Complete Guide to Tempering and Masterworking in Diablo 4
Welcome to our ultimate Temper and Masterwork systems guide in Diablo 4!
By reading all the sections of our article, you will learn about the new crafting system and how to use it to its full capacity, while also understanding how the new upgrading system can transform your ordinary piece of gear into a beast.
Introduction
After a couple of iterations for an upgrade system, Blizzard has finally developed a very interesting endgame crafting feature, starting with Season 4. It has two main components: Tempering and Masterworking, each with its own particularities.
Upgrading your gear from basic to best-in-slot status will take a lot of grind and time, but it surely will be worth it if you know what to aim for. That is why we have compiled the ultimate guide to teach you what to focus on when Tempering your gear and when to stop Masterworking and instead try again by rerolling.
Table of Contents
Here is a little breakdown of our Diablo IV Tempering & Masterworking guide:
Introduction
Tempering Overview
Tempering Particularities
Masterworking Overview
How do you Masterwork?
Types of items you can Masterwork
Masterwork Ranks & Particularities
Tempering Manual List
Final Thoughts
What is Tempering in Diablo 4?
Following the overhaul of the entire itemization, which includes the removal of 1 affix from all the items you can obtain, the Tempering system comes up with a way to add two more affixes from two different categories onto the item, raising its power considerably.
Before you can add affixes by Tempering, you must earn Tempering Manuals. They are divided into six categories: Weapons, Offensive, Defensive, Utility, Mobility, and Resource. All items can have only two affixes, but not from the same category.
What is a Tempering Manual?
Like the new Codex of Power, which stores the legendary aspects you extract, Tempering Manuals unlock up to six new affixes. Just like the legendary aspects, these affixes can only be used on some particular item types.
Aside from the Tempering Manuals, additional materials will be needed to Temper items, like Gold, Veiled Crystals, Baleful Fragments, Coiling Wards, and Abtruse Sigils, depending on the item you want to empower.
How many times can a Tempering Manual be used in D4?
Once obtained and used, a Tempering Manual will disappear, leaving behind the unlocked and ready-to-use affixes. These affixes are permanently available for the player and have unlimited uses.
How to get Tempering Manuals in D4?
While there is no definite way to obtain the Tempering Manuals, they can drop pretty much anywhere:
Helltides & Blood Maidens
The Pit
Uber & Tormented Bosses
World Bosses
Nightmare Dungeons
Elite Enemies
The chances of obtaining Tempering Manuals will differ from place to place, but we are sure that the drop chance will rise with the content's difficulty.
Note: Our personal recommendation is to follow the normal progression until the late endgame because this will allow you to obtain plenty of Tempering Manuals.
What kind of items can you Temper?
With the exception of Unique and Uber Unique items, all items can be tempered; the only limitation will be the type of affix category, which we will detail in the following chapter.
Tempering Categories
Just like the legendary aspects, Tempering affixes fall under the same categories, with the added "Weapons" category, as follows:
Weapons: As you might have guessed, Weapons
Offensive: Weapons, Amulets, Gloves, and Rings
Defensive: Shields, Helms, Chest, Pants, and Amulets
Utility: Shields, Helms, Chest, Pants, Amulets, Gloves, and Boots
Mobility: Amulets and Boots
Resource: Amulets and Rings
These categories will ensure that every type of item has at least two categories of Tempering available.
Can you temper Unique or Uber Unique items?
Unfortunately, Tempering Unique or Uber Unique items is not possible compared to Masterworking. On the bright side, the number of affixes on Unique and Uber Uniques has not been lowered, and their power remains unchanged.
This change will definitely impact the number of Unique and Uber Unique items used in most of the builds, as legendary items are way more versatile and powerful than them.
Can you trade tempered items?
Sadly, Tempered items cannot be traded. Just like when enchanting an item, Tempering it will lock the item, making it account-bound. The Tempering Manuals are also account-bound.
Tempering Rerolls
After adding the first two affixes by Tempering the item with the specific Tempering manual, if you are not happy with the affix or value roll, you will have the chance to reroll any of the two affixes for a total number of five times.
These five reroll chances are shared between both of the temper affixes, meaning you are very dependent on RNG if you are looking for a higher roll of value. After the five reroll chances, the item will become un-temperable, or as players call it, "bricked".
What is Masterworking in D4?
