Like all great RPGs, reaching the level cap and Item Power max in Diablo 4 is the pinnacle endgame goal everyone chases. How can you make your character as strong as they can possibly be? You hit the max level, of course!
While the idea of max level used to be very complex in Diablo 4, Blizzard has simplified it significantly with the Vessel of Hatred expansion. The idea of loot breakpoints are also mostly gone, and getting loot is less about the numerical “Item Power” listing on the top of the item and more about its stats and affixes — at least in the endgame.
In this Diablo 4 guide, we’re going to teach you how to ensure you’re getting max level gear and getting your character to max power efficiently.
What is the max player level?
Image: Blizzard Entertainment via Polygon
There is a max player level in Diablo 4 and a max Paragon level, which are now separate from one another — much like Diablo 3, if you’re familiar.
When you make a fresh character, you’ll start at level one. As you complete campaign missions, kill enemies, or complete activities, etc., you’ll gain XP, level up, and earn skill points to improve your build. This is pretty standard RPG stuff. This will continue until you reach level 60.
At level 60, you will stop gaining levels and will have all of your leveling skill points (you can get skill points from other places, such as the Renown system and Altars of Lilith). You’ll then unlock the Paragon system. Instead of gaining skill points every level, your XP will contribute to your Paragon level, which goes very quickly (at first). You’ll gain one Paragon point for each Paragon level you gain, and there are 300 Paragon levels.
If you need help leveling up quick, check out our XP farming guide.
Level 60 with level 300 Paragon is the game’s true cap, and you will no longer earn any XP past that point. This is an extremely endgame goal, and isn’t something most players will reach. Even very dedicated players will likely tap out between 200 and 300 Paragon points, when the system slows down pretty drastically.
You’ll restart this journey each season, unless you want to play in the Eternal Realm, which we don’t typically recommend.
What is the max item power level?
Image: Blizzard Entertainment via Polygon
Your main goal in Diablo 4 is to adventure through the difficulty levels until you reach Torment difficulty, starting with Torment 1. Until then, you pretty much want to put on the highest level items you have regardless of the affixes. The only thing that matters until then are Legendary powers and the highest stats possible.
Once you reach Torment 1, every affix, Legendary power, and item can drop for you. You could become a max- power character on Torment 1 if you play long enough (although drop rates are better on higher Torment levels). On Torment, all level 60 Legendary items will drop at Item Power 750. Once here, all you’re looking for are better stats and affixes.
The real chase here is for Ancestral Legendary and Unique items. These items always drop at 800 Item Power and have at least one Greater Affix (basically an Affix that is significantly stronger than a normal Affix but cannot be changed) attached to them. As you progress into the endgame, you’re looking for all 750 Legendary gear with as many Ancients as you can get. Then you want to start replacing your 750 Legendaries with 800 Ancients. And then you want to start replacing your 800 Ancients with Ancients that have multiple Greater Affixes that are good for your build.
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