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Diablo 4 season 1: Everything we know about Season of the Malignant
Jul
Diablo 4’s first season has been unveiled by Blizzard, and I find myself unready for the impending chaos. Set to commence on July 20, the Seasonal Realm will welcome all players who have triumphed in the campaign, presenting them with an entirely fresh trial to conquer. As a devastating plague ravages the globe, there arise unprecedented chances to flourish in might, unearth extraordinary artifacts, and challenge your mettle against an array of novel, formidable beings. The prospect is exhilarating, and the countdown stands at a mere fortnight!
As we eagerly anticipate the launch of season 1, Blizzard has exciting news regarding Diablo 4 patch 1.04. Scheduled to go live on July 6, this update may not be as substantial as 1.03, but it promises to bring a host of enhancements to improve our gaming experience. From addressing bugs to introducing new features like the inclusion of unique items in Helltide Chests, this patch will undoubtedly keep us engaged until July 18. On that day, the highly anticipated Diablo 4 season 1 patch will grace us with its presence, leading up to the much-awaited release on the 20th.
Dive into the vast realm of Diablo 4 season 1 as we unravel a plethora of exhilarating gameplay transformations, breaking news, and intriguing insights that await your eager exploration.
Diablo 4 season 1 release date
The eagerly anticipated arrival of Diablo 4’s first season has been scheduled for July 20, 2023, aptly named the ‘Season of the Malignant’ by Blizzard. Taking place in the aftermath of the gripping Diablo 4 campaign, a malevolent force begins to infiltrate the very essence of the world, infecting creatures ranging from savage beasts to unsuspecting humans and even demonic entities. It will be your duty to confront and conquer this insidious Malignant presence. Before embarking on this new season, bear in mind that the completion of the Diablo 4 campaign is a prerequisite.
Diablo 4 season 1 story
In the upcoming Diablo 4 season 1, prepare to embark on a captivating journey alongside a fresh face named Cormand. Once a priest at the Cathedral of Light, Cormand unexpectedly gets entangled in a new conflict that arises after your intense battle with Lilith. It’s worth mentioning that Season of the Malignant doesn’t serve as a direct continuation of the main campaign; instead, it stands as an independent side-quest within the expansive open realm, unfolding after the events of the campaign. Together with a group of valiant heroes, your mission will be to eradicate a menacing plague that poses a grave threat to Sanctuary. Should you opt to venture into the Seasonal Realm, you’ll have the opportunity to embark on the season 1 story as soon as you set foot in the mystical land of Kyovashad.
How to access Season of the Malignant
To immerse yourself in the Season of the Malignant content, completing the core Diablo 4 campaign on the Eternal Realm is a prerequisite. Once accomplished, Malignant enemies will start to appear throughout the open world, regardless of your decision to purchase the battle pass or play in the Seasonal Realm. If you truly wish to fully embrace the Season of the Malignant, creating a fresh character on the Seasonal Realm and journeying directly to Kyovashad is necessary. Fortunately, Blizzard has confirmed that your accomplishments, such as unlocked Diablo 4 Altar of Lilith statues, potion charges, skill points, and map progress, will be transferred to your new character.
What you need to do before Diablo 4 Season 1
Looking to prepare yourself for the arrival of Diablo 4 season 1? Well, the first step on your journey is to conquer the campaign. Without completing it, the intriguing new storylines, mechanics, and items will remain out of reach. But that’s not all! According to Blizzard, a significant portion of your achievements in the Eternal Realm can seamlessly transfer over to the Seasonal Realm, offering a marvelous opportunity for rapid advancement starting from July 20. Prior to the official launch of season 1, it would be wise to gather as many Altar of Lilith statues as possible and explore numerous uncharted territories. The prestige you earn during this period will remarkably carry over to your fresh seasonal character. Speaking of progression, remember to log in on July 18 with the character who has made the most progress, as this will initiate a special process to ensure that all your efforts are seamlessly propagated throughout your entire account.
Diablo 4 Malignant Hearts
The first season of Diablo 4 brings forth a plethora of innovative mechanics, systems, and items, all derived from the rampant plague that engulfs Sanctuary. Whether traversing the vast open world with your established character or embarking on a Seasonal journey, the opportunity to confront a Malignant adversary will always present itself. By vanquishing this formidable foe, a Malignant Heart will be revealed, enabling you to initiate a ritual using a cage of binding. This ritual will summon Malignant enemies to the vicinity, accompanied by a formidable elite enemy that, if conquered, has the potential to drop a brand-new item known as a caged heart.
