General News

No matter which Season you're playing in Diablo II Resurrected, if your goal is to amass resources quickly, Gold Find Barbarian stands as one of the simplest and most efficient approaches available.

GF Barbarian remains a Tier S build in Season 13 as well, though its strength doesn't lie in raw damage output. Instead, it excels at generating more gems, gold, jewels, and High Runes from every farming run you complete.

Attribute Allocation

This build is tailored specifically for running Travincal. The area layout is fixed, allowing you to defeat Council members and exit swiftly - typically within three to five minutes per run.

The attribute distribution is straightforward: invest only enough Strength and Dexterity to equip your gear. Do not assign any points to Energy. Every remaining point goes directly into Vitality.

Your character must survive long enough to support the mercenary, who serves as the true damage dealer responsible for eliminating all monsters. Your role is to apply War Cries and provide backup. High Life is therefore essential.

At the same time, you should aim to cap all resistances, with particular emphasis on fire resistance. The creatures in Travincal summon Hydras that bombard you with Firebolts, and having excellent fire resistance dramatically improves your survivability.

Skill Distribution

The majority of your skill points go into Warcries tree, with supplementary points in Combat Masteries. You can leave Combat Skills tree entirely untouched.

Combat Masteries

• Increased Stamina: 1 point
• Increased Speed: 1 point
• Iron Skin: 1 point
• Natural Resistance: Invest enough points to reach the resistance cap, especially for fire.

Warcries

• Howl: 1 point
• Taunt: 1 point
• Battle Cry: 5 points
• War Cry: Max out, and the skill can stun enemies.
• Battle Command: 1 point
• Battle Orders: Max out. Grants bonus Life and Mana, significantly boosting survivability.
• Shout: Max out. Increases defense, protecting you from incoming attacks.
• Find Potion: 3 points (serves as a synergy for Find Item, adding 1% chance per level).
• Find Item: Allocate 13 points. This skill has diminishing returns, and around 13 points offers the optimal balance.

Your core combat loop involves casting Battle Command, Battle Orders, and Shout to buff yourself and your mercenary. Then use War Cry to stun enemies. Once the mercenary secures the kills, swap weapons and use Find Item to scavenge additional drops from the corpses.

Gear Selection

Your equipment should balance Gold Find, Magic Find (MF), and survivability. You will also need two weapon setups for different situations.

Secondary Weapons

Equip two Heart of the Oak flails. You use this set to cast your War Cries and Find Item, as they provide a substantial boost to skill levels.

Upon entering Travincal, switch to these weapons first to apply all your buff shouts. After the monsters are slain, swap back to this setup to use Find Item.

Primary Weapons

For your primary weapons, use two Crystal Swords socketed with Lem runes. Each sword provides a significant bonus to gold drops. With a fully geared setup, your gold drop bonus can reach approximately 2000%, alongside 214% Magic Find. While your mercenary is attacking, you can switch to this weapon set and continue stunning enemies or simply gather the gold as it falls.

Armor

• Helmet: Immortal King's Will, socketed with two Lem runes to enhance gold drops.
• Amulet: A crafted amulet with bonuses to gold drops is an excellent choice.
• Rings: Two Dwarf Star rings. These provide Fire Absorb.
• Gloves: Chance Guards.
• Belt: A rare belt with Magic Find, gold drop bonuses, and resistances.
• Boots: Rare boots also prioritizing Magic Find, gold drop bonuses, and resistances.
• Charms: Stock up on Grand Charms and Small Charms that offer gold drop bonuses and resistances.

Mercenary Configuration

The mercenary is the heart of this build. He must be able to survive and kill efficiently in Travincal. Aim for maximum resistances, Life Steal, and high damage. He will struggle to stay alive early on without adequate gear.

Weapon

You can use an Ethereal War Pike as the base to create either Breath of the Dying or Fortitude. Breath of the Dying is generally preferred here, as it provides high damage and Life Steal. The faster your mercenary attacks, the more frequently he leeches life, increasing his durability.

Helmet

Crown of Thieves or Andariel's Visage are both viable. Crown of Thieves offers more Life Steal, while Andariel's Visage boosts attack speed and skill levels. Note that Andariel's Visage imposes a 30% penalty to fire resistance, so you'll need to socket it with a jewel that provides fire resistance to offset this drawback.

Body Armor

Choose Fortitude if survivability is a concern, and it provides high defense, enhanced damage, and bonus Life. If you have already resolved survival issues, opt for Wealth, which provides additional GF and MF.

Ideally, your mercenary should have capped resistances - especially fire - to withstand the relentless Hydra barrages. After buffs are applied, a well-geared mercenary can reach roughly 22,000 Defense, 9,000 Damage, and 5,000 Life.

Special Enemies

Conviction Aura

When a monster spawns with a Conviction Aura, it drastically lowers your resistances and can lead to an instant demise from Hydra fire. If you spot Conviction aura, exit the area immediately without hesitation.

Physical Immune

If you encounter a Physical Immune monster, your mercenary cannot harm it. There is no need to restart the game - simply move past that specific enemy and clear the rest of Council members. It poses little threat to you otherwise.

Returns Per Run

After your mercenary eliminates a pack of monsters, switch back to Heart of the Oak and use Find Item on the corpses. There is a chance to uncover additional Diablo II Resurrected runes, gold, gems, jewels and even magical items from the remains.

Each Travincal run generally takes between three and five minutes. You can obtain roughly 310,000 gold per run, along with Small Charms and other assorted loot. Over time, you will accumulate a significant collection of High Runes, jewels, and gold.

GF Barbarian is among the most relaxed farming builds in Diablo II Resurrected. While repeatedly running Travincal can become somewhat monotonous, it enables you to stockpile gear and resources quickly. Should you ever decide to play a different class, having this foundation makes the entire journey considerably smoother.

Since the launch of Season 3 on April 2, the sheer volume of new content made it difficult to entirely avoid the emergence of new bugs.

Consequently, CoD Black Ops 7 has already released three global patches, the most recent of which was deployed just yesterday, April 14.

The first two S3 patches were released on April 9 and April 10, respectively. Notably, the April 9 update also coincided with the launch of a pilot program for new accessibility features within the game.

In this article, based on the game's current state, we will walk you through the details of the latest patch as well as the accessibility features introduced via Cephable platform.

April 14 patch notes content

This global patch primarily focuses on fixing bugs related to the game's Challenge system, as well as issues within Multiplayer and Zombies modes.

General challenge bugs

Challenges are not, strictly speaking, a standalone game mode; rather, they serve as specific objectives set for you across Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies modes, offering rewards upon completion.

Building upon this system, if you reach Level 55 while at Prestige 10, you attain the rank of Prestige Master. Subsequently, for every 100 levels you advance, you can unlock exclusive, high-tier titles by completing specific challenges.

However, prior to the April 14 update, a bug existed where the level requirements displayed for these titles were incorrect; fortunately, this issue has now been resolved.

