Diablo 4 PvP Explained: How It Works, How To Unlock It And More

by  Ievgen Dubravin Last update: November 6, 2024

Diablo IV is an online-only action RPG developed by Blizzard Entertainment. Here, you need to create a character of a specific class and complete quests through combat. Each hero has their skills and mechanics, so you need to choose wisely, according to your game style. I’m a big fan of Diablo IV and have spent hundreds of hours in the game. I especially enjoy the Diablo 4 PvP mode (player versus player) and joining special events with my gaming friends from GameTree.

Yes, there is PvP in this game. Actually, this title has several large locations in which PvP and PvPvE activities take place. Thus, in this game, gamers can fight each other online and with NPC enemies. 

So, in this article, I want to share my knowledge on the PvP mode in Diablo 4. Want to learn all the secrets and features of this exciting game? Well, keep reading! 

Does Diablo 4 Have PvP?

Yes, Diablo has always had a PvP mode, and, in my opinion, it has always been the weakest part of the game. This mode has always been isolated from the game, and almost no one has played it. I remember well how the community was asking the developers, “Will Diablo 4 have PvP?” though when Blizzard introduced PvP for DIablo 3, everyone forgot about it very quickly. Why? Firstly, Diablo has always been about PvE with an emphasis on loot. Secondly, PvP was a separate location, as if isolated from the rest of the game world, and you had to wait for either someone to go there or invite friends.

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Nevertheless, the developers were able to improve PvP in Diablo 4. Firstly, PvP is now part of the lore and plot. It becomes available after completing the main storyline. Secondly, now the game is in an open world, and the player can move freely. There are several permanent Diablo 4 PvP zones where PvPvE events take place. PvP is still not the strong side of this game in terms of balance, but now it is plot-based, and there are a lot of quest activities. The developers have made some exciting changes to the PvP locations to ensure that they are always bustling with activity. They’ve introduced unique merchants and a currency system within these zones, which is the perfect incentive for players to come and join in on the fun. 

How Does Diablo 4 PvP Work Exactly?

So, we have several PvPvE zones filled with a high density of mobs and elite mobs, as well as various quests and time-limited events, like killing bosses or completing tasks for The Tree of Whispers. For completing quests and killing monsters, we receive Seeds of Hatred, which must be exchanged at the Altars of Extraction, which are located at certain points in this zone. Then, after the timer stops, you are credited with Red Dust. This is the second currency for which we buy unique cosmetics, scrolls, etc., from merchants. You can’t just kill a few players, take their shards, and leave the location. In order for you to get the currency, they must be exchanged for Dust at the altars. Here we come to the main point on which the whole essence of PvP in Diablo 4 is built – players collect Seeds of Hatred and, on the way to the altars, they will most likely try to kill each other in order to take the seeds and keep all the Red Dust for themselves.

Vessel Of Hatred

If you’ve ever played Lineage 2 and remember the Player Killer system there, then you’ll have a familiar feeling in Diablo IV PvP. You have a scale called Vessel of Hatred. When you kill players, it starts to fill up, and once it’s full, you become visible to all players in that area. As a rule, they start hunting you because by this time, most likely, you have already accumulated enough Seeds of Hatred and are a desired target. At this moment, a timer appears on your screen, and you need to survive for the specified time. If you succeed, all accumulated Seeds of Hatred will turn into Red Dust, and you will not need to go to the Altar of Extraction.

Buffs And Consumables

There is a merchant in the game from whom you can buy useful scrolls. On the one hand, this can help you a lot in Diablo 4 PvP, but on the other hand, you will have to spend a lot of Red Dust to buy some good stuff. And most importantly, you need to remember to activate the scrolls at the right moment in battle. Duels or clashes can be very dynamic and quick if the difference in player levels is big, but nevertheless, scrolls introduce a certain tactical element. I’ve included a short description of what they can give you in the table below.

How To Unlock The Fields Of Hatred

Many newbies to the game ask on forums, “Will Diablo 4 have PvP?” not even knowing that it is already included in the game. To get access to the Fields Of Hatred, you need to complete the main story quest and simply enter one of these zones. They are located in the western part of the game world. As soon as you first find yourself here, you will receive a training quest.

