Diablo IV’s First Season, Season of the Malignant, Begins July 20
The highly anticipated first season of Diablo IV is set to launch on July 20, and it’s known as the Season of the Malignant. Blizzard recently showcased a new trailer and provided insights on the upcoming content update in a livestream event.
A New Questline to Confront Corruption
The Season of the Malignant introduces a brand new questline that takes place after the main campaign. In this storyline, players will face the Malignant Monsters, terrifying creatures born from Lilith’s corruption, who are wreaking havoc on Sanctuary. To combat this blight, players will team up with Cormond, a former priest, to locate and eliminate the source of this corruption.
New Powers and Challenges
Defeating these creatures grants players the ability to harness their corrupted hearts and unleash new powers. There are a total of 30 Malignant abilities that players can acquire, and these powers can be imbued into Rings and Amulets. Additionally, a new boss named Varshan the Consumed awaits challengers. Alongside these exciting additions, players can earn six new Unique items and seven Legendary aspects. Moreover, a Mastery title and a Scroll of Amnesia, which offers a free reset for the Skill Tree and Paragon Board, are up for grabs as well.
Entering the Eternal Realm
To participate in the new season, players must create a fresh seasonal character. Starting off at Level 1, these characters will carry over all Renown progress, Altars of Lilith benefits, and unlocked mounts. When the season concludes, all characters will be transferred to the Eternal Realm, granting permanent access to them. However, certain seasonal features, such as the Malignant Hearts collected from fallen monsters, will disappear at the end of the event. This seasonal experience welcomes experienced players to experiment with new builds and classes, thanks to the extensive customization options offered by Blizzard. Newcomers can also embark on adventures in the seasonal realms while simultaneously progressing through the main campaign.
The Season Journey and Battle Pass
The Season Journey unfolds across multiple chapters, each featuring specific objectives. By completing these objectives and simply playing the game, players can earn Favor, which advances the battle pass. The battle pass consists of 90 tiers, including 27 free tiers where all players can earn Season Boosts to speed up their progression. For those who want more, the Premium track offers 63 paid tiers that include exclusive cosmetics. Optional tier skips are also available for purchase. As players progress through the battle pass, they will earn Smoldering Ashes, a special currency that can be used to obtain Season Blessings. These blessings provide additional bonuses to seasonal characters throughout the entire season, such as increased XP gain or higher chances of finding better salvage materials.
If you want to dive deeper into the Season of the Malignant, be sure to visit Blizzard’s blog post. And for more insights on Diablo IV, don’t miss our comprehensive review.