Multiplayer Mode bug fixes

As one of the core modes of BO7, Multiplayer features a rich array of content and mechanics, which naturally leads to a higher potential for bugs. We have listed the fixes below:

Map Bugs:

• Fixed an issue on Plaza map that could result in unexpected interruptions to a player's line of sight.
• Fixed an issue on Abyss map where using a Tactical Insertion could cause the player to respawn outside the playable area.

Gameplay Bugs:

• Fixed an issue where using a specific device could cause the game timer to pause or prevent the player from dropping the device.
• Fixed an issue where players might be unable to load into Training Course.

Scorestreak Bugs:

• Fixed an issue where Ion Core failed to track XP progression toward its Overclock level.
• Fixed an issue where calling in EMP Systems could unexpectedly result in the player's death.

Challenge Bugs:

• Fixed an issue where Strider 300 base camo challenge was not properly registering one-shot kills.

Stability Bugs:

• Implemented general stability improvements, and focus on resolving crashes that could occur in private matches after playing multiple consecutive matches.

Following the release of the aforementioned optimizations, whether you are engaging in live combat in Multiplayer mode or honing your combat skills in Black Ops 7 Bot Lobbies, you will no longer be plagued by these specific bugs.

Zombies Mode bug fixes

The bugs in this mode were primarily centered around Cursed feature. This core gameplay involves continuously unlocking and activating Relics to increase enemy difficulty and earn greater rewards.

Building upon this foundation, CoD: Black Ops 7 subsequently introduced Cursed Public Matches, expanding access to all players following the launch of Season 3.

With an increase in player participation, the emergence of new issues was inevitable; fortunately, the following bugs have now been resolved:

• Fixed an issue where Relics were not displayed in Pause Menu during Public Matches.
• Fixed an issue preventing players from enabling Squad Fill within Cursed Standard or Cursed Survival playlists.

What are accessibility updates?

Whether intended to accommodate disabled players who require specialized external devices to play CoD BO7, or simply to enhance the game's technological sophistication, the introduction of accessibility features represents a valuable endeavor.

Consequently, Black Ops 7 previously launched a free accessibility pilot program, officially opening access to Cephable platform on April 9, 2026, as the primary method of implementation.

More specifically, this platform allows you to download and utilize Cephable app on your PC or other devices, enabling you to control the game using non-traditional inputs, such as voice commands, facial expressions, and physical movements.

However, given the current state of technology, while this method is capable of generating input signals functionally equivalent to those of a mouse-and-keyboard or controller setup, the additional processing and relay stages involved inevitably result in input latency during actual gameplay.

Therefore, if you wish to experiment with this feature in BO7, it is advisable to avoid using it in highly competitive game modes, as doing so could lead to unnecessary disadvantages.

How to use this feature?

If you are interested and unconcerned by the current technical limitations, the first step is to download Cephable app on your PC or mobile device. Once installed, link your game account to the app, and then simply complete the necessary custom configuration settings to get started.

Of course, in addition to being potentially unpolished, new technologies can sometimes inadvertently pave the way for new methods of cheating.

While it may be impossible to eliminate cheating entirely, the development team remains steadfast in its commitment to combating such behavior, ensuring that accessibility features do not become a breeding ground for cheaters.

Currently, features of this type have not yet been widely incorporated into the development plans of most games; however, following Call of Duty Black Ops 7, there will undoubtedly be new pioneers exploring this space.

In fact, this represents more than just an advancement in gaming technology, making it possible to provide greater accessibility for those unable to play due to physiological reasons, it also reflects a deep sense of humanistic care.

We hope the information provided here proves helpful as you continue to enjoy Black Ops 7: Season 3! Thank you for reading.

Recently, the developers released a blue post announcing restrictions on boosting runs in WoW TBC Classic Anniversary, along with adjustments to loot drop rules based on party composition. Initially, players believed these changes only affected Outland dungeons in TBC, but after community testing, it turned out the impact was far broader and deeper than expected.

Several high-level Classic dungeons, such as Stratholme and Scholomance, have also been caught in this adjustment. Many players are concerned about exactly how this mechanism works and what it means for the in-game economy. Let's break down the actual changes based on player testing.

Loot Reduction

The early community consensus is that high-level dungeons like Stratholme and Scholomance have seen a roughly 15–20% reduction in loot output.

Stratholme

Through repeated runs in Stratholme, players have found that raw gold from a single run has dropped by about 3 to 5 gold. Junk item drops have also been significantly reduced - after the change, you need about two full runs before it's worth selling off the grey items. Based on an efficient farming route, the estimated hourly income loss is around 50 WoW TBC Classic Anniversary gold.

Scholomance

Some players have also tested Scholomance, and the results differ from Stratholme.

First, when clearing the dungeon solo, the raw gold per run remains around 10 gold - roughly the same as before the change. This suggests that Scholomance's raw gold drops haven't been cut as noticeably as Stratholme's.

However, the drop rate of the key consumable Dark Rune has taken a disastrous hit, averaging only about 2 per run, far below previous levels. Dark Rune is a consumable that restores mana; it is extremely popular and valuable in WoW Classic 20th Anniversary. While an alternative, Demonic Rune, exists, its drop rate is much lower than Dark Rune's, and competition for it in the open world is fierce.

In addition, the number of green-quality items per run has dropped significantly, from 5 to 6 pieces to far fewer, and the amount of Runecloth collected per run has also plummeted from about 80 bolts.

Eligibility Mechanism

The key to this update is not a simple nerf to drops, but a new loot eligibility system based on combat state.

Basic Rule

Every character entering a dungeon must directly enter combat with each slain monster to gain looting rights, XP, and reputation rewards from that monster. Simply being in the party or inside the instance is nowhere near enough.

Support Actions Don't Work

Many players assumed support actions would count, but testing has proven otherwise. Even if a shaman drops Windfury Totem for a warrior, as long as the shaman themselves never damages a monster nor is attacked by one, they are not considered to have entered combat. After the monster dies, only the warrior sees the loot. Whether the shaman stands right next to the farmer or sits at a distance drinking to restore mana, they won't be counted as being in combat.

How to Enter Combat State?

Even though the requirement has become stricter, there are still several reliable ways to pull support characters into combat.

Buff Spells

Casting a buff on a character who is already fighting immediately brings the caster into combat, even at maximum range.

Direct Attacks

Hitting a monster with a ranged weapon or a melee attack also puts you into combat. However, note that you must land a hit on every single monster in that pull. If a mage pulls 10 monsters and only attacks one, they will only get experience and looting rights for that one monster - the other nine remain irrelevant to them.

AoE Threat skills

For warriors, using area threat abilities like Demoralizing Shout can effectively bind every monster affected by the skill to the warrior.

Changes to Boosting Methods

Players always have more clever ideas than the developers. This change essentially ends AFK boosting - the new mechanism requires the boosted characters to take active actions to enter combat with each wave of monsters. Still, certain classes can find ways to be boosted.