The Masterworking system replaces the old upgrading system overall, completely overhauling the way it works. Instead of simply being a 5-step upgrade, the Masterwork is divided into 12 ranks, each requiring a different amount and type of materials.
These Masterworking ranks will provide upgrades to the current affixes that can be found on the item in two main ways:
All affixes will be upgraded by 5% - This applies to all ranks except 4, 8, and 12.
One randomly chosen affix will be upgraded by 25% - This applies only to ranks 4, 8, and 12.
Masterworking is not limited to the regular affixes that come with the item; it can also improve the Tempered affixes.
Note: The randomly chosen affix can be the same for all three major Masterwork upgrades (4, 8, 12), raising the potential of the affix to insane powers.
How do you unlock Masterworking?
Since the upgrade system has been removed, the Tempering system and Masterworking are replacing it. Compared to Tempering, Masterworking will be unlocked later in the game.
Clearing The Pit is required for Masterworking, so the only limitation to this system is when a player can start clearing The Pit tiers.
Note: The first tier of The Pit contains monsters that are equivalent to Nightmare Dungeon tier 46, level 100. Using a powerful S-tier build will surely help you clean pit tiers way before hitting level 100 yourself.
How do you Masterwork items?
To Masterwork items, you simply go to the Blacksmith and select the "Masterworking" tab. After selecting the item you want to empower, you will have to provide the necessary materials and gold.
After Masterworking your item once, you can continue doing it for all 12 ranks, using exponentially more materials but also gaining more power. Every rank will provide a 5% increase to all affixes, except ranks 4, 8, and 12, which will be more powerful.
Ranks 4, 8, and 12 will randomly choose one affix and raise its powers by 25%. With a lot of luck, all these empowerments can go on a single affix, creating a best-in-slot or very impactful item. The very powerful upgrade can be on any of the five available affixes up to 3 times.
Masterworking Materials
The most important materials used for Masterworking items can be found in The Pit on different tiers, while the others can be found mainly in the open world or through salvaging, as follows:
Obducite, Ingolith, and Neathiron: Can only be obtained by completing The Pit or the Infernal Hordes on different tiers.
Veiled Crystal: One of the most common materials found in the game, can be obtained through the open world or by simply salvaging items.
Baleful Fragment/Coiling Ward/Abtruse Sigil: A bit rarer than the previous material, these can also be found in the open world or by salvaging their respective legendary item types - Weapons, Armor, and Jewelry.
Forgotten Soul: The rarest material besides the special ones, it can be obtained by slaying elite monsters or by clearing Helltide events.
How to get Masterworking Materials
The Masterworking system materials can only be obtained by completing The Pit or The Infernal Hordes. They are split through the tiers as follows:
Obducite: Can be obtained by completing The Pit on the lowest of the tiers, up to tier 30. In the Infernal Hordes, Tiers 3 & 4 will provide Obducite when opening the Spoils of Materials.
Ingolith: This material only drops once The Pit is completed on tiers 31-60. Spoils of Materials from Tier 5 & 6 will provide this material.
Neathiron: The highest tier of this type of material can be obtained by completing The Pit, starting from tiers 61 to 200. Also, the Material Spoils will provide Neathiron in Tier 7 & 8 of the Infernal Hordes.
The only exception is The Alchemist, where a player can transmute higher-tier materials into more lower-tier materials, solving the issue that lower-tier materials won't drop on higher Pit tiers.
Types of Masterworking Materials
All the materials needed in the Masterworking system can be divided into two main categories:
Special Materials: Obducite, Ingolith, and Neathiron. As previously mentioned, these materials can only be obtained by completing The Pit runs on different tiers or from Tier 3 to 8 of the Infernal Hordes activity and opening the Spoils of Materials at the cost of 20 Burning Aether.
Normal Materials: These materials can be obtained from most of the activities in the game, starting from open-world monsters to nightmare dungeons and salvaging items, as well as from The Pit.
Considering the frequency at which players will swap gear pieces, Masterworking items won't be necessary until higher levels, at least not going higher than Masterwork rank 4. We consider Masterworking to be best used to optimize gear for endgame activities.
Masterwork materials cap limit
Compared to other systems in the game, the Masterwork materials don't really have a cap, at least not an easily reachable one. The cap we are talking about is speculated to be 999,999, but we don't think anyone will reach that in any upcoming season.
