Diablo IV’s highly anticipated season 1 update is scheduled to launch on July 20, approximately six weeks after the game’s well-received debut. Known as the ‘Season of the Malignant,’ this update was showcased during a live stream by the developers. It introduces new quests, items, and a greater focus on the battle pass. As the name implies, the upcoming season presents a fresh questline where the realm of Sanctuary succumbs to a corrupting plague. This results in the transformation of all living creatures into Malignant Monsters with enhanced abilities. Set after the main campaign of Diablo 4, where players vanquished Lilith, Daughter of Hatred, to cleanse Sanctuary, this new chapter serves as a side story within the open world. The season begins at 10:30pm IST/10am PT.
The player is summoned back to Kyovashad, the starting point, where they encounter a new character named Cormand. Cormand, a former priest from the Cathedral of Light, assigns a new task of extracting the infected hearts from the Malignant creatures. These hearts are then used to augment the player’s power. Elite monsters found in the game world have a chance of appearing as Malignant versions. Upon defeat, they drop an exposed Malignant Heart. Interacting with this item initiates a ritual that spawns an even more formidable version of the elite enemy, surrounded by corrupted mobs. Defeating this powerful enemy rewards the player with a Caged Heart. This heart functions as a gem that can be inserted into rings or amulets, significantly enhancing the player’s power. It also provides an opportunity to experiment with unique and powerful builds, while the developers aim to maintain balance.
During Diablo IV’s season 1, all ring and amulet drops will come with colored sockets—red, blue, or yellow—that only accept hearts with corresponding colors. Trying to place a red heart in a blue socket will result in the game directing players to search for items with the appropriate colors. Perhaps, players may come across a mysterious fourth color of heart if fortune favors them, which can be socketed onto any piece of jewelry. A total of 32 Malignant Heart powers are available to collect, but stronger versions of these powers can be encountered as players progress further in the game. Any obsolete hearts can be dismantled into crafting materials, which can then be used to create Invokers. These Invokers prove useful once the Diablo IV season 1 campaign is completed, particularly in the Malignant Tunnel, where players can secure guaranteed hearts. It’s important to note that Malignant Hearts are rare finds when exploring the overworld.
The season 1 journey is divided into seven chapters, each offering its own unique objectives and rewards, including new items and Favor. Favor is a crucial element for advancing through Diablo 4’s battle pass system. The more Favor earned, the more tiers unlocked, allowing players to obtain rewards. It is worth mentioning that there are two types of battle passes available—the free tier, where everyone can earn in-game boosts, and the paid Premium Tier, which offers cosmetic rewards. At launch, Diablo IV only featured an in-game shop containing skins, without any pressure to make purchases. Hopefully, this trend continues as Blizzard Entertainment focuses on expanding the game in the future. The studio is already actively developing two expansions.
Diablo IV is available on PC (via Battle.net), PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S/X.
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