Diablo 4 Occultist: How To Unlock & Functions

In Diablo 4 there are several NPCs that can help out adventurers in the world of Sanctuary. One of these is a unique NPC in the game called the Occultist, and for those unfamiliar with them, this guide has you covered. 

In this guide, we'll take a look at how to unlock them, as well as the Occultist's function in Diablo 4.

Update on 19 June 2023: We've updated this article with the latest information about the Occultist and its important functions such as imprinting Legendary Aspects, Sigil Manipulation and Enchantments in Diablo 4.

How To Unlock Diablo 4 Occultist

To gain access to the Occultist character, players must fulfill one of two requirements, either by completing the Occultist's vendor quest at level 25 or by obtaining the initial legendary aspect from the Codex of Power. The latter can be acquired by completing a dungeon in Sanctuary that grants your character a compatible affix. Once the Occultist's services are unlocked, they can be found in the northern part of Kyovoshad, marked by a triangle icon on the map. 

While not all towns have an Occultist, many of them do. The first location is in Kyovashad, situated below the Jeweler's building, but there are many more to find. To determine if a settlement has an Occultist, select it on the map, and a drop-down menu will appear, listing the available services in that particular town.

Diablo 4 Occultist Functions

Now, one thing that should be clear is that the Occultist offers players some real firepower, and it honestly makes sense that it's unlocked later than other NPCs. The Occultist has various important functions, particularly for endgame activities, serving as a replacement for Diablo 3's Kanai's Cube. So let's take a look at how the Occultist functions in Diablo 4 and what they offer.

Legendary Aspect Extraction and Imprinting

The first ability the Occultist wields is the ability to extract Legendary Aspects. This means that when you come across a Legendary Aspect on a piece of gear you don't need, the Occultist can extract it for you (at a hefty cost). This aspect is then stored in your inventory, where you can see its bonuses and which pieces of gear it can be reapplied to.

The second is the ability to imprint Legendary Aspects from either the Codex of Power or an extracted aspect onto any rare or legendary piece of gear. This turns a rare item into legendary and marks it as "Imprinted." Unfortunately, Imprinted Aspects cannot be extracted, or traded, so keep that in mind.

Crafting Sigils

Sigils serve as keys for Nightmare Dungeons once World Tier 3 is reached, and the Occultist allows players to salvage unwanted Sigils or craft new ones. Sigils can transform normal dungeons into Nightmare Dungeons, which will increase the danger of the dungeon for sure, but it will also increase the amount of loot and loot quality of the dungeon overall (this ability only applies to dungeons, though, not Strongholds).

Sigil afflictions can affect the player, enemies, or the dungeon environment. But most importantly, players should know that there are two types of sigils available, corresponding to specific tiers of gameplay; Sacred Sigils will provide World Tier 3 Nightmare, and Ancestral Sigils will open World Tier 4, Torment difficulty. But if you need a more comprehensive look at Sigils and how they work, be sure to check out our full guide on Diablo 4 Sigils. 

Broadly speaking, players naturally acquire Sigils while completing Tree of Whisper quests or running Nightmare Dungeons. If players wish to farm a specific Nightmare Dungeon or upgrade to higher-tier Sigils, they can salvage (destroy) old Sigils and craft new ones at the Occultist. This allows players to tailor their Sigils to preferred dungeons and desired difficulty levels.

Enchantment

Lastly, the Occultist can enchant your gear, allowing you to reroll affixes for better stats. This feature addresses a significant issue from previous games by enabling players to improve unwanted gear with great affixes. However, be cautious as enchanting an item makes it account-bound if it wasn't already.

When rerolling, only one stat per item can be modified, but players have unlimited attempts. This system proves valuable in the endgame phase, as it elevates good legendary items to top-tier status. For example, if an item has three perfect affixes out of four, players can reroll the fourth affix to create a flawless item with all four affixes aligned.

Enchanting gear requires gold and specific materials. Rare items need Veiled Crystals, while Legendaries require Veiled Crystals and Fiend Rose. It's important to remember that certain affixes cannot be applied at the same time, so avoid attempting to roll for a stat that is incompatible with a particular piece of gear.

And there you have it, a fully comprehensive breakdown of everything you need to know about the Occultist NPC in Diablo 4, including how they are unlocked, and the function they serve in the World of Sanctuary. Be sure to use the Occultists to your benefit once they are unlocked and you're sure to become a powerhouse in Diablo 4. 

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.