What difficulty should I play in Diablo 4? Normal, Hard, Expert

In the dark and treacherous world of Diablo 4, players face a unique challenge: the World Tier system, which intricately weaves difficulty with reward. As you embark on your journey, you’ll choose between four escalating tiers—Adventurer, Veteran, Nightmare, and the formidable Torment—each offering not only tougher foes but also richer loot and experience gains. This guide delves into how to navigate these tiers, ensuring you maximize your adventure in Sanctuary while unlocking the secrets of its most fearsome challenges. Whether you’re a newcomer seeking a casual experience or a seasoned warrior craving the ultimate test, understanding these tiers is crucial for conquering the darkness that lies ahead.

New difficulty levels – Season 6 and the Vessel of Hatred DLC

In Season 6 of Diablo 4, the introduction of new difficulty levels enhances the gameplay experience significantly. The update replaces the previous World Tier system with a more nuanced approach to difficulty, offering players four distinct Standard difficulties: Normal, Hard, Expert, and Penitent. Each level not only increases the challenge but also boosts the rewards, including experience points and gold drops. Additionally, the Vessel of Hatred DLC introduces the Torment difficulties, which are designed for endgame players, providing access to high-tier loot such as Legendary and Ancestral items. This revamped system encourages players to engage with more challenging content while reaping greater rewards, making for a more dynamic and rewarding gameplay experience.

The 6th season ofDiablo 4, which debuted in October 2024 with the Vessel of Hatred DLC, introduced some very big changes to its difficulty levels. World tiers, which were the equivalent of levels since the game’s launch, have now disappeared. Instead, 8 new difficulty levels have been prepared – 4 of them are “standard” levels and the next 4 belong to the Torment level.

Standard difficulty levels are available from the beginning of the game – you can choose them when creating a new character or set them during the campaign (more on this can be found in the next section of this page). The available levels are:

1. Normal – this is the lowest difficulty level with no specific modifiers. It is meant for new players and people who want to focus on the narrative. However, this is NOT the equivalent of Story Mode difficulty you may know from other games. You will still be challenged to a certain degree. To some extent, you should still pay attention to how you develop your character and their equipment.
2. Hard – on this level you will encounter more difficult monsters, but by defeating them you will gain 75% more gold and XP.
3. Expert – enemies are even stronger, but you can receive 125% more XP and gold for killing them.
4. Penitent – this is the highest level of the basic set, where it is recommended to secure good legendary items for fights with strong enemies. Your character can obtain 175% more gold and XP.

4 Torment variants are initially locked and you cannot select them at the beginning of the game. There are 2 basic requirements:

1. Reaching level 60.
2. Obtaining a specific Tier in the Pit of Artificers – this is a special type of dungeon that already appeared in the game earlier. They are completely random and tied to endgame content.

Here are the main differences between the Torments:

1. Torment 1 (requires Tier 20 in the Pit of Artificers) – 300% more gold and XP, -250 armor and -25% all resist, the possibility of finding ancestralitems, higher chance for legendary, unique and mythic items.
2. Torment 2 (requires Tier 35 in the Pit of Artificers) – 400% more gold and XP, -500 armor and -50% all resist, even more rare collectables.
3. Torment 3 (requires Tier 50 in the Pit of Artificers) – 500% more gold and XP, -750 armor and -75% all resist, even more rare collectables.
4. Torment 4 (requires Tier 65 in the Pit of Artificers) – 600% more gold and XP, -1000 armor and -100% all resist, even more rare items.

Note: from the 6th season of Diablo IV onwards, enemy levels are not adjusted to your character level. They depend on the selected difficulty level.

How do I change the difficulty level after starting the game?

To change the difficulty level in Diablo 4 after starting the game, players can easily adjust their World Tier settings at any time. This can be done through the World Tier Statue located in Kyovashad or other hubs within the game. Additionally, players have the option to modify their World Tier from the Character Select screen. Initially, players start with two tiers: World Tier 1 (Adventurer) and World Tier 2 (Veteran), but they can progress to higher difficulties like Nightmare and Torment as they complete specific in-game objectives and reach certain levels. This flexibility allows players to tailor their gameplay experience according to their skill level and desired challenge, enhancing both the difficulty and the rewards received from defeating enemies.

