Like older entries in the Diablo franchise, Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred brings back the classic Torment difficulty system. Replacing the World Tier mechanic, the new leveling system will allow players to start at Normal or Hard difficulty and increase after completing milestones in-game. Torment will enable players to push into even further difficulties with more lucrative rewards, such as better gear and glyph upgrades.

Once a player reaches level 60, they can delve into the Pit of Artificers. Similar to Rifts in Diablo 3, players can push further and further into the Pit to test the absolute limit of their builds. Upon reaching certain levels in the pit, higher Torment difficulties will unlock and increase the challenge.

Diablo 4's Torment Difficulty Explained

What Changes With Torment Levels

Starting in Torment I, Ancestral and Mythic Unique Items will now begin to drop. These items will always have a minimum of one greater affix and drop at the maximum item level of 800. All other items can only go up to level 750.

Tormented Bosses will now also be available in the Torment levels, with Torment I bosses dropping better items and increasing each level. In higher Torment tiers, you'll also earn more Gem Fragments to level up your gem tier even faster.

Unlocking Torment Difficulty In Diablo 4

How To Progress In The Pit

Once at level 60, players can begin to challenge the Pit of Artificers, also known as "The Pit." This dungeon can be found in Cerrigar, Scosglen, by interacting with the obelisk, similar to activating Greater Rifts in New Tristram in Diablo 3. This dungeon features randomized layouts and enemies, with each attempt providing a new experience.

To start a new Pit run, players will need to provide three Artificer's Stones. These items can be obtained through various events and challenges in the game, such as Helltides, Tree of Whisper caches, and World Boss events. Once you have three stones, you can activate the Pit and choose a level.

To increase levels in the Pit, you must complete the dungeons within fifteen minutes. The faster you complete the run, the more levels you'll unlock. There are a total of 150 levels, with each new level providing better rewards.

Four or Fewer Minutes Remaining: 1 Tier

Four to Six Minutes Remaining: 2 Tiers

Six of More Minutes Remaining: 3 Tiers

Previously, glyph improvements were only possible in Diablo 4's Nightmare Dungeons. However, Nightmare Dungeons rewarded players with exploration and were a time-consuming method of leveling glyphs. Now, glyphs are leveled via Pit runs, allowing for faster progression.

Torment difficulty levels are unlocked by completing higher levels of The Pit, either solo or in a group. Each time you progress through a new threshold level of The Pit, you can increase the difficulty to the next highest Torment level.

Torment I requires Pit level 20

Torment II requires Pit level 35

Torment III requires Pit level 50

Torment IV requires Pit level 65

Once you've reached Torment IV, you can continue grinding for the highest possible rewards in Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred. Further Pit levels will continue to increase the challenge and allow you to unlock the maximum level gear and items to perfect your build.

If you have Diablo 4 gold and Diablo 4 items, it might be a good time to look into trading for specific legendary items or sacred/ancestral gear to optimize your character. If you’re planning to farm the Pit or run the Vessel of Hatred multiple times, consider crafting or upgrading gear to ensure your character can survive those brutal encounters.