• For healers and support classes, it's very simple: just cast a low-rank heal or buff on the booster once.
• For melee classes and those without supportive abilities, it becomes much harder. They may need to rely on thrown weapons, explosives, or various scrolls to tag each monster individually.

While technical boosting still exists, its efficiency and entry barrier have changed dramatically. New boosting advertisements have already appeared in the game, but they demand more gold and clearly state non-AFK.

Wider Impact

Worse still, this change does not seem limited to dungeons. Some players have reported that when duo-questing in the open world, if one player never attacks a particular monster, that monster drops no loot for the non-attacker.

Another player reported that during a raid, the group could not assign an epic item to a paladin. The reason? The paladin had spent the entire boss fight drinking at the back to restore mana, never dealing any damage to the boss. These cases suggest that the new loot allocation mechanism may have been added to all aspects of the game.

This change appears to punish ordinary players and solo gold farmers far more than the core problem it was supposedly aimed at - bots. It reduces legitimate players' gold income, yet fails to effectively curb the flood of automation scripts. Instead, it may push more players into open-world resource nodes already occupied by bots, intensifying competition and the risk of being falsely reported.

The developers' intentions may have been good, but they gave no advance notice to players about such a major change - it went live just hours after the announcement. If the developers do not revert it, this could become the worst change in WoW TBC Anniversary so far.

Many items in Terraria are difficult to obtain, often requiring players to defeat large bosses. Some are extremely rare, with a drop rate of less than 0.1%, meaning they are highly valuable.

These rare items can only be obtained through a significant investment of time, effort, and luck. Of course, some rare items may be unobtainable even with considerable effort.

Below, we've listed these popular items for 2026 in order of drop rate. Seize the opportunity; these items might be the hidden treasures in your inventory!

• Slime Staff
• Amber Mosquito
• Coin Gun
• Biome Keys
• Bladed Glove
• Anti-Gravity Hook
• Money Trough
• Reindeer Bells
• Tattered Bee Wing
• Terragrim
• Blessed Apple

Slime Staff - Light Red Rarity Drop Rate: 0.01% – 1.4%

Slime Staff is an item that summons a small Slime to fight alongside the player. Although the small Slime may not look like much, it is a capable and beneficial follower that can provide a significant advantage to the player.

While Slimes are the most abundant and common enemies in Terraria, Slime Staff has the lowest drop rate in the game, making it the rarest. The best chance for players to obtain it is during Slime Rain.

Amber Mosquito - Orange Rarity Drop Rate: 0.01% – 0.027%

Amber Mosquito is an item that summons a Baby Dinosaur. Like other pets, the pterosaur will chase the player if they run too far, and will even drag them along with its tail while the player is flying or has strayed a considerable distance.

Amber Mosquito can be obtained by placing Desert Fossils, Slush, or Silt into Extractinator.

Coin Gun - Light Purple Rarity Drop Rate: 0.0125% – 0.25%

Coin Gun is a high-value and useful weapon that uses coins earned by the player during their journey. The more valuable the coins, the more powerful the weapon.

Coin Gun can be obtained during Pirate Invasion and is dropped by all enemies except Parrots. However, its drop rate is still very low.

Biome Keys - Yellow Rarity Drop Rate: 0.04%

Biome Keys are items used to open Biome Chests. Regardless of which Biome Keys the player obtains, Biome Chests will reward them with a legendary weapon to fight enemies. 

Biome Chests are located in the labyrinthine tunnels of Dungeon, with six in total, each corresponding to a different biome.

Bladeed Glove - Green Rarity Drop Rate: 0.05%

Bladed Glove is a pre-Hardmode broadsword. Many players might find this item weak, given its significantly lower damage compared to other pre-Hardmode weapons. However, Bladed Glove is the second fastest melee weapon in the game, boasting impressive DPS.

Note that Bladed Glove not only has a low drop rate but is also only obtainable during Halloween season event. Obtaining this item requires defeating weak enemies, which becomes even more difficult in Hardmode.

Anti-Gravity Hook - Lime Rarity Drop Rate: 0.13%

Anti-Gravity Hook is obtained from late-Hardmore and can only be found in Martian Madness event. Even so, players still need to defeat a considerable number of enemies there, as Martian Saucer has only a 1/800 chance of dropping it.

It's worth mentioning that this hook is very convenient for fast movement and can also reach tricky areas. It launches three independent hooks, each reaching 31.25 blocks.

Money Trough - Orange Rarity Drop Rate: 0.5% – 1%

Money Trough is an item that summons a piggy bank to store money and other valuables, ensuring their safety if the player dies or if others take them without permission.

Players can obtain this portable storage item by defeating Blood Zombies, Dripplers, Wandering Eye Fish, and Zombie Merman, which appear during Blood Moon. While Money Trough won't follow the player, it can be resummoned at any time.

Reindeer Bells - Yellow Rarity Drop Rate: 0.56% – 0.83%

Reindeer Bells are the first Terraria item that allows you to summon a mount. Although it's an early item for many, it still holds significant value.

Players can obtain Reindeer Bells by defeating Ice Queen, one of the most challenging side bosses in Frost Moon event, who appears starting from wave 15.

Tattered Bee Wing - Pink Rarity Drop Rate: 0.67%

Tattered Bee Wings are primarily used to craft Bee Wings. With these wings, players can complete quests very easily and precisely.

It's worth noting that Tattered Bee Wing only appears in Hardmode, making it highly risky to obtain, but the rewards are extremely generous. In Hardmode, go to Underground Jungle and fight Moss Hornets; with luck, you'll obtain it.

Terragrim - Green Rarity Drop Rate: 2%

Terragrim is a pre-Hardmode melee weapon that can quickly defeat most enemies. Players can obtain Terragrim from swords found in stones; these swords appear in Enchanted Sword Shrine, and very rarely in caves.

Blessed Apple - Yellow Rarity Drop Rate: 2.5% – 3.33%

Blessed Apple is an item that summons a Unicorn mount. Unicorn mounts are extremely fast and powerful, using their powerful horns to damage enemies they touch, making them a very worthwhile mount to acquire. Players must defeat Unicorns to obtain it.

These are some of the rare items worth obtaining in Terraria in 2026. Players will need not only a lot of time but also a lot of luck. Good luck!

Torchlight Infinite SS12 Lunaria officially launches on April 16 at 7 PM PDT. As always, this season is packed with content. In addition to balance adjustments and a new seasonal mechanic, we're also getting a brand-new hero.

Let's take a brief look at what Lunaria Season has to offer - its core mechanic, the new hero, and various balance changes across the board.

New Mechanic

Lunaria

The essence of Lunaria mechanic involves using a harp-like device within maps to shatter and awaken slumbering monsters, then dispatching them. It feels somewhat like a fusion of Expedition and Legion from Path of Exile.

