Prepare for chaos in Sanctuary as Diablo 4 Season 1, aptly named the “Season of the Malignant,” brings forth a malevolent curse that infects both humans and demons. Revealed in a recent livestream by Blizzard, this three-month-long event introduces cursed hearts known as “Malignant Hearts” that can be inserted into gem slots, allowing players to create astonishingly potent and innovative character builds.
Scheduled to commence on July 20 at 10 am Pacific, Diablo 4 Season 1 coincides with the highly anticipated launch of the game’s inaugural battle pass.
This battle pass, featuring 90 tiers of rewards, offers both free and premium tiers for players to explore. To prepare for the update, a pre-season patch will be implemented on July 18th.
In Season 1, players will embark on a captivating questline, intertwined with a captivating side story that centers around the curse. Led by the enigmatic character Cormund, this adventure takes place after the primary Diablo 4 story. Seasonal characters who have already completed the campaign can skip straight into the new content, while others will need to progress through the campaign on the seasonal realm to unlock these exciting additions.
The gameplay experience in Season 1 will undergo significant changes. Elite-level monsters may now spawn as “Partly Corrupted” variants, offering an opportunity to acquire Malignant Hearts upon defeat. These hearts, when paired with jewelry, unlock extraordinary abilities and grant access to “Fully Corrupted” versions of the respective enemies. With 32 unique Malignant Hearts to collect, players can create formidable builds that defy conventional limits.
Moreover, players will encounter Malignant Tunnels throughout the world, where infected enemies lurk, providing a higher chance to acquire Malignant Hearts. Successfully completing chapters of the Season Journey menu will grant various objectives and completion bonuses, further enhancing the seasonal experience. Additionally, the fearsome boss Varshan the Consumed awaits intrepid adventurers within the depths of the Malignant Tunnels.
Season 1 also introduces six new Unique Items and seven Legendary Aspects, promising even greater diversity and customization for players’ arsenals. As a special perk, transitioning from an eternal realm character to a seasonal character will retain progress, including cleared fog of war, earned renown, and unlocked Altars of Lilith.
To access the Season 1 content, players must create a new character on the seasonal realm, as Diablo 4 differentiates itself from other games by not expanding existing max-level characters. Seasonal characters grant the opportunity to skip the campaign for those who have completed it in the eternal realm, enabling immediate immersion into the thrilling seasonal questline and mechanics. With Diablo 4 aiming to feature four seasons per year, each lasting approximately three months, Season 1 will continue until October or November. At the season’s end, characters will be transferred to the eternal realm, where they will transition into regular characters, retaining some of their special seasonal powers.
Accompanying Season 1 is Diablo 4’s inaugural battle pass, offering a range of rewards across 90 tiers. The battle pass includes 27 free tiers and 63 premium tiers, with the premium track costing 1,000 Platinum ($10). Free tiers unlock cosmetic items and Smoldering Ashes, which can be exchanged for Season’s Blessings, providing valuable boosters for gold, XP, or Obol earning. Premium tiers unlock exclusive cosmetics and Platinum, Diablo 4’s real money currency used for purchasing items in the Shop.
Advancing through the “Season Journey” and eliminating monsters with a seasonal character will earn players battle pass tiers, providing an exciting progression system throughout the season.
Prepare to delve into the malevolence of Diablo 4 Season 1, where shattered gems hold unimaginable power, promising to redefine the limits of character builds. With captivating quests, exhilarating gameplay changes, and the introduction of the battle pass system, the Season of the Malignant will undoubtedly leave its mark on Sanctuary’s eternal struggle between good and evil.