Diablo 4 has been available for just over 5 weeks now, and on 20th July its first season will begin. For those new to the series, Diablo seasons see players starting a new game with a brand new character. For some it’s an opportunity to try a new class; for others it’s a competitive race to see who can gear up the fastest and achieve incredible feats. But that’s not all: with each new season comes new content and features, making the experience feel fresh. Needless to say, Diablo 4 season 1 will have something to offer to all players.
What is Diablo 4 season 1: Season of the Malignant?
Called Season of the Malignant, Diablo 4 Season 1 will find players embarking on a new questline, helping a character called Cormond to fight a corruption that’s taking over the land. Players will be able to capture Malignant Hearts from corrupted enemies, and slot them into jewelry in order to gain a range of powerful, perhaps even build-changing, abilities.
Alongside the new season, an update for Diablo 4 will be released two days prior, bringing a range of bug-fixes, balance tweaks and some new legendary aspects and uniques.
More information of the Season of the Malignant can be found here.
Diablo 4 Battle Pass
The first battle pass for Diablo 4 will also go live with season 1, allowing players to earn various rewards. Things like experience boosters will be up for grabs, and these will be obtainable by all players for free. For those who want to make their characters stand out, however, a premium battle pass is also available that adds some cosmetics into the mix. Blizzard assures fans that Diablo 4 will never be pay-to-win, so none of the rewards offered by the premium battle pass will offer stat boosts or suchlike.
How to prepare for Diablo 4 season 1
Diablo 4 Season 1 will run for 12 weeks, giving players plenty of time to complete all the content it offers and complete the battle pass. If you want to give yourself the best start, however, there are some things you can do right now. Here’s how to prepare for Diablo 4’s Season of the Malignant:
1. Complete the game’s campaign
While you can take part in Diablo 4’s first season without first completing its campaign, you won’t be able to dive into the additional questline and make use of any new features. The good news is, if you complete the campaign now, or have already done so, when you start a new seasonal character you’ll be able to skip it. In other words, you’ll be able to get right into the thick of things.
2. Explore all areas of the map
Once you’ve completed Diablo 4’s campaign, the next thing you should do to give you a good start in the upcoming season is make sure you’ve uncovered the whole map. There are two benefits to this. Firstly, it means that when you start the season the whole of the map will be viewable, making getting about a hell of a lot easier. Secondly, the renown you earn for discovering areas is carried over into the season. It means you have access to valuable skill points which you can distribute from the outset.
3. Find all Altars of Lilith
Along with exploring all areas of the map, another thing you should do before Diablo 4 season 1 begins is try to find as many Altars of Lilith as you can. Again, the benefit is twofold. Each Altar you find will give you a stat boost, paragon point or increase the max number of Obols you can carry at any one time, and all of those are very good things to have indeed. This is another activity in which the renown you earn is carried over as well. So, explore all areas and find Altars of Lilith, and you’ll begin the season with not only additional skill points, but also additional potions.
What happens at the end of the season?
At the end of Diablo 4 season 1, your seasonal character will become a standard character. Any items specific to the season, such as Malignant Hearts, will be stripped from them, as seasonal content generally doesn’t make its way into the standard game. You’ll keep your standard gear, though, and all the other items in your stash will be made available for you. (Though Blizzard will need to provide a solution for those of us whose stashes are already rather full.) What you do then is up to you. You can continue with your character on the Eternal realm, or create a new seasonal character and start all over again.
