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Diablo 4’s Vessel of Hatred expansion is getting a modern take on the Runeword system from Diablo 2, one that will allow players to gain abilities their chosen class normally wouldn’t have access to.
During a lengthy livestream primarily discussing class changes and a revamp of how difficulty and leveling works will work in Diablo 4 come the expansion’s release, Blizzard saved the best for last. The developer revealed Runewords as an expansion-exclusive feature that will let players combine runes in order to essentially craft new abilities.
To create a Runeword, players will need to combine a Rune of Ritual and a Rune of Invocation. These effectively serve as a resource generator and a resource spender, respectively. The Rune of Ritual will specify a type of action that must be done in order to activate it, with an example being casting a skill with a cooldown. Fulfilling that Rune of Ritual will generate a new resource, Offering, which is then used in turn to activate the Runeword’s Rune of Invocation. If a player has more Offering than what the Rune of Invocation requires, they gain Overflow, which grants that Runeword bonus effects that are proportional to the amount of Overflow.
Only two Runewords will be equipable at a time, and they will use the same sockets that currently are used for gems. The same Runeword can’t be equipped twice, and there are three rarities of each rune, with higher rarities being more powerful. Runes can be acquired throughout the Vessel of Hatred expansion, but there will be a specific area, The Undercity, where players can farm for them as well.
The powers gained from Runewords can have a variety of effects. One Runeword, for example, will grant players access to the Sorcerer’s Teleport ability. Another will channel the Druid’s Petrify skill, stunning enemies and increasing damage dealt to them. In total, Blizzard said each class will have two skills and one Legendary Aspect represented in the pool of possible Runewords.
Runes can also be used for crafting. Combining three of the same Rune will create a new rune, with a chance of it rolling at a higher rarity. Runes in conjunction with a Resplendent Spark can also be used to craft certain Mythic Unique items, giving players yet another way to obtain some of the game’s most sought after items.
Runewords are just one of the new features coming in Diablo 4’s first expansion on October 8. Vessel of Hatred will also introduce a “first-of-its-kind” endgame dungeon, the all-new Spiritborn class, the return of Mercenaries, and all of the aforementioned leveling and difficulty changes.
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