Diablo 4 Vessel of Hatred New Difficulty Levels Explained

In Diablo 4's 2.0 update, which arrives at the same time as Vessel of Hatred, Blizzard is making sweeping changes to core game mechanics. We've already talked about the level squish and the new Realm-wide Paragon level system, and now, it's time to explain the new Diablo 4 difficulty levels.

Keep in mind that these new difficulties will be available on 8 October 2024, regardless if you decide to purchase the expansion or not. With that disclaimer out of the way, let's dive in!

All Four New Diablo 4 Difficulty Levels 

With Diablo 4 update 2.0, World Tiers will be a thing of the past. You will now have Difficulty Levels, and the first four are known as standard difficulties, meant for the level-up experience. The standard difficulties are  Normal, Hard, Expert, and Penitent.

You'll be able to level up to the new maximum of level 60 at your own pace, choosing one of the four difficulty levels. Check out explanations of the options as per Blizzard's PTR patch notes below:

• Normal is a slower-paced mode suited for those looking for a lighter challenge.
• Hard and Expert offer an increased challenge for those looking to test their mettle and play at a faster pace.
• Penitent isn’t for the faint of heart. Those looking to pave a path to the new Torment Difficulties will face off against heightened danger. Play at your own peril!

The amount of Gold and EXP you earn is increased with each standard difficulty level. Normal and Hard are unlocked by default. You'll have to complete Diablo 4's prologue to unlock Expert difficulty, and Penitent is unlocked when you reach level 50 with a character.

With the Vessel of Hatred expansion, monsters will no longer have their level displayed and will scale to the Difficulty level. Once you reach the max level, you will be able to unlock true endgame difficulties in the form of four (4) Torment levels, which we'll explain in detail via our Diablo 4 section, so stay tuned!

In the PTR patch notes, the developer explained what they've found in previous Diablo 4 seasons:

Much of what drove these changes was noticing that it was more fun to be able to control your difficulty and reward pacing using Profane Mindcages and Tormented versions of bosses.

I have to agree. Choosing your level of difficulty really does help a lot in Diablo 4. I remember switching from Xbox Series X to my Steam Deck; I wished there were more difficulty options except for just World Tiers since I had to get used to a different way of playing the ARPG with a level 70 Sorcerer and a glass canon build quickly or earn basically no rewards at a lower World Tier.

While you wait for Diablo 4 Vessel of Hatred to release, you can learn more about the new region, mercenaries, and much more in the video below.

Remember, the difficulty level changes are for everyone when Diablo 4 patch 2.0 releases on 8 October 2024. That includes those who decided not to purchase Vessel of Hatred, as these changes affect the base game as well. 

For more Diablo 4, be sure to check out our dedicated section or some of our Guides & Tutorials just below:

Our section keeps growing, so check for new guides daily! Don't forget to pick up one of the Diablo 4 Editions and join the fight to save Sanctuary soon.