As you navigate the area, you strum statues of enemies, causing them to animate into actual foes. Defeating them yields loot. More importantly, you gain a small amount of energy, allowing you to continue moving forward and repeat the cycle.

Creation Engine

Strictly speaking, Lunaria Season doesn't feature just one mechanic - it also introduces a new system separate from the seasonal mechanic called Creation Engine. Activating a Creation Engine in a map spawns crystals and enemies. Defeating foes charges the crystals, which then drop loot. The baseline rewards appear modest, but they scale significantly when combined with the talent tree and compasses.

As a new permanent core mechanic, it's similar to Cages in that it lacks an exclusive seasonal pet. That means it's either exceptionally friendly to free-to-play users or the complete opposite.

Vorax

Vorax gameplay from SS11 is moving into the core pool. This monster-hunting mechanic incorporates strategic elements and is quite engaging, though its transition to core brings some adjustments.

Vorax now has its own talent tree, and certain powerful card values have been reined in. The most notable change, however, is that acquiring Ultimate Potions is now semi-scripted. This means that once you secure a critical potion, you'll have much greater control over the flow of battle.

A significant nerf is that equipment obtained from Vorax can now only carry legendary affixes sourced from the same legendary item. Previously, you could merge affixes from two different legendaries onto a single piece of gear. Now, even with two affix slots available, they must originate from the same item. You can still transfer affixes to different equipment slots, but only multiple affixes from a single legendary item can be moved.

Scent Weaver | Sage

Sage is a fully independent hero. Her core playstyle revolves around Elixirs - a new skill form reworked from recovery skills and certain enhancement skills. Elixirs possess charges and occupy a skill slot. Sage specializes in empowering Elixirs and granting them additional effects. For example, her level 50 unlock, Scent Bottle, can bestow a combined offensive and defensive boost to an Elixir in a designated slot.

That said, Sage is not an ideal league starter. The primary reason is that most Elixirs seen so far lean defensive and lack offensive punch. During the early push into harder content, damage output is paramount, and she feels somewhat lacking in that department. She does have potential in the later stages, so it's recommended to revisit her after you've accumulated some currency.

Character and Skill Adjustments

Divineshot Carino | Lethal Flash

Previously, this hero was restricted to shotgun-style skills, limiting flexibility. After the rework, Lethal Flash is more versatile and no longer forced into specific mechanics. While the original shotgun bonuses have been removed, the base effect now directly provides 50% more damage and +2 to projectile skill levels.

It also introduces intriguing interactions, such as sacrificing projectile range for massive damage multipliers and Fortitude effects, or even enabling projectiles to bounce off the ground. Regarding the interplay between projectile speed and reload speed, early analysis suggests Carino 2 could very well spawn some top-tier, high-powered builds.

Chromatic Shot

The reworked Chromatic Shot skill is now restricted to elemental damage only, removing physical and corrosion components. Scaling it has become considerably simpler. The mechanic resembles Elemental Hit from Path of Exile, forcibly converting all damage into a random single element. Base damage has increased by roughly 40%, and a small explosion effect has been added. Note that it now carries Area tag, allowing it to benefit from a wider array of support gems.

The addition of Lightchaser (Magnificent) and Chromatic Shot: Splendor (Noble) is also crucial, greatly enhancing projectile tracking and target seeking, resulting in remarkably swift clearing capabilities.

Modalizations

For summoner enthusiasts, Modalizations mechanic has been introduced. Similar to Spectres in Path of Exile, players can defeat specific bosses and bind them, turning them into personal minions. These boss summons boast devastating area skills and impressive potency.

Ill Omen

The developers felt that DoT builds were not crisp enough when clearing packs, so they introduced Ill Omen mechanic. When you inflict DoT on a target, Ill Omen will eventually lop off a substantial portion of its life. It's important to note, however, that the former Reap Purification has been removed from the talent tree and relocated to hero memories obtainable much later in progression.

This means DoT builds have lost a key support tool. Furthermore, Ill Omen effects must be triggered by curse skills from Ominous line, delivering a heavy blow to DoT archetypes.

Renewed Memory

Every season brings a mechanism to inflate character power, and in SS12 it's Renewed Memory. In simple terms, you can enhance your hero memories using special items earned during the season. Enhancement methods include:

• Adding a special random affix to the random affix pool.
• Increasing base stat values.
• Raising the tier of inherent affixes.
• Adding an extra Revived affix. Using Lunar Phase materials grants a chance to directionally add a Revived affix.

The final method has a success rate of only 20%. If it fails (an 80% chance), your memory is not destroyed but becomes character-bound and untradable.

Given that high-quality memories are already exceedingly rare, and now they carry an 80% risk of becoming bound, it's foreseeable that these memories will carry astronomical value in the new season. If you're planning a build around such affixes, you might need plenty of Torchlight Infinite Flame Elementium.

Overall, the content volume this season is quite substantial. Even if Lunaria Season mechanic doesn't fully capture your interest, the Vorax core integration should keep you thoroughly engaged for the entire season. Pick your favorite build and get ready to dive in.

As a core component of MLB The Show 26, all programs can be broadly categorized into long-term, seasonal, and special event types, a classification designed to help you effectively plan your strategy for earning rewards.

Building on this framework, Multiplayer Program, one of the game's seasonal offerings, received its very first update just yesterday!

Multiplayer Program 1, which launched alongside MLB The Show 26, has now concluded; you can now begin working toward earning the rewards offered in Multiplayer Program 2!

In this guide, we will walk you through the missions and rewards featured in Multiplayer Program 2, helping you determine whether it is worth your time and outlining the most effective strategies for playing through it.

Multiplayer Program 2 duration

This program went live on April 14th. While an exact end date has not yet been confirmed, it is expected to follow the same monthly cycle as Multiplayer Program 1, concluding in mid-May, at which point the third installment in the series will probably launch to take its place.

How to complete this program?

Multiplayer Program 2 consists of 18 specific missions, each tied directly to the game's Multiplayer modes, hence the name of this program series.

Multiplayer experience centers around Diamond Dynasty, with specific sub-categories including Ranked Seasons (1v1, 2v2, 3v3), Battle Royale, Events, and more.

The 18 missions require you to complete specific objectives while playing through these various modes.

Upon completing each mission, you will earn a designated amount of XP; as your total XP accumulates and reaches new thresholds, you will unlock the corresponding rewards.

Below is a complete list of all missions included in Multiplayer Program 2. To avoid unnecessary frustration, it is highly recommended that you complete them sequentially, one by one.