The difficulty level set at the beginning of the game doesn’t have to be an ultimate choice. You can change it for an existing character. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Main menu – highlight your character and press the difficulty level key (C on the keyboard).
2. Fountains in the game world (see an example in the screenshot) – you can find them in the main cities (including Kurast in the Vessel of Hatred DLC). After interacting with them, the difficulty level window will be displayed.

Old difficulty level system – World Tiers

The Old Difficulty Level System – World Tiers in Diablo 4 was designed to provide players with a structured progression through various challenges as they advanced in the game. Initially, there were four World Tiers: Adventurer, Veteran, Nightmare, and Torment. Each tier offered a distinct level of difficulty, with Adventurer being the easiest and suitable for newcomers, while Torment posed the greatest challenge for seasoned players. As players progressed through the game, they could unlock higher tiers by completing specific dungeons, which allowed for increased rewards such as better loot and more experience points. This system aimed to maintain a balance between challenge and player capability, ensuring that the gameplay remained engaging throughout the leveling process. However, with updates and expansions, this system has evolved into a new difficulty framework that further refines how players experience challenges in Diablo 4.

Before the 6th season debuted, the difficulty levels had been based on the so-called world tiers. There were 4 different tiers, with only 2 of them initially available: Adventurer and Veteran. The next two (Nightmare and Torment) had to be unlocked manually.

What are the key differences between World Tier 3: Nightmare and World Tier 4: Torment

World Tier 3: Nightmare and World Tier 4: Torment in Diablo 4 represent significant escalations in both challenge and reward, tailored for players seeking to test their skills against increasingly formidable foes.

Key Differences

Additional Insights

• Nightmare Tier introduces players to the endgame experience, allowing them to engage in Helltides and unlock Nightmare Dungeons, which are crucial for obtaining high-level gear. Players also experience a reduced effectiveness of their resistances, making combat more challenging as enemies gain resistances themselves.
• Torment Tier, on the other hand, pushes the difficulty further, with enemies being significantly tougher. This tier not only raises the stakes with an increased XP bonus but also introduces Ancestral items, which are even more powerful than those available in the Nightmare tier. The loot opportunities expand further, making this tier ideal for players looking to maximize their character’s potential.

In essence, while both tiers offer unique challenges and rewards, Torment is designed for seasoned players ready to tackle the most difficult content Diablo 4 has to offer.

What new challenges do players face in World Tier 4: Torment

In World Tier 4: Torment, players encounter a range of new challenges that significantly heighten the difficulty and complexity of gameplay in Diablo 4. Here are the key challenges players face in this tier:

Enhanced Enemy Difficulty

• Fearsome Monsters: Enemies in Torment are more powerful than those in previous tiers, capable of piercing up to 40% of players’ resistances, making it crucial for players to adapt their strategies and gear to survive.
• Curses: Each Torment tier introduces Curses that reduce players’ defenses. For Torment Tier 4, players suffer a reduction of 1000 armor and 100% resistances, drastically increasing the challenge.

Increased Loot Quality

• Ancestral Items: Only available in Torment, Ancestral items represent the highest quality gear, offering superior stats and abilities. Players must contend with tougher foes to obtain these coveted items.
• Higher Drop Rates for Legendary Gear: The chance to find Legendary, Unique, and Mythic Unique gear is significantly increased, rewarding players who can overcome the heightened challenges.

Experience and Gold Multipliers

• Players receive a 200% experience bonus and a 20% increase in gold dropped from monsters, incentivizing them to tackle the tougher content for faster leveling and resource accumulation.

New Endgame Content

• Ancestral Nightmare Dungeons: These dungeons provide additional challenges tailored for high-level characters, featuring even more formidable enemies and unique loot opportunities.

Conclusion

World Tier 4: Torment is designed for seasoned players ready to face the ultimate challenges in Diablo 4. With its combination of enhanced enemy capabilities, significant loot rewards, and new gameplay mechanics, it offers a thrilling experience for those willing to brave its depths.