The Diablo 4 imprisoned heart serves as a captivating alternative to traditional gems. These captivating hearts can be inserted into equipment, granting an immense surge of power. The Diablo 4 team has playfully mentioned that by cleverly utilizing this new item, one can create “broken builds.” A total of 32 new Malignant powers are waiting to be unlocked. Each Malignant Heart obtained will possess a unique color code, corresponding to a socket color found on gear collected within the Seasonal Realm. While there are only three socket colors available, there exist four extraordinary heart colors, with the rare fourth heart being omni-color. This means it can be used to enhance any item, providing distinct power sets that will revolutionize your character’s playstyle.
Diablo 4 malignant tunnels
Malignant Hearts play a vital role in enhancing the Diablo 4 season 1 adventure, and Blizzard assures players that there will be an opportunity to gather them through farming. Scattered throughout the realm of Sanctuary, you will discover alternate dungeons known as Malignant Tunnels. Upon completing these exceptional areas, you will confront an Outgrowth at the culmination. By utilizing a carefully crafted invoker on the Outgrowth, an Elite Malignant enemy will be summoned. Defeat this formidable foe, and you will be rewarded with a Malignant Heart of a specific color. What’s even more exciting is that the invoker can be tailored to correspond with a particular color set of hearts, allowing you to focus your farming efforts.
Diablo 4 season 1 new items
In addition to the Diablo 4 Malignant Hearts and Malignant gear, Blizzard is unleashing a plethora of fresh additions to the game for season 1. Brace yourself for the discovery of novel Unique items, formidable bosses, and legendary gear that surpasses expectations. What’s more, these exciting enhancements will be accessible in both the Eternal and Seasonal Realm. Wait, there’s more! Starting from July 18, all of this thrilling new content will be integrated into the game, alongside essential quality-of-life improvements and balance updates, just in time for the launch of season 1 on July 20.
How the battle pass works
The highly anticipated release of the Diablo 4 battle pass is just around the corner, scheduled for July 20th, coinciding with the Season of the Malignant. Blizzard wants to make it clear that players will have access to an astonishing 27 free tiers in the battle pass, granting them the opportunity to acquire stunning cosmetics and the coveted Smoldering Ashes – a brand new resource that can be utilized in the Season Blessing system. This resource will empower players to invest in Seasonal Realm enhancements, such as increased XP or more potent Elixirs. It is important to note that the captivating Season 1 storyline and mechanics can be fully experienced without the need to purchase the Season 1 battle pass. However, for those who choose to unlock its potential, the battle pass offers an impressive array of 90 tiers, brimming with exclusive cosmetics, valuable resources, and a plethora of items to bestow upon your fresh character in the enchanting Seasonal Realm.
Regardless of whether you purchase the battle pass or not, you have the ability to monitor your progress through the Season Journey tab in the UI. This feature will divide your progression into seven exciting chapters, each filled with numerous objectives. Advancing to the next chapter only requires the completion of a selected few objectives, while receiving item rewards and Legendary Aspects throughout the journey. Additionally, by obtaining the battle pass, you can anticipate unlocking new emotes and horse armor, along with a variety of class-agnostic cosmetics. However, it should be noted that the transmog weapons are exclusive to specific classes.
Embrace the anticipation for the grand unveiling of season 1 by exploring the fascinating ways to acquire the coveted .
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Josh West, the UK Managing Editor of GamesRadar+, brings more than a decade of expertise in both online and print journalism. With a BA (Hons) in Journalism and Feature Writing, he has made significant contributions to the industry. Josh’s journey includes notable roles as GR+’s Features Editor and Deputy Editor of games™ magazine. His freelance work spans across esteemed publications such as 3D Artist, Edge magazine, iCreate, Metal Hammer, Play, Retro Gamer, and SFX. Notably, he has graced the screens of BBC and ITV as an expert commentator, written for Scholastic books, and even edited a book for Hachette. Furthermore, he has lent his skills as the Assistant Producer of the Future Games Show. When he’s not immersed in his professional endeavors, Josh enjoys playing bass guitar and indulging in video games. Interestingly, he had a brush with the world of movies and television years ago, leaving an indelible mark that remains unseen to the naked eye.
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