• Capture 50 bases in any Multiplayer mode - 5K XP
• Capture 100 bases in any Multiplayer mode - 5K XP
• Capture 200 bases in any Multiplayer mode - 10K XP
• Capture 400 bases in any Multiplayer mode - 15K XP
• Record 10 strikeouts in any Multiplayer mode - 5K XP
• Record 25 strikeouts in any Multiplayer mode - 5K XP
• Record 50 strikeouts in any Multiplayer mode - 10K XP
• Record 100 strikeouts in any Multiplayer mode - 15K XP
• Hit 5 home runs in any Multiplayer mode - 5K XP
• Hit 15 home runs in any Multiplayer mode - 5K XP
• Hit 26 home runs in any Multiplayer mode - 10K XP
• Earn 15,000 PXP in any Multiplayer mode - 5K XP
• Earn 30,000 PXP in any Multiplayer mode - 5K XP
• Earn 50,000 PXP in any Multiplayer mode - 10K XP
• Earn 70,000 PXP in any Multiplayer mode - 20K XP
• Capture bases 15 times in Battle Royale - 5K XP
• Record 5 extra-base hits in Battle Royale - 5K XP
• Record 5 wins in a single Battle Royale run - 10K XP

All Multiplayer Program 2 rewards

This program features a total of 25 rewards, comprising various types such as stubs, card packs, specific player cards, and in-game XP.

Among these, MLB 26 stubs as the most versatile reward, the total number is 8.2K. You must earn at least 23 of the available rewards to collect the full amount.

Below is a list of all rewards and the program XP required to unlock them (listed in ascending order):

• 5,000 XP - World Baseball Classic Gold Player
• 10,000 XP - Craig Kimbrel
• 15,000 XP - The Show Pack x5
• 20,000 XP - Headliners Pack - Random
• 25,000 XP - 1,500 Stubs
• 30,000 XP - Deluxe Pack
• 35,000 XP - Gerrit Cole
• 40,000 XP - The Show Pack x5
• 45,000 XP - 1,500 Stubs
• 50,000 XP - Item Ivy
• 55,000 XP - Deluxe Pack (Random)
• 60,000 XP - Eddie Murray
• 65,000 XP - Ballin' is a Habit Pack
• 70,000 XP - 20,000 XP
• 75,000 XP - The Show Pack x5
• 80,000 XP - Deluxe Pack (Random)
• 85,000 XP - Jose Altuve
• 90,000 XP - Ballin' is a Habit Pack
• 95,000 XP - 2,500 Stubs
• 100,000 XP - 20,000 XP
• 110,000 XP - Premier Pack (Random)
• 120,000 XP - Anthony Santander
• 130,000 XP - 3,000 Stubs
• 140,000 XP - 20,000 XP
• 150,000 XP - The Show Pack x50

Combined, all the above rewards are worth at least 501.7K in MLB The Show 26; to unlock them all, you will need to earn 90K Program XP within a single month!

Reward value analysis

XP and stub rewards require no further explanation. As for the card packs, since the cards obtained from them are randomized, it is difficult to conduct an in-depth analysis; therefore, our evaluation will focus primarily on the specific player card rewards.

All rewards within Multiplayer Program 2 include five player cards: All-Star Craig Kimbrel, Gerrit Cole, and Eddie Murray; Postseason José Altuve; and Awards Anthony Santander.

Since these rewards are tied to specific XP requirements, meaning you can earn them simply by putting in the effort to play the game, there is absolutely no reason to miss out!

Furthermore, the card lineup is well-balanced, featuring a mix of elite pitchers and reliable power hitters; this allows you greater flexibility to optimize and enhance your existing roster by adding these players.

Moreover, as you work toward earning these rewards, you will naturally become more familiar with the gameplay mechanics of all multiplayer modes, an experience that will prove invaluable when you participate in future related programs.

That wraps up all the information regarding Multiplayer Program 2. Keep in mind that other programs are likely running concurrently within MLB 26, so be sure not to overlook those either!

Although ARC Raiders has released several new map events through monthly updates over recent months, these changes were ultimately temporary alterations to the existing environment, a far cry from the experience of stepping into a brand-new map.

However, according to the original Escalation roadmap, Riven Tides update, scheduled for release in late April, will introduce a new map. Moreover, it is highly likely to feature a beach-themed setting, distinct from any of the maps currently in the game!

Typically, ARC Raiders only reveals new content a few days prior to an update's release via short teaser trailers. This time, however, if you are subscribed to their mailing list, you received an exclusive early look at a teaser containing images showcasing the new Riven Tides map!

But even if you aren't subscribed, don't worry; we're here to walk you through these images and the rest of the email's contents, while analyzing the many hidden details tucked within them.

Email content overview

If you received the email, you would have noticed the internal header titled "Field Observation 001." It contains a block of text resembling an operational log, accompanied by two images captioned "Exodus Hotel" and "Interior Wrecked."

Exodus Hotel image depicts a dilapidated resort named Panorama Azzurro, featuring palm trees flanking its entrance. Extending upward from the hotel's signage is a zipline; its ultimate destination remains a mystery.

Interior Wrecked image showcases a ruin rendered in a predominantly dark-yellowish palette, with what appears to be a broken robot situated in the center of the frame. On the wall behind it, a large graffiti tag reads "Bardi", it means liar.

In fact, by cross-referencing this with other information already released regarding Riven Tides, it becomes clear that this new map is likely centered around a large seaside hotel, a concept that aligns perfectly with Exodus Hotel imagery.

The text log indicates that the observer conducted their search at 6:06 PM, focusing on the hotel's exterior and interior. The grid ref is marked as tagged, and the content of the reporting scout has been redacted.

Additional details include the hotel's name (Panorama Azzurro), listed with a status of standby, along with a personal commentary from the observer.

This commentary mentions NPC Shani, notes the current state of utter decay at the old resort, and points out the presence of a nearby tennis court.

Based on this evidence, Exodus Hotel is likely the designated name for a specific POI on the new map, and perhaps even the map's central focal point. Though it is clearly in a state of decline, it has not yet completely collapsed.

The image depicting the ruins seems to foreshadow an ominous atmosphere, perhaps serving as a narrative foundation for the game's broader lore, offering you deeper insights into the history of the conflict between humanity and ARC.

A deep dive into the teaser

Beyond the content revealed in the new emails, and by cross-referencing it with the descriptions accompanying the previous Riven Tides background art, a detailed analysis allows for some intriguing speculation.

First, located in the southwest corner of the world map, are several sticky notes. Based on the fragmented information scribbled on them, one can surmise that the landscape showcased in the teaser differs significantly from the area's original appearance.

Furthermore, some of these notes specifically reference Room 204 of Panorama Azzurro Hotel, while the final note even marks the precise location of the coastline.

If you scrutinize the background image from the previously released Escalation roadmap, you can also spot several Raiders, a scattering of sand dunes, and a concrete road that appears to have been toppled by the wind, with various metal structures visible in the distance.

Another source of visual information comes from a concept art piece released recently. It depicts a new layout situated by the sea, a fortified stronghold resembling a small town, which presents a stylistic departure from the earlier background images.

This discrepancy leads to two potential hypotheses regarding the final appearance of the new map: will it retain its coastal aesthetic, or has it been largely engulfed by sand dunes due to some unforeseen event?