Can you trade Masterwork materials?
Sadly, no, you cannot trade Masterworking materials. Alongside other materials and special goods like Resplendent Sparks, the Masterworking materials are stored in the "Materials" tab, which makes them account-bound.
What type of items can you Masterwork?
Since the Temper and Masterwork systems have completely replaced the old upgrade system, every type of item in the game can be Masterworked and empowered.
For every item type, except the Uniques, at least two categories of Tempering manuals are available. These tempered affixes can further be upgraded by the normal and rank 4, 8, and 12 Masterworks, raising their potential immensely.
Can you Masterwork Unique or Uber Unique items?
As we have previously said, Unique and Uber Unique items can definitely be Masterworked. The only problem is that only the regular affixes (not the Unique affixes) can be upgraded, as far as we are aware. This might be subject to change in the future.
The Difference between regular and Masterworked Stats
There is mainly just one difference between a regular and a Masterworked affix - The value or percentage. Masterworking an item to the maximum will raise the affixes' value or percentage by a minimum of 45%, not considering the possibility of hitting the 25% raise of ranks 4, 8, and 12.
When Masterworking an item to the maximum rank, make sure you are upgrading an item that is worth it. If the 4, 8, and 12 Masterwork ranks do not upgrade your desired affix, you can consider rerolling the Masterwork.
Greater affixes and Masterworking
Just like normal affixes, the greater ones can be affected by the Masterworking system, empowering them even further. The only difference here is the greater affixes will have a better range of values or percentages, making the Masterworked version the best possible outcome for the affix.
Masterworking Ranks & Chance
As previously mentioned, there are 12 Masterworking ranks in the new crafting system in Diablo 4, ready to empower your items off their limit. Unexpectedly, as you progress through the ranks, the success chance will not lower, staying at 100%.
Masterwork Rank | Materials |
Rank 1 | • Obducite x10 |
Rank 2 | • Obducite x20 |
Rank 3 | • Obducite x30 |
Rank 4 | • Obducite x40 |
Rank 5 | • Ingolith x20 |
Rank 6 | • Ingolith x40 |
Rank 7 | • Ingolith x80 |
Rank 8 | • Ingolith x120 |
Rank 9 | • Neathiron x50 |
Rank 10 | • Neathiron x100 |
Rank 11 | • Neathiron x150 |
Rank 12 | • Neathiron x250 |
Can you reroll Masterworked ranks?
Yes, you can reroll Masterworking ranks. In contrast to temper rerolling, Masterwork rerolls do not cost anything and can be performed as often as the player wants. This will ensure that the player can craft their perfect items, min-maxing affixes, creating the ideal build.
Can you trade Masterworked items?
Sadly, no, you cannot trade Masterworked items in Diablo 4. Just like enchanted items or the materials needed for these processes, the items will become account-bound once the Tempering or Masterworking begins. However, the legendary items, even the ones with greater affixes, are tradeable, which makes up for this.
Tempering Manual List
Below we present a complete list of the Tempering Manuals, including their rarity and full information.
