Diablo 4 Season of Hatred Rising – Full Overview of Changes and Features

Diablo 4 Season of Hatred Rising – Full Overview

Introduction

With the release of Diablo 4's expansion Vessels of Hatred, players are introduced to Season of Hatred Rising. This guide will provide an in-depth look at all the changes, new features, and systems that have been added in Season 6. Whether you're aiming to master the new difficulty tiers, dive into cooperative dungeons, or maximize your paragon points, this guide has everything you need to know to succeed in the Season of Hatred Rising.

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Release Date and Key Changes

Release Date	October 7, 2024, at 4:00 PM PDT
Expansion Title	Vessels of Hatred
Season Name	Season of Hatred Rising
Maximum Character Level	60
Maximum Paragon Level	300
New Features	Glyph changes, Runewords, Mercenaries, Dark Citadel, Kurast Undercity
New Content	New region, Spiritborn class, Runewords, Group search, new Elixirs

Main Gameplay Changes in Season of Hatred Rising

The changes in Season 6 impact several key systems in Diablo 4, including character progression, item power, and world difficulty. Below are the most significant updates:

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1. Character Progression and Level Cap Changes

• Maximum Character Level has been reduced from 100 to 60.
  • This change accelerates the leveling process, allowing players to hit max level faster while engaging in high-level content more quickly.
• Paragon Level Cap has been increased to 300, allowing deeper post-level 60 character development. The Paragon system is no longer tied to character levels, providing more freedom to specialize your character in new ways.

Leveling Changes	Before	After (Season 6)
Max Character Level	100	60
Paragon Level Cap	200	300
Speed of Leveling	Slower progression	Faster progression
Paragon tied to Level	Yes	No

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2. Item Level and Affix Adjustments

• Item power has been adjusted as follows:
  • Non-Greater Affix Items: Max power capped at 750.
  • Greater Affix Items: Max power capped at 800.

These changes create a more balanced itemization system, where players need to chase better affixes rather than simply item power.

Item Level	Max Power
Non-Greater Affix	750
Greater Affix	800

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3. World Difficulty System Changes

The World Tier System has been reworked into a simplified Difficulty System. Monster levels are no longer displayed, and their power scales based on the selected difficulty level.

Difficulty	Unlock Requirements	Monster Scaling
Normal	Always Open	Levels 1-60, base difficulty
Hard	Always Open	Increased difficulty
Expert	Complete Prologue	Greater difficulty, base bonuses
Penitent	Complete Campaign	Maximum pre-Torment difficulty
Torment 1-4	Reach Level 60	High-end scaling for endgame

The table below provides detailed information about the armor and resistance penalties for each difficulty level:

Difficulty	Armor Bonus	Resistance Penalty
Normal	+250 Armor	-25% to all resistances
Hard	+500 Armor	-50% to all resistances
Expert	+750 Armor	-75% to all resistances
Penitent	+1,000 Armor	-100% to all resistances

In addition to scaling monster strength, world difficulty also unlocks higher Torment levels, which provide better rewards and more challenging enemies.

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Paragon and Glyph Systems Overhaul

1. Paragon System

The Paragon System has seen a significant overhaul in Season 6. The level cap is now 300, and the system is no longer tied to character level progression. This allows for greater flexibility in building your character, with opportunities to further specialize your playstyle well beyond level 60.

• New Paragon Materials:
  • The previous materials, Ingolith and Neathiron, have been removed from the game.
  • Obducite is now the only masterworking material, and it can only be obtained in specific areas like Nightmare Dungeons, Infernal Hordes, and the Undercity of Hatred.

Material	Source
Obducite	Nightmare Dungeons, Infernal Hordes, Undercity

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2. Glyphs Changes

The Glyph System has been reworked to provide more customization and progression. Key changes include:

• Max Glyph Level increased from 21 to 100.
• Glyph Upgrades now occur through The Pit, a new dungeon type, instead of the previously used Nightmare Dungeons.
• Glyph Leveling:
  • Completing a tier of The Pit that exceeds the glyph's level by 10 guarantees a level-up for the glyph.
  • Legendary glyphs can be created from rare glyphs upgraded to level 45.

Glyph Progression	Old System	New System
Max Glyph Level	21	100
Upgrade Location	Nightmare Dungeons	The Pit
Upgrade Success	Based on experience gained	Based on Pit level difference
New Feature	N/A	Transform rare glyphs to legendary

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New Features in Season of Hatred Rising

1. Runewords System

The Runeword System allows for more personalized item enhancements. By combining two runes, players can create custom effects, providing new layers of strategy for both offense and defense.

• Runeword Types:
  • Condition Rune: Sets a specific condition (e.g., spending resources).
  • Effect Rune: Provides an outcome (e.g., summoning a vortex to pull enemies in).

Runeword Example	Condition	Effect
Rune 1	Spend 5% of your maximum resource	Summons a Vortex pulling enemies
Rune 2	Deal critical hit damage	Increases critical hit chance

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2. Mercenaries

In Season of Hatred Rising, players can unlock Mercenaries by completing seasonal quests. You can summon up to two mercenaries at a time, who will assist you in battle. As you build reputation, you unlock additional abilities and enhancements for your mercenaries.

Mercenaries System	Details
Maximum Mercenaries	2
Unlock Method	Seasonal Quests
Reputation Rewards	Unlock new abilities and improve mercenaries

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Endgame Dungeons: Dark Citadel and Kurast Undercity

1. The Dark Citadel

The Dark Citadel is a large-scale, multi-wing dungeon designed specifically for cooperative play. Players can tackle each wing individually or complete them all at once. The difficulty of the dungeon scales based on Torment I-IV.

• Three-Wing Dungeon:
  • Each wing has its own unique puzzles and bosses.
  • Players can earn Citadel Coins to purchase rewards, such as elixirs, scrolls, and cosmetic items.
• Weekly Rewards:
  • Each week, players can earn a weekly chest containing exclusive items by completing the dungeon.

Difficulty	Rewards
Torment I-III	Gear, Elixirs, Scrolls
Torment IV	Exclusive gear sets, Mounts, Cosmetics

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2. Kurast Undercity

The Kurast Undercity is a multi-floor, time-based dungeon that requires players to manage Tribute levels to maximize their loot. Attunement bonuses provide additional rewards based on performance.

Dungeon System	Details
Kurast Undercity	Timed, multi-floor dungeon
Bonuses	Based on Tribute and Attunement levels
Recommended Level	60

Conclusion

Season of Hatred Rising is a rich and dynamic update to Diablo 4, filled with new systems, areas, and challenges. Whether you're unlocking new Runewords, exploring The Pit for glyph upgrades, or battling through the Dark Citadel, this season offers an expansive array of content. Mastering the new mechanics and features will be key to thriving in this new era of Diablo 4.