The Torment difficulty system returns in Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred, introducing an elevated tier system for players seeking greater challenges and exclusive rewards. This system replaces the traditional World Tier mechanic with a new progression that begins at Normal or Hard and extends into Torment levels as you reach specific milestones. Here's how you can unlock Torment difficulty and maximize your rewards.

What Is Torment Difficulty?

Starting at Torment I, this difficulty tier introduces rare Ancestral and Mythic Unique items. Each item dropped in Torment levels will include at least one powerful greater affix, and Ancestral items will have a max item level of 800. By progressing through these higher difficulty levels, you'll also see significant boosts to XP and Diablo 4 Gold earned from monster kills, along with better gear drops, including Legendary, Unique, and Mythic items.

Torment Levels and Debuffs

Each level introduces new debuffs to resistances and armor, making it progressively tougher to survive. Here's a breakdown of the rewards and debuffs for each Torment level:

Torment I

300% more XP and Gold from kills

Ancestral quality items start dropping

Debuffs: Armor -250, Resistances -25%

Torment II

400% more XP and Gold from kills

Increased drop rates for Legendary, Unique, and Mythic items

Debuffs: Armor -500, Resistances -50%

Torment III

500% more XP and Gold from kills

Further increased drop rates for high-tier items

Debuffs: Armor -750, Resistances -75%

Torment IV

600% more XP and Gold from kills

Maximum item drop rates for Legendary, Unique, and Mythic items

Debuffs: Armor -1000, Resistances -100%

Higher Torment levels also introduce Tormented Bosses, which drop significantly improved loot compared to their base versions, along with more Gem Fragments to quickly level up your gem tiers.

Unlocking Torment Difficulty: Entering the Pit of Artificers

To begin unlocking Torment levels, you must reach level 60 and challenge the Pit of Artificers, commonly referred to as The Pit. This dungeon, located in Cerrigar, Scosglen, can be accessed by interacting with a mysterious obelisk. Like Greater Rifts in Diablo 3, this area provides randomly generated layouts and enemies, offering a fresh experience with each run.

Starting a Pit Run

To initiate a run, you'll need three Artificer's Stones. These are obtainable from events like Helltides, Tree of Whispers caches, and World Boss events. With these stones in hand, you can activate a new run in The Pit, choosing your level of difficulty.

Advancing Pit Levels

In The Pit, you'll aim to clear levels within a time limit to advance. Completing levels faster rewards you with more tiers unlocked, with a maximum of three tiers per run based on the remaining time:

Four or Fewer Minutes Left: 1 Tier

Four to Six Minutes Left: 2 Tiers

Six Minutes or More Left: 3 Tiers

The Pit offers 150 levels, each increasing the difficulty and loot quality. Higher levels unlock additional Torment difficulties and better rewards, giving players plenty of opportunities to improve their gear and skills.

Pit Levels Required to Unlock Torment Tiers

Progression through the Pit unlocks Torment levels based on the following thresholds:

Torment I: Reach Pit level 20

Torment II: Reach Pit level 35

Torment III: Reach Pit level 50

Torment IV: Reach Pit level 65

Once you reach Torment IV, you'll have access to the highest difficulty and most rewarding challenges in Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred.

Glyph Leveling and Progression

Diablo 4 has overhauled glyph progression, streamlining the process from Nightmare Dungeons to Pit runs. Glyphs in the Pit can level faster based on the tier difference between your Pit level and the glyph's current level, accelerating your progression. Every 20-level difference in the Pit provides an additional upgrade bonus, allowing low-leveled glyphs to catch up more quickly.

Final Tips for Torment Progression

Prepare Your Build: Ensure your build is optimized for both offense and defense. Increasingly higher Torment levels will strain resistances and armor, so skills or gear that bolster these areas are essential. Equip yourself with Diablo 4 Items from MMOexp.

Optimize Your Resources: Keep Artificer's Stones stocked by regularly participating in events that reward them. Without these, you won't be able to enter the Pit and progress further in Torment levels.

Focus on Efficiency: Complete runs as quickly as possible to unlock more tiers and increase your Torment levels. Consider experimenting with different builds or tactics if your current setup feels too slow.

With these steps and preparation, you'll be on your way to mastering the Torment difficulties, collecting powerful rewards, and pushing the boundaries of your Diablo 4 experience. Good luck, and may the Pit reveal its most potent treasures to you!

MMOexp Diablo 4 Team