Diablo 5 Is Bringing Back Set Items, But Wants To Avoid Their Biggest Problem
Overview & Key Takeaways
One of the most satisfying things about the Diablo games is their loot grind, and in Diablo 5, Blizzard has plans to keep you clicking enemies to death for a long time in pursuit of an elusive piece of armor or weapon. While it's still early days in terms of how itemization will be handled in the game, Blizzard has confirmed that gear-based sets will return. Set items were originally absent from Diablo 4 when the game launched in 2023, although set bonuses were later added through the Talisman system. Instead of armor collections, players could equip passive bonuses, set effects, and unique powers without needing to replace their current gear.
"Something we talk about a lot on the team is we want Diablo 5 to be a game that feels like it has elements for you, regardless of which Diablo game was your favorite," executive producer Matt Zitterman said to GameSpot at BlizzCon. "Clearly, there's some inspiration being taken from Diablo 2 there, but we're also looking at Diablo 4 and the successes we've had there, and are pulling forward ideas from there as well as Diablo 3. "I think for us, Diablo 5 represents this really special moment in the franchise's history where we get to look at the past and bring forward things that feel really familiar, but give them a fresh take."
"We want to bring set items back. The set system in Diablo 4 worked really well for that game, but something about the way that set items worked in Diablo 2 and Diablo 3, they create kind of like a little quest, right? You want to go like you're on a long-term journey to collect the pieces of this set to unlock something really important about the build you're chasing. We want to bring that forward into Diablo 5. We want to create moments where players feel motivated, not just by a quest log, but by the loot chase. And I think set items, done right, do a really great job of that. We have ideas about how we can overcome some of the challenges of set items, narrowing the itemization game more than broadening it."
For more on Diablo 5--which won't be out until 2029--you can read up on how Blizzard wants to make combat feel more visceral than ever before, why the studio went for a new numbered game instead of another Diablo 4 expansion, and how you'll have a broader selection of classes to choose from when you return to Sanctuary.
One of the most satisfying things about the Diablo games is their loot grind, and in Diablo 5, Blizzard has plans to keep you clicking enemies to death for a long time in pursuit of an elusive piece of armor or weapon. While it’s still early days in terms of how itemization will be handled in the game, Blizzard has confirmed that gear-based sets will return. Set items were originally absent from Diablo 4 when the game launched in 2023, although set bonuses were later added through the Talisman system. Instead of armor collections, players could equip passive bonuses, set effects, and unique powers without needing to replace their current gear.
“Something we talk about a lot on the team is we want Diablo 5 to be a game that feels like it has elements for you, regardless of which Diablo game was your favorite,” executive producer Matt Zitterman said to GameSpot at BlizzCon. “Clearly, there’s some inspiration being taken from Diablo 2 there, but we’re also looking at Diablo 4 and the successes we’ve had there, and are pulling forward ideas from there as well as Diablo 3. “I think for us, Diablo 5 represents this really special moment in the franchise’s history where we get to look at the past and bring forward things that feel really familiar, but give them a fresh take.”
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“We want to bring set items back. The set system in Diablo 4 worked really well for that game, but something about the way that set items worked in Diablo 2 and Diablo 3, they create kind of like a little quest, right? You want to go like you’re on a long-term journey to collect the pieces of this set to unlock something really important about the build you’re chasing. We want to bring that forward into Diablo 5. We want to create moments where players feel motivated, not just by a quest log, but by the loot chase. And I think set items, done right, do a really great job of that. We have ideas about how we can overcome some of the challenges of set items, narrowing the itemization game more than broadening it.”
For more on Diablo 5–which won’t be out until 2029–you can read up on how Blizzard wants to make combat feel more visceral than ever before, why the studio went for a new numbered game instead of another Diablo 4 expansion, and how you’ll have a broader selection of classes to choose from when you return to Sanctuary.