Tempering Manual | Item Type | Affix |
Elemental Surge — Day | Weapons | •Lucky Hit: Up to a 40% Chance to Deal +X Elemental Damage (Physical, Fire, Lightning) |
Elemental Surge — Night | Weapons | •Lucky Hit: Up to a 40% Chance to Deal +X Elemental Damage (Cold, Poison, Shadow) |
Weapons | +X% Damage | |
Boots | +X% Movement Speed | |
Helms | +X% Fire Resistance | |
Helms | +X Thorns | |
Weapons | +X% Basic Damage | |
Helms | +X Maximum Life | |
Weapons | +X% Critical Strike Damage | |
Helms | •Lucky Hit: Up to a +X% Chance to Slow/Immobilize/Stun/Freeze for 2 Seconds | |
Ring | •X% Resource Generation |
Spiritborn Tempering Manuals:
Tempering Manual | Item Type | Affix |
Weapons | +X% Chance for Withering Fist to Deal Double Damage | |
Centipede Efficiency | Rings | X% Withering Fist Resource Generation |
Weapons | +X% Potency Damage | |
Centipede Innovation | Weapons | +X% Withering Fist Size |
Weapons | +X% Chance for Thunderspike to Deal Double Damage | |
Rings | X% Thunderspike Resource Generation | |
Weapons | +X% Focus Damage | |
Helms | +X% Thunderspike Size | |
Rings | +X to Vigorous | |
Weapons | +X% Chance for Payback to Deal Double Damage | |
Weapons | +X% Chance for Rock Splitter to Deal Double Damage | |
Rings | X% Rock Splitter Resource Generation | |
Weapons | +X to Bastion | |
Helms | +X% Rock Splitter Size | |
Weapons | +X% Chance for Thrash to Deal Double Damage | |
Rings | X% Thrash Resource Generation | |
Weapons | +X% Mobility Damage | |
Helms | +X% Thrash Size | |
Weapons | +X% Chance for Rushing Claw to Deal Double Damage | |
Weapons | +X% Chance for Soar to Deal Double Damage | |
Weapons | +X% Chance for Touch of Death Swarms To Reinfect On Hit | |
Spiritborn Endurance | Helms | +X% The Protector Barrier Generation |
Helms | +X% Rock Splitter Block Chance Bonus | |
Boots | X% Soar Cooldown Reduction | |
Helms | +X% Touch of Death Healing Bonus | |
Helms | +X% Armored Hide Resolve Generation Rate |
Barbarian Tempering Manuals:
Tempering Manual | Item Type | Affix |
Weapons | +X% Damage with Two-Handed Bludgeoning Weapons | |
Helms | +X% Kick Vulnerable Duration | |
Helms | Steel Grasp Stuns for +X Seconds | |
Barbarian Innovation | Helms | +X Earthquake Size |
Boots | +X% Movement Speed | |
Helms | +X% Lunging Strike Healing | |
Helms | •X% Ground Stomp Cooldown Reduction | |
Berserking Innovation | Weapons | +X% Double Swing Size |
Weapons | +X% Damage while Berserking | |
Weapons | +X to Cut to the Bone | |
Weapons | +X% Rend Size | |
Weapons | •X% Chance for Charge to Deal Double Damage | |
Rings | •X% Brawling Cooldown Reduction | |
Helms | •X% Hammer of the Ancients Size | |
Core Augments — Barbarian | Weapons | •X% Chance for Hammer of the Ancients to Deal Double Damage |
Weapons | +X% Brawling Damage | |
Weapons | •Bash Cleaves for +X% Damage | |
Weapons | +X% Vulnerable Damage | |
Helms | +X% Thorns while Fortified | |
Ultimate Efficiency — Barbarian | Rings | •Casting Ultimate Skills Restores +X Primary Resource |
Weapons | +X% Chance for Dust Devils to Cast Twice | |
Wasteland Innovation | Helms | +X% Ground Stomp Size |
Weapon Attunement — Barbarian | Rings | •X% Basic Resource Generation |
Weapons | +X% Chance for Mighty Throw to Deal Double Damage | |
Weapon Mastery Efficiency | Rings | •X% Weapon Mastery Cooldown Reduction |
Druid Tempering Manuals:
Tempering Manual | Item Type | Affix |
Companion Efficiency | Rings | •X% Companion Cooldown Reduction |
Weapons | +X% Companion Damage | |
Companion Innovation | Helms | +X% Wolves Attack Speed |
Rings | •Casting Wrath Skills Restores +X Primary Resource | |
Boots | +X% Movement Speed | |
Weapons | +X% Chance for Earth Spike Projectiles to Cast Twice | |
Weapons | +X% Earth Damage | |
Helms | •X% Cyclone Armor Cooldown Reduction | |
Shapeshifting Endurance | Helms | •X% Blood Howl Cooldown Reduction |
Shapeshifting Finesse | Weapons | +X% Werewolf Attack Speed |
Weapons | +X% Chance for Wind Shear Projectiles to Cast Twice | |
Weapons | +X% Storm Damage | |
Weapons | +X% Maul Size | |
