Whether you're new to Diablo 4 or a seasoned player, these tips are designed to help you navigate the Vessel of Hatred season efficiently. From gathering essential resources to optimizing your character’s power, each tip offers practical advice that will enhance your overall gameplay experience. From gathering essential resources to optimizing your character's power, each tip offers practical advice that will enhance your overall gameplay experience. Master these strategies to progress quickly and tackle the challenges that the Vessel of Hatred brings.
Tip Number One: Maximize Realm Walker Events for Early Boosts
From the very beginning of the game, as soon as you have access to Realm Walker events, make sure to participate in them every time they appear. The reason is that you will earn "Seething Opal," which provide multiple benefits. These seething Opal allows you to target additional drops from all monsters you slay, meaning the earlier you acquire them, the better. They also grant a 15% increase in experience, which stacks with potions, making it extremely useful for leveling throughout your gameplay.
Since Paragon levels now go up to 300, reaching that level takes a long time, and having this experience bonus early on will be crucial. Additionally, Seething Opals allow you to target specific rewards, such as gold, equipment, herbs, crafting materials, boss summoning items, or Inferno Compasses. These buffs are highly beneficial for your progression through the Vessel of Hatred season.
Tip Number Two: Build Mercenary Rapport for Bonus Rewards
Focus on building your Mercenaries' Rapport. You can hire one mercenary to stay with you at all times and have another as reinforcement. Both mercenaries will gain rapport simultaneously, allowing you to develop two different mercenaries at once.
The Rapport system grants skill points to strengthen your mercenaries and also provides valuable rewards such as legendary rings, scattered prisms, boss material fragments, and more. Additionally, you'll earn "Pale Marks," which you can exchange for various rewards depending on the mercenary you currently have active.
For example, having a Barbarian mercenary may grant defensive aspects, while a demon mercenary might provide resource aspects or movement speed bonuses. You can use these Pale Marks to purchase legendary aspects, which can help you acquire specific items you're struggling to farm. This system is a great addition to help you target farm for the exact legendary aspects you need.
Tip Number Three: Use the Party Finder for Efficient Boss Farming
Once you acquire the D4 items: Boss Materials, such as "Distilled Fear," and decide to run Boss Layers like the Glacial Fissure, it's important to optimize your approach. Make sure to use the new Party Finder system to join a party, which allows you to share rotations for efficient boss farming.
Simply go to Party Finder, select Boss Layers, and search for a group. This system also helps you easily find parties when you need to tackle the Dark Citadel, which requires at least one other person. Get comfortable using the Party Finder system to streamline your boss farming and group activities.
Tip Number Four: Craft Mythic Uniques with Ease
This season offers the easiest opportunity to obtain a Mythic Unique item. You can craft one with two Resplendent Sparks, and there are guaranteed ways to acquire them. One Resplendent Spark can be earned by completing the Season Journey, while another can be obtained by defeating the Echo of Lilith in the Echo of Hatred event.
You don't need to fight Lilith on the hardest difficulty; even lower difficulties like Torment 1 will allow you to complete the event and earn your Resplendent Spark. This makes it much easier to collect the necessary materials for crafting a Mythic Unique, even with a suboptimal build.
Tip Number Five: Take Advantage of the Improved Oppo Vendor
The Oppo Vendor is now significantly improved, offering a much higher chance of obtaining Greater AICs and unique items. This season, players are reporting frequent unique drops from the vendor. If you're missing certain gear pieces, it's worth giving the Oppo Vendor a try. Unlike in previous seasons, where it might have been easy to overlook, the vendor is now a valuable resource.
Tip Number Six: Fastest Way to Complete Whispers
The fastest way to complete three Whispers in the game is by heading to the PvP zones and finding the Abomination. Killing the Abomination grants five Whispers instantly, and since it doesn't have much HP, it's a quick kill. Afterward, turning in the seeds will give you three more Whispers, and completing any event in the area adds another one, totaling nine Whispers.
If you already have one Whisper before starting, this method can quickly get you to ten. Additionally, there are two PvP zones where this can be done. You can kill the Abomination in one zone, then head to the second zone to kill another, completing your Whispers without even needing to turn in seeds.
Tip Number Seven: Set Your Favorite Area for Quick Access
You can set a favourite area by right-clicking on the map. The best options are either "The Den" for its access to mercenaries and bartering or "Singar" for its access to the pit and tier difficulty changers. Setting a favorite area helps streamline your gameplay, providing quick access to key features.
Tip Number Eight: Salvage Greater Items for More Materials
Salvaging normal legendary items gives standard materials, but salvaging greater items provides ten times the amount. If you're worried about gathering enough materials, focus on salvaging greater affixes to gain significantly more resources for crafting and upgrades.
Tip Number Nine: Reset Tempering with the Scroll of Restoration
If you've tempered an item to its limit and can no longer improve it, use the new "Scroll of Restoration." This item resets all tempering charges, allowing you to retemper your favorite gear. Scrolls can be obtained through the Dark Citadel weekly raid or as rare drops in the world. You are also guaranteed one scroll by completing the Season Journey.
Conclusion
By following these tips, you'll streamline your gameplay, efficiently gather resources, and strengthen your character. Whether you're hunting rare materials or maximizing mercenary rapport, these strategies will ensure help you challenge the new season: Vessel of Hatred.