment 3 - Requires that you beat a Tier 50 Pit. The handicap of T3 is -750 Armor and -75% to all your resistances.
- Torment 4 - Requires that you beat a Tier 65 Pit. The handicap of T4 is -1000 Armor and -100% to all your resistances.
Difficulties progression is tied to The Pit in order to standardize difficulty throughout the game. So for example, if you are playing in Torment 1 difficulty, The Pit, Infernal Hordes, Boss Ladder, Whispers, Helltides will feel a uniform difficulty and therefore open up the options for challenging gameplay. No activity should feel like the poor man's version of endgame gameplay.
Changes to Difficulties
Patch 2.0, October 7, 2024
- Added to the game in Season 6.