Diablo 4 Will Have a Bigger Focus on Player Stats

Published: December 15, 2020 2:06 PM /

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Diablo 4 Player Stats Legendary Items cover

A new Diablo 4 quarterly update has arrived, detailing how the game will have a bigger focus on player stats along with some surprising reveals about skills and legendary weapons.

Diablo 4 was first officially announced a little more than a year ago at Blizzcon 2019. Since then, the developers have trickled out details about what players could look forward to in this upcoming action RPG. A new update from the developers has dropped, and a good portion of it shows a return to form for the Diablo franchise while also working on breaking new ground.

Diablo 4 Player Stats Skill Bonuses

Why Diablo 4 Primary Stats Will Matter More Than Ever Before

Diablo 4 primary stats, in particular, are undergoing one of the more interesting changes in this continuation of the long-running ARPG franchise. Players will spend points to upgrade Strength, Intelligence, Willpower, and Dexterity, each of which is more important to some classes and less important than others.

In terms of balance, primary stats are going to matter a fair bit more for player damage. Previous games were largely about getting the correct stats to wear the necessary gear for your build and then getting as much life as possible; now, these stats are going to matter a little more.

How so? Well, each stat will have a direct effect on your abilities — the Barbarian, for example, will get an increase in skill damage based on his Strength stat. The Sorceress, on the other hand, will get this bonus from her Intelligence skill.

Mixing things up even further, though, is a new synergy with skills. If a Barbarian gets 150 Dexterity, his Whirlwind Skill will provide a 3% movement speed boost each second (and stacking up to 15%). At 225 Strength and Dexterity, the critical strike damage of this skill will increase by 1% per second (stacking up to 20%). Essentially, making a specialized character build will now also involve selecting the right Primary Stats and not just the best gear.

Diablo 4 Player Stats Legendary Items

Legendary Items Are Getting Interesting New Effects

Another major change is coming to Legendary Items. The power of Affixes — that is, Prefixes and Suffixes — is getting a boost, but Diablo 4 Legendary Items are getting something even cooler: Legendary Affixes.

A "Legendary Affix" can roll randomly on Legendary Items and will provide unique benefits that you won't find on any ol' Rare Pair of Boots. Here are the examples that were shown today:

  • "Perilous Tread" Suffix – When you stand inside your own damaging ground effects, you increase the damage they deal by 27%/29%.
  • "Chilling Frost" Suffix – Your Chill effects will trigger Freeze 25% faster but you deal 30% less Frost damage.
  • "Three Curses" Suffix – Meteor gains a 45% critical strike damage bonus against vulnerable targets.
  • "Stonewall" Prefix – Increase the duration of your Defensive skills by 38%.

Diablo 4 will also have plenty of Uncommon, Rare, and Unique Items for players to hunt down, the latter of which will also have special effects that you won't find on ordinary equipment.

These are just some of the more interesting changes revealed today; you can read about everything in detail in the latest Diablo 4 Quarterly Update. You can't pre-purchase the game just yet, but you can see everything that's been revealed thus far on its official website.

What do you think about the changes announced in today's quarterly update? Do you think Diablo 4 will do a better job of living up to its legacy? Let us know in the comments below!

Have a tip, or want to point out something we missed? Leave a Comment or e-mail us at tips@techraptor.net


A photograph of TechRaptor Senior Writer Robert N. Adams.
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One of my earliest memories is playing Super Mario Bros. on the Nintendo Entertainment System. I've had a controller in my hand since I was 4 and I… More about Robert N