Regardless, one thing remains certain: Panorama Azzurro Hotel will probably serve as the central hub of the map. Upon release, it is bound to house numerous rare containers and locked rooms, offering ample opportunities to scavenge for valuable ARC Raiders blueprints.

Further predictions for other Riven Tides content

Over the next two weeks, leading up to the official launch of Riven Tides, ARC Raiders is expected to release a series of additional official trailers. These trailers will probably not only offer further glimpses of the new map but also introduce other upcoming content.

As of now, it is confirmed that, in addition to the new map, Riven Tides update will introduce new environmental conditions and massive ARC units, while simultaneously opening the launch window for Expedition 3.

Given that the development team previously stated this could be the most substantial update ARC Raiders receives in the first half of 2026, the final scope of actual content may extend far beyond these confirmed features; the introduction of new projects or even new weaponry remains a distinct possibility.

After all, the initial roadmap for Flashpoint update did not explicitly mention the addition of new weapons; yet, the end result allows you to now fully enjoy the unique combat experiences provided by Canto, Dolabra, and Surge Coil.

New map event may introduce severe weather conditions or environmental hazards, specifically those related to the ocean, depending on the theme of the update and the map itself.

As for the major ARC, it would ideally feature a style distinct from the existing Matriarch or Queen encounters in order to appeal to a broader player base.

Regarding potential new projects (should any actually materialize), and drawing parallels with the updates released in February and March, we can begin to speculate on their content once the official Riven Tides trailer is released.

Naturally, the completion process may continue to involve the phased submission of required materials.

With just two weeks remaining until the launch of Riven Tides and the opening of the deployment window for Expedition 3, be sure to make haste if you have not yet finished gathering your materials!

With Warlock being toned down, the remaining classes can finally step back into the spotlight. Although this adjustment won't take effect until Season 14 officially arrives, you might already be growing tired of Echo Strikes Warlock and feel like giving something else a spin.

What follows is a look at Poison Nova Necromancer - a build that has been a dominant force across multiple seasons. It is among S-tier builds in Diablo 2 Resurrected Season 13, boasting outstanding AoE coverage and a mix of damage types, which makes farming Terror Zones remarkably efficient.

Pros and Cons

As a time-tested classic, Poison Nova Necromancer leaves little room for doubt when it comes to reliability. Its multiple damage sources allow you to handle enemies with various immunities, while its potent AoE can wipe out large packs in an instant. Teleport lets you zip straight to the densest monster clusters, so the farming tempo stays extremely high.

That said, while Poison Nova Necromancer truly shines in the endgame, it feels noticeably weak early on - largely because the build leans heavily on having the right gear. To reach peak performance, you'll also need to master its skill rotation. You'll be juggling several abilities, so this isn't a lazy, one-button playstyle.

Skill Allocation

Start by placing a single point into each of the following skills as a foundation:

• Amplify Damage
• Lower Resist
• Bone Armor
• Skeleton Mastery
• Revive
• Golem Mastery
• Summon Resist
• Iron Golem

After that, max out the core skills in this order:

• Poison Nova
• Poison Explosion
• Poison Dagger
• Corpse Explosion

Once your character reaches level 87, leftover points can be distributed according to personal preference - into Lower Resist, Bone Wall, or Golem Mastery.

Attribute Distribution

• Strength: Invest only enough to meet your gear requirements.
• Dexterity: Put nothing here unless you intend to use Necromancer-specific shield Homunculus and aim for maximum block chance.
• Vitality: This is your primary attribute; dump all remaining points here.
• Energy: Mana issues can be handled with potions. You won't be guzzling mana constantly, so don't allocate a single point here.

Casting Breakpoints

For casting frames, the standard 75% Faster Cast Rate already feels quite smooth. If you want to push into hardcore territory, you can aim for the 125% breakpoint.

When it comes to stacking stats on gear, Faster Cast Rate is not the top priority. You'll want to chase the following affixes first:

• to All Skills
• Negative Enemy Resistances
• +% Poison Skill Damage

Poison Nova Necromancer Gear

Starter Gear

In the early stages, you won't have access to anything particularly outstanding, so swap in any better piece you come across. The items listed below are especially helpful for getting off the ground. If you'd rather not leave it entirely up to luck, you can buy IGGM Diablo 2 Resurrected Runes to put them together:

• Spirit sword
• Rhyme shield
• Stealth body armor
• Lore helm
• Any random wand or staff with +skills

Mid-Game Upgrades

In the mid-game, Trang-Oul's set provides a solid power boost. Any three-piece combination works - belt, gloves, shield, helm, or armor, pick what you like. This unlocks a 25% bonus to Poison Skill Damage and gives you that distinctive Vampire casting animation, if that aesthetic appeals to you. You'll likely still be using a Spirit sword or Blackbog's Sharp at this stage.

For armor, Skin of the Vipermagi is a strong choice. Round out the setup with rings that offer Faster Cast Rate, an amulet with +skills, and stack resistances wherever you can.

Endgame Best-in-Slot

Once you reach the endgame, the pieces you need are all highly sought-after - they are true BiS items, and missing them will leave your damage feeling noticeably gimped. Before you assemble the full set, you may want to dial down the difficulty a notch.

• Helm: Rare Circlet or Harlequin Crest
• Body Armor: Enigma / Bramble
• Gloves: Trang-Oul's Claws
• Belt: Arachnid Mesh
• Boots: War Traveler
• Amulet: Caster-crafted Amulet
• Rings: The Stone of Jordan ×2
• Charms: Prioritize +Skills, then +Life and +Vitality
• Unique Charm: Rotting Fissure
• Weapon: Death's Web
• Off-Hand: Spirit (shield)
• Weapon Swap: Call to Arms

The negative enemy resistance provided by Death's Web lets you carve through foes with ease.

For body armor, the choice comes down to Enigma or Bramble. Bramble delivers a massive boost to Poison Damage, while Enigma grants you Teleport.

On your weapon swap, you'll want Call to Arms paired with a Spirit shield. Of course, sticking with Trang-Oul's gloves and belt is perfectly fine as well. Finally, fill every empty slot in your inventory with Skillers and resistance charms.

Mercenary

For your hireling, Act II Nightmare mercenary is the go-to option. You can opt for Might aura to amplify your Corpse Explosion damage, or take Prayer aura if you don't require Meditation aura.

Gear your mercenary with:

• Treachery armor
• Vampire Gaze helm
• Insight (mid-game)
• Infinity (late-game)

Until he's equipped with Infinity, Fortitude, and Andariel's Visage, he'll drop frequently. That's fine - just keep bringing him back.

Dealing with Immune Monsters

If you run into a Poison-immune pack, you can try breaking the immunity with Lower Resist, or use a Poison Grand Charm with the ability to pierce immunities. If the immunity still holds after that, don't forget you have Corpse Explosion in your arsenal.