Weapons | •X% Shred Critical Strike Chance | |
Rings | X% Hurricane Cooldown Reduction |
Necromancer Tempering Manuals:
Tempering Manual | Item Type | Affix |
Weapons | +X% Hemorrhage Size | |
Helms | +X% Chance for Hemorrhage to Form Blood Orbs | |
Weapons | +X% Blood Attack Speed | |
Weapons | +X% Chance for Bone Splinters Projectiles to Cast Twice | |
Weapons | +X% Bone Damage | |
Necromancer Efficiency | Rings | •X% Ultimate Cooldown Reduction |
Necromancer Invigoration | Rings | +X% Chance for Projectiles to Cast Twice |
Boots | +X% Movement Speed | |
Helms | +X% Blight Effect | |
Helms | +X% Damage to Enemies Affected by Curse Skills | |
Helms | +X% Corpse Explosion Size | |
Shadow Augments — Decay | Weapons | +X% Chance for Blight Projectiles to Cast Twice |
Shadow Augments — Execution | Weapons | +X% Chance for Sever Projectiles to Cast Twice |
Weapons | +X% Shadow Damage Over Time | |
Weapons | +X% Minion Attack Speed | |
Weapons | +X% Summoning Damage | |
Helms | +X% Thorns while Fortified | |
Weapon Attunement — Necromancer | Rings | •X% Basic Resource Generation |
Rogue Tempering Manuals:
Tempering Manual | Item Type | Affix |
Rings | •X% Agility Cooldown Reduction | |
Helms | +X to Trick Attacks | |
Marksman Augments — Basic | Weapons | +X% Chance for Puncture Projectiles to Cast Twice |
Marksman Augments — Core | Weapons | +X% Twisting Blades Effect |
Weapons | +X% Cutthroat Damage | |
Helms | •Lucky Hit: Up to a +X% Chance to Daze for 2 Seconds | |
Rings | +X Shadow Imbuement Count | |
Weapons | +X% Marksman Damage | |
Helms | •X% Concealment Cooldown Reduction | |
Rings | •X% Puncture Resource Generation | |
Boots | +X% Movement Speed | |
Helms | +X% Chance for Flurry Projectiles to Cast Twice | |
Weapons | +X% Damage to Poisoned Enemies | |
Specialist Evolution | Weapons | +X% Damage per Combo Point Spent |
Subterfuge Efficiency | Rings | •X% Subterfuge Cooldown Reduction |
Weapons | •Traps Arm X Seconds Faster | |
Weapons | +X% Shadow Step Damage |
Sorcerer Tempering Manuals:
Tempering Manual | Item Type | Affix |
Conjuration Efficiency | Rings | •X% Hydra Resource Cost Reduction |
Weapons | +X% Conjuration Damage | |
Weapons | +X% Chance for Frost Bolt Projectiles to Cast Twice | |
Helms | •X% Frost Nova Cooldown Reduction | |
Weapons | +X% Cold Damage | |
Weapons | +X% Chance for Fire Bolt Projectiles to Cast Twice | |
Helms | •Lucky Hit: Up to a 5% Chance to Heal +X Life | |
Weapons | +X% Fire Damage | |
Shock Augments — Surge | Weapons | +X% Chance for Spark Projectiles to Cast Twice |
Weapons | +X% Lightning Damage | |
Helms | +X% Immobilize Duration | |
Boots | +X% Movement Speed | |
Rings | +X to Invigorating Conduit | |
Ultimate Efficiency — Sorcerer | Rings | •Casting Ultimate Skills Restores +X Primary Resource |
F.A.Q. - Diablo 4 Tempering & Masterworking
What is Tempering in Diablo 4? Tempering is the first part of the new crafting system, used to add 2 new affixes to almost every type of item.
What type of items can be Tempered? Aside from Unique and Uber Unique items, everything else can be Tempered.
What materials are needed to Temper items in D4? To Temper an item, you will need the Tempering Manual unlocked and one of each tier of the item type material. For example, Tempering Weapons will require Iron Chunks, Veiled Crystal, and Baleful Fragments.
What is a Tempering Manual in Diablo IV? Tempering Manuals are used to unlock new affix categories that can be added through Tempering.
Can you reroll Tempered affixes? After adding both Tempered affixes, you can reroll them for a maximum of 5 times.
What is Masterworking in Diablo 4? The Masterworking feature replaced the old upgrade system, replacing the 5 upgrades with a 12-rank structure.
How do you unlock Masterworking? Masterworking doesn't need to be unlocked. The materials needed, however, are only obtainable from The Pit.
How do you Masterwork items? You can masterwork items by simply going to the Blacksmith.
What types of items can be Masterworked in Diablo 4? Every type of item can be Masterworked in Diablo 4.