In the latest patch 1.1.1, Diablo 4’s endgame gives you some power fantasy that the game lacks. With this simple change, Blizzard managed to make Diablo 4’s endgame a lot more interesting.
In patch 1.1.1, the creature density of Nightmare Dungeon and Helltide was greatly increased. This indirectly alleviated a lot of our complaints. Of course, I still wish we had more endgame events, but this is a first step in the right direction!
Perfect Power Fantasy
First, let’s talk about the most obvious aspect, which is dungeon fun. One of the main fun factors of a game like Diablo 4 is the power fantasy and how the game makes you feel.
Before the patch, if you weren’t playing Sorcerer and trying to survive, Nightmare Dungeon would most likely bore you. And the complete loop is to walk for a while, reach a group of 6-7 mobs, kill them and harvest Diablo 4 Gold that drops, then move on.
Also, it makes the game’s evil forces feel a little flat, which is a shame. But luckily, the character designs and models are great, evoking that sinister, dark feeling.
Now, after the patch, I’m running another Nightmare Dungeon, and I’m having even more fun with it. Hordes of enemies rushed at me, and I smashed and sliced them furiously. It starts to give you the power fantasy you want in a game of this type. Not only does this help in that regard, but it also makes dungeons more engaging, since there’s less walking and more smashing.
Earning XP Easier
Another important aspect is earning XP from Nightmare Dungeons. This means that the more monsters you kill, the more XP you receive.
Though I’m still a little disappointed that they nerfed XP gain of Nightmare Dungeons at the start of Season 1. But it’s a welcome change that offsets our previous XP loss. Of course, it would be even better to increase monster density and gain XP from preseason. But it’s a step in the right direction for the game.
One thing I really hope Blizzard doesn’t do is change the drop rate for Diablo 4 Items. Because killing more monsters also means we get more loot. If you get more loot, you have more opportunities to level up. You’ll also get more Diablo 4 Gold because you have more stuff to trade and you have more resources to upgrade your items.
Cinders Drop Rate Increased In Helltide
Moving on to another major endgame event, Helltide. Before the patch, I usually had to ride around for a while, find a bunch of mobs, kill them, collect Cinders, and move on.
Now, once we enter Helltide, there is a horde of demons rushing towards us. We no longer have to wander around on mounts and struggle to find monsters to kill.
Also, I tested how long it took me to get 250 Cinders. It took me about 20 minutes. It took me about 30-40 minutes to get these Cinders before patch 1.1.1 came out. So it’s quite possible that Blizzard increased the drop rate of Cinders.
Now, Helltide gets interesting, with a massive demonic invasion charging and destroying the land. We could get that power fantasy by jumping right into the middle of monster hordes and smashing them into pieces.
So overall, I’m happy with this patch. It improves the player's experience and feel in the game. And the two main endgame events, Nightmare Dungeon and Helltide, are now even more interesting in patch 1.1.1. So what are your thoughts on the increase in monster density? Are you satisfied with the patch? I want to know your opinion. See you in the game.