Against high-health monsters sporting Stone Skin affix that refuse to go down easily, you can kite them around or simply blow up the surrounding trash mobs with Corpse Explosion. Should you encounter Stygian Dolls, it's wise to keep your distance - they'll turn you into a fresh corpse in no time, and they still explode upon death, so stay well away. Overall, once you have endgame gear in place, you'll seldom find yourself in a tight spot.

Poison Nova Necromancer offers a rich toolbox of skills, and you'll need to adapt your ability usage to the situation - this isn't a build where you can turn off your brain and press a single key. The leveling journey is genuinely enjoyable, as you can feel your character gradually gaining strength with each step forward. All in all, it's a build that delivers both depth and a satisfying sense of power.

The first Monopoly Go Partners event following the launch of Monopoly Ever After album, titled Fairytale Partners, has officially begun! Over the coming week, you will need to earn enough tokens to advance your progress in this event.

The primary sources for these partner tokens are the daily events that refresh every one or two days: Banner Events and Tournaments. Of the two, banner events are particularly crucial for Fairytale Partners, as they offer a greater number of tokens.

In this guide, we will provide you with all the details regarding Porcine Parade, the latest Banner Event running concurrently with Fairytale Partners, to ensure you can secure every token it has to offer.

Porcine Parade schedule

This event kicks off on Tuesday, April 14, at 10:00 AM PT, and concludes on Thursday, April 16, at the same time, running for a total duration of two days.

During this period, Monopoly Go is also expected to launch two consecutive one-day tournaments; be sure not to miss out on participating in those as well!

How to earn Porcine Parade rewards?

This Banner Event features 62 distinct milestone rewards, each requiring you to accumulate a specific number of points to unlock. Among these rewards, 14 consist of partner tokens.

To earn points during Porcine Parade event, you must continuously advance across any of the available game boards. You will need to strategically manage your dice rolls (though this relies largely on luck) in an effort to land on the four corner tiles.

Each time you land on one of these corner tiles, you will earn points; accumulate enough points, and you can unlock the corresponding rewards.

It is worth noting that the point requirements for Banner Event rewards do not always scale in direct proportion to the milestone level.

Conveniently, if your primary goal is simply to unlock the partner token rewards, you will find that they do not require an exceptionally high number of points to obtain.

Furthermore, beyond having enough tokens, reliable teammates are crucial for completing Fairytale Partners event! So, if you haven't found suitable partners yet, it is highly recommended that you immediately buy Monopoly Go 1 to 4 Fairytale Partners slots!

Porcine Parade reward list

In order to allow you to arrange your reward acquisition plan in a more orderly manner, we have listed all Porcine Parade milestone rewards as follows:

Milestone 1-10

• Milestone 1: 5 Points; 80 Partner Tokens
• Milestone 2: 10 Points; 25 Free Dice Rolls
• Milestone 3: 15 Points; Cash Reward
• Milestone 4: 30 Points; 1x Green Sticker Pack
• Milestone 5: 50 Points; 50 Free Dice Rolls
• Milestone 6: 35 Points; 100 Partner Tokens
• Milestone 7: 35 Points; 1x Green Sticker Pack
• Milestone 8: 45 Points; 40 Free Dice Rolls
• Milestone 9: 55 Points; 140 Partner Tokens
• Milestone 10: 170 Points; 150 Free Dice Rolls

Milestone 11-20

• Milestone 11: 50 Points; Cash Boost, 10 Minutes
• Milestone 12: 50 Points; 50 Free Dice Rolls
• Milestone 13: 75 Points; 180 Partner Tokens
• Milestone 14: 100 Points; 1x Yellow Sticker Pack
• Milestone 15: 450 Points; 375 Free Dice Rolls
• Milestone 16: 75 Points; 200 Partner Tokens
• Milestone 17: 75 Points; 70 Free Dice Rolls
• Milestone 18: 100 Points; Builder's Bash, 15 Minutes
• Milestone 19: 100 Points; Cash Reward
• Milestone 20: 725 Points; 575 Free Dice Rolls

Milestone 21-30

• Milestone 21: 100 Points; 220 Partner Tokens
• Milestone 22: 125 Points; 95 Free Dice Rolls
• Milestone 23: 125 Points; Cash Reward
• Milestone 24: 125 Points; 250 Partner Tokens
• Milestone 25: 1,225 Points; 925 Free Dice Rolls
• Milestone 26: 150 Points; 1x Pink Sticker Pack
• Milestone 27: 175 Points; 260 Partner Tokens
• Milestone 28: 150 Points; Cash Reward
• Milestone 29: 800 Points; 575 Free Dice Rolls
• Milestone 30: 200 Points; 300 Partner Tokens

Milestone 31-40

• Milestone 31: 200 Points; Cash Reward
• Milestone 32: 225 Points; 150 Free Dice Rolls
• Milestone 33: 175 Points; Cash Boost, 10 Minutes
• Milestone 34: 250 Points; Cash Reward
• Milestone 35: 1,600 Points; 1,100 Free Dice Rolls
• Milestone 36: 275 Points; 350 Partner Tokens
• Milestone 37: 300 Points; 200 Free Dice Rolls
• Milestone 38: 500 Points; Cash Reward
• Milestone 39: 1,425 Points; 925 Free Dice Rolls
• Milestone 40: 350 Points; Cash Reward

Milestone 41-50

• Milestone 41: 375 Points; 380 Partner Tokens
• Milestone 42: 400 Points; Cash Reward
• Milestone 43: 2,400 Points; 1,400 Free Dice Rolls
• Milestone 44: 375 Points; Wheel Boost, 15 Minutes
• Milestone 45: 475 Points; 400 Partner Tokens
• Milestone 46: 625 Points; 350 Free Dice Rolls
• Milestone 47: 525 Points; Cash Reward
• Milestone 48: 3,200 Points; 1,650 Free Dice Rolls
• Milestone 49: 600 Points; 420 Partner Tokens
• Milestone 50: 550 Points; Mega Heist, 40 Minutes

Milestones 51-60

• Milestone 51: 700 Points; Cash Reward
• Milestone 52: 1,925 Points; 800 Free Dice Rolls
• Milestone 53: 750 Points; 500 Partner Tokens
• Milestone 54: 875 Points; 500 Free Dice Rolls
• Milestone 55: 1,000 Points; Cash Reward
• Milestone 56: 4,800 Points; 2,200 Free Dice Rolls
• Milestone 57: 550 Points; Cash Boost, 15 Minutes
• Milestone 58: 850 Points; 375 Free Dice Rolls
• Milestone 59: 1,025 Points; Cash Reward
• Milestone 60: 1,475 Points; 625 Free Dice Rolls

Milestones 61-62

• Milestone 61: 1,600 Points; Cash Rewards
• Milestone 62: 10,675 Points; 5,000 Free Dice Rolls

While tokens are a very important reward, we do not recommend that you overlook the other rewards, especially the dice (even though they require a lot of points to get!), as they will help you progress much faster in future daily events.

