Diablo 4 is a huge game, with lots to see and do, and whether you’re a series vet or making it your entry point you might appreciate some tips to help you get the most out of it. Having reviewed Diablo 4, we’ve already spent a vast amount of time with the game, completing its campaign and engaging in much of its endgame activities. Along the way, we’ve made note of lots of helpful tips for beginners of Diablo 4, which we’re now sharing with you.
Some of these things might seem fairly obvious, but sometimes it’s easy to overlook the small things. In any case, look over our list of tips for beginners, and your time with Diablo 4 might just be improved. So, read on and get the best start possible in Diablo 4.
Stick a pin in it
We’re starting our list of Diablo 4 tips for beginners with something that really is a godsend. If you keep getting lost on your way to a quest marker or simply want to get a point on the game’s gargantuan map with the most efficient route, get used to using Diablo 4’s pin system. If you open up the map and stick a pin on where you want to go, you’ll then get a helpful line on the minimap, giving you to the shortest route to it. Just be aware that while it takes you to your destination without a fuss the huge majority of the time, it does sometimes struggle.
Try all Diablo 4 classes to get a taste
There are five classes in Diablo 4 at launch: Barbarian, Druid, Rogue, Sorcerer and Necromancer. While you might be drawn to one of them simply because of their aesthetic and/or stereotypical strengths and weaknesses, it’s worth giving them all a try. We recommend spending a bit of time with each, just to get a quick feel of what they’re like. You might find that one of them resonates with you, even though you might not have expected it.
Play on World Tier 1
Until you’ve completed the game’s campaign, World Tiers 1 and 2 are all that’s available in Diablo 4. If you’re after a challenge, you might be tempted to play on World Tier 2 – and you can if you want – but don’t feel like you have to. While you do get a little more experience and gold, it’s simply not worth the additional hassle at times.
Our advice is to stick to World Tier 1 until you’ve finished the game’s story, then move up to World Tier 2 to do what endgame content you can on that difficulty. Then, when you hit level 50, take on the Capstone Dungeon in the Cathedral of Light to unlock World Tier 3 and really begin Diablo 4’s endgame.
Earn renown to get extra skill points and potions
Like in all Diablo games, you primarily earn skill points in Diablo 4 by levelling up. You can earn additional skill points, however, by completing tasks that earn you renown in each of the game’s regions. Earn enough renown in a region and you can even unlock an additional potion which can be used to keep you alive in a bind. Even more useful is that once unlocked, these are available for all future characters you create, too.
The are other benefits to earning renown as well, such as bonus experience and gold, but these have to be earned per character. How do you earn renown, you ask? Well, by completing dungeons, finding Lilith statues, completing side-quests, exploring, and more.
Upgrade potions as soon as you can
Alongside increasing the number of potions you have by earning renown, another thing you should do in Diablo 4 is upgrade your potions as soon as you can. Potion upgrades generally become available every ten levels – there’s just a small blip in the middle where you have to progress 15 levels for a couple. Once you’re at an appropriate level, simply visit an alchemist in a large town such as Kyovashad to upgrade your potions. You’ll need some plants and a sum of gold, but they shouldn’t be hard for you to scrape together.
Don’t get attached to your items
As you make your way through the campaign of Diablo 4, don’t get too attached to your equipped items. Chances are you’ll be changing them quite often until the process of levelling up starts to slow down, and so spending money and using resources to upgrade and alter them can be a bit of a waste. Obviously do it if you get stuck and feel like it might help, though.
Activate waypoints
Pretty much every town in Diablo 4 has a waypoint for you to activate. You might find some in other places, too. Make sure you do activate them, as not only do they come in handy as fast travel points, allowing you to quickly get around the game’s world, but you’ll also earn renown for each one you do bring back to life. Like we said, some entries on this list of Diablo 4 tips for beginners aren’t all that clever, but it’s easy to overlook the basics at times.
Target dungeons that unlock Aspects that are useful to you
There are over 100 dungeons spread across Sanctuary in Diablo 4. Completing most of them for the the first time rewards you with an Aspect that gets added to your Codex of Power, allowing you to imprint Rare or Legendary items with special abilities. With some Aspects only usable by certain character classes, it makes sense to target the dungeons that give you Aspects you can make use of first. Simply open up the game’s map and place your cursor over a dungeon to see what Aspect it offers as a reward.
Unlock and make use of your character’s expertise
There are lots of things that make each character class unique in Diablo 4. They each have their own skill tress, for example. And some characters can make use of weapons that other’s can’t. A feature new in Diablo 4, however, is expertise. Each class has its own little quirk, or expertise, that it can make use of, but to get the most out of it a quest has to be completed. Make sure you complete these priority quests as soon as they become available in order to get the most out of your character’s abilities. Sorcerers can get passive abilities based on their skills, for example, while Barbarians can earn weapon masteries.
Look for synergies in skills and equipment
Success in Diablo 4, especially when the going gets tough, is all down to synergies. As you build your character, look at the skills available and try to see how they can complement each other. If you have one skill that stuns enemies, for example, and another skill in different group does more damage to stunned enemies, it might just be worth using. Then you can try to get items that also increase damage to stunned enemies. Build things from there, and you’ll soon be an efficient demon killing machine.
Turn on tool tips
Working out which items and skills are the best for you in Diablo 4 can be tough at times. To make things a little easier, and simply put more information at your fingertips, dig into the settings menu and turn on more detailed tooltips. This allows you to see things such as damage ranges, as well as whether bonuses are additive or multiplicative. It gives more information when comparing items in your inventory, too, making it easier to work out if something new you’ve found is actually worth equipping.
Always carry a Whisper Key or two
There are plenty of chests to be plundered in the world of Diablo 4. Some you’ll simply find as you explore. Others need to earned by completing challenges. And then there are some chests that are magically sealed. To open these you need a Whisper Key, and while in our experience they don’t generally contain anything special, it’s never wise to leave a chest unopened. For that reason, we reckon it’s a good idea to always carry a Whisper Key or two around with you. Get them from any vendor of curiosities in exchange for a small number of Obols.
Respec to try new skills while it’s cheap
There are lots of skills in Diablo 4, and each one can dramatically change how you play the game. The good news is that you can respec at any time to change your skills, allowing you to change your build if you find yourself struggling and want to try something new. Early in the game it’s free to respec, but eventually it starts to cost gold. It might be a good idea, then, to respec and try out new skills while you’re still low level.
Explore!
The world of Diablo 4 is vast, and it’s filled with things to do. While it might be tempting to blast through the game’s story, we’d recommend taking your time and exploring whenever the opportunity arises. That way, you’ll likely find fun side-quests to complete, as well as rewarding events. You might also find valuable resources, and helpful things such as stat-boosting statues of Lilith, waypoints, and more.