Other ways to obtain partner tokens (April 14-16)

In addition to the main banner event, there will be tournaments available to participate in everyday during this two-day period.

Furthermore, three Quick Win missions, which offer tokens as one of their rewards, will refresh every morning. The known missions for April 14 are:

• Pass Go 1 time: 60 Tokens
• Complete 1 Shut Down: 80 Tokens
• Land on Community Chest 1 time: 110 Tokens

The above covers all the key information you need to know to complete Porcine Parade event. If you don't want to miss out on the rewards, be sure to participate in time!

The primary value of daily events lies in the dice and tokens they provide; it is quite difficult to acquire rare stickers through them alone.

Therefore, if you want to complete your album collection while simultaneously making progress in Porcine Parade event, IGGM Monopoly Go stickers for sale are exactly what you need! If you're interested, go ahead and place an order to give it a try!

With only two weeks remaining until Diablo 4 Season 13, you might be tempted to look ahead to the new season and its upcoming expansion, foregoing the completion of Season 12.

However, building a powerful Season 12 character, and doing so without any regrets, is a rewarding endeavor in its own right.

To achieve this, continuously upgrading your gear is paramount. Once you reach the maximum level, gear, alongside your Paragon Board configuration, becomes the core factor determining your character's overall strength.

Diablo 4 offers numerous methods for enhancing your gear; among them, socketing gems into your equipment stands out as a relatively low-difficulty option that yields excellent returns.

In this guide, we will introduce you to the specific functions of these gems and the most effective ways to farm them.

What are Diablo 4 gems?

While gems are a common feature in the item systems of many ARPGs, in Diablo 4, they function specifically as magical artifacts that can be socketed directly into your gear.

There are seven distinct types of Diablo 4 gems, each type is further subdivided into five different tiers. Naturally, the higher the tier, the greater the statistical bonuses provided.

Each type of gem provides specific bonus effects depending on whether it is socketed into a weapon, armor, or jewelry slot:

(Chipped/Base/Flawless/Royal/Grand) Amethyst:

• Weapon: + Damage Over Time
• Armor: + Barrier Generation
• Jewelry: + Shadow Resistance

(Chipped/Base/Flawless/Royal/Grand) Diamond:

• Weapon: + Ultimate Damage
• Armor: + All Stats
• Jewelry: + Resistance to All Elements

(Chipped/Base/Flawless/Royal/Grand) Emerald:

• Weapon: + Critical Strike Damage
• Armor: + Dexterity
• Jewelry: + Poison Resistance

(Chipped/Base/Flawless/Royal/Grand) Ruby:

• Weapon: + Overpower Damage
• Armor: + Strength
• Jewelry: + Fire Resistance

(Chipped/Base/Flawless/Royal/Grand) Sapphire:

• Weapon: + Vulnerable Damage
• Armor: + Willpower
• Jewelry: + Cold Resistance

(Chipped/Base/Flawless/Royal/Grand) Topaz:

• Weapon: + Basic Damage
• Armor: + Intelligence
• Jewelry: + Lightning Resistance

(Chipped/Base/Flawless/Royal/Grand) Skull:

• Weapon: + Life on Kill
• Armor: + Healing Received
• Jewelry: + Armor

How to obtain gems?

Generally speaking, gems in Diablo 4 do not drop as complete, single units. Instead, you will primarily farm gem fragments and then visit Jeweler to craft them into the final finished gems.

However, if you don't want to consume extra time farming and would prefer to acquire the gems you desire instantly, the best option is to buy Diablo 4 gems at IGGM!

How to farm gem fragments?

There are many sources for gem fragments in Diablo 4; however, not all of them are equally reliable.

Therefore, we recommend prioritizing the farming of Infernal Hordes Chests, Augment Caches, specific Whispers Caches, and Gem Caches that may be awarded from side quests.

The specific methods for obtaining each type of chest/cache are as follows:

• Infernal Hordes Chest: Collect a sufficient amount of Burning Aether during combat encounters to exchange for the chest.
• Augment Cache: Unlock Bartering System at The Den by reaching Affinity Level 8 with the mercenary Aldkin, then exchange for the cache.
• Greater Cache of Gem Fragments and Greater Collection of Materials: Complete the bounty quests issued by Tree of Whispers, then redeem them using Grim Favors you have earned.
• Gem Cache: Complete various side quests.

In addition to being used to craft gems, fragments can, in certain seasons, also be used to craft specific Jewelry Caches, Incense, or other consumables.

How to craft gems?

Once you have obtained enough fragments, and paired them with a sufficient amount of gold or Forgotten Souls, you can craft gems at Jeweler. The material requirements for crafting each tier of gem are as follows:

• Chipped: 10 gem fragments and 1,000 Gold
• Base: 100 gem fragments and 10,000 Gold
• Flawless: 1,000 gem fragments and 100,000 Gold
• Royal: 10,000 gem fragments and 1,000,000 Gold
• Grand: 100,000 gem fragments, 30 Forgotten Souls, and 10,000,000 Gold

Gold can be obtained from most events or dungeons in Diablo 4. As for Forgotten Souls, their drop sources include (specifically on Torment difficulty settings):

• Salvaging Ancestral items
• Legion Events
• Helltides
• Tree of Whispers
• Infernal Hordes
• Undercity of Kurast

It is worth noting that, aside from standard crafting, you can also exchange 100 fragments each of three different gem types for 200 fragments of a fourth type. This is particularly useful when your inventory of gem fragments is unbalanced.

Gems can be replaced/removed/salvaged

Since gear sockets are limited, once you have crafted higher-tier gems, you will naturally want to use them to replace your lower-tier ones. You can do this simply by performing a direct swap; the gem being replaced will be returned to your inventory.

If you decide you no longer wish to have any gems socketed, you can simply unsocket them from the gear slot, and the embedded gem will be removed. Furthermore, neither replacing nor removing gems requires the consumption of any additional materials.

In the late stages of a season, once your character is sufficiently advanced, those removed or replaced lower-tier gems will probably no longer serve any purpose for you.

At this point, you can choose to salvage them to avoid cluttering your inventory space. However, salvaging a gem will only refund the fragments you originally used to craft it; gold and Forgotten Souls are not included in the return.

Which gems should you prioritize obtaining?

Regardless of the type, Grand-tier gems are undoubtedly the best choice, as they provide the highest stat bonuses. And now, nearing the end of the season, you should have ample materials on hand to craft Grand gems.

Therefore, the best strategy is to take a gradual approach: as you progress through the game, make sure to timely salvage your old gems and craft new ones to equip.

With this in mind, Grand Ruby and Grand Emerald are particularly popular choices in Season 12, as their stat bonuses are highly effective at countering most bosses.

The above covers all the essential information you need to know regarding gem acquisition in S12. Barring any major class-specific reworks, these guidelines are expected to remain just as valid for Season 13!