How To Enable Or Remove Mark For Blood For Fights

Mark for Blood is something like switching between PvE-only (with nuance) and PvP. If you have not activated the mark, you are friendly to other players. You cannot attack ordinary players but only those with a mark. If you have activated Mark for Blood, then you can attack any player, just like they can attack you. Mark for Blood is activated through the Emote Wheel, and to remove the mark, you need to return to the city and approach the Altar of Cleansing.

Diablo 4 PvP Events

The Fields of Hatred is an area with various PvPvE activities. Firstly, there is an increased density of monsters compared to other locations, and elite monsters are more common. There are also various time-specific quests, similar to others in other locations. For example, within a certain time, you must kill a certain number of monsters or kill them while standing on platforms, etc. Also, occasionally, a boss spawns in this location. Killing them grants you a lot of shards.

There are also certain places in The Fields of Hatred in Diablo 4 where Altars of Extraction are located, and we exchange shards for dust there. The exchange process occurs by counting down the time during which we must be in the altar zone, fighting off the spawning waves of monsters and other players. They will definitely come since when the altar is activated, all players in the zone receive a notification.

Gearing, Seeds Of Hatred, And Red Dust

The game has several large locations in which PvP and PvE activities constantly take place. Players complete quests and kill monsters and receive Seeds of Hatred for this. This is a temporary currency, which you need to purify at the Altars of Extraction, located in certain places. For this, you will receive Red Dust, which you can then use to buy cosmetics and scrolls from merchants. Seeds of Hatred can be taken away, which is the main motivation for PvP in Diablo 4. Also, you will not be able to leave the location with the seeds; if you leave, they will simply disappear.

Diablo 4’s gearing system revolves around the constant process of upgrading your current gear and customizing your hero’s active and passive skills based on the gear you find. For example, unique equipment with high parameters can force you to completely redistribute your character’s skills and put together a unique build.

There are currently 5 item tiers in the game:

• Common (white color, maximum affixes 0);
• Magic (Blue color, maximum affixes 1);
• Rare (Yellow color, maximum affixes 3);
• Legendary (Orange color, maximum affixes 5 (4 regular+1 legendary));
• Unique (Tan, Gold-Brown color, maximum affixes 5 (4 regular+ 1 unique class-based)).

Unique items are the most powerful in the game. However, they are extremely rare and will be a real challenge to obtain. In fact, you can hope to get no more than 1-2 unique items during the season. In addition, a unique item can only drop after you upgrade to World Tier 3 and higher.

Diablo 4 PvP Tips

Actually, the only reason for Diablo 4 PvP, besides the obvious fun, is to farm currency, namely, to take it from those who farmed it. To be successful in this, I have come up with several basic points that really work.

• Have a balanced build. Get the relevant abilities to enhance your performance. Exploit your opponent’s vulnerabilities by learning your class’s strengths and weaknesses, and experiment with different combinations to find your perfect playstyle.
• Explore others’ weaknesses. Take the time to explore and become familiar with the weaknesses and strengths of other classes. Once you understand their playstyles and strategies, you’ll gain a significant advantage when facing them.
• Use Crowd Control. These skills can stun, slow, immobilize, or disrupt your enemies, reducing their mobility and allowing you to counterattack effectively.
• Correctly assess the difference in levels with your opponents. If you are level 50+ and you see 70+ nearby, don’t even think about how to PvP that player in Diablo 4. You’d better immediately run in the opposite direction, as 1-2 hits with a skill on you will be enough. In general, to be successful on World Tier Nightmare, you need to be 70+ or act in a well-balanced group.

Meet With New Friends For Diablo 4 PvP Game With GameTree

If your friends don’t share your passion for Diablo 4 PvP, check out Gametree’s Diablo LFG feature! Even though the game itself does not have a good in-game matchmaking, our unique application for gamers allows you to find new friends and create squads. Artificial intelligence will select players who will suit your playing style and skills. You can get to know each other and agree on your next game session together in a convenient chat. GameTree is a comprehensive platform for gamers where you can also get news about your favorite games and read reviews of new titles. Join a community of like-minded people!

Final Thoughts

Diablo 4 is a large-scale RPG with an open world, very rich lore, and an interesting plot. This time, the developers managed to bring a lot of new things to the series and please both long-time fans and new players. So, does Diablo 4 have PvP? Yes. But is it good? Well, it’s much better than in the previous part of the series. I really enjoy the fighting process and clashes with other players; it’s so much fun! However, the balance still should be adjusted. You will find many Diablo 4 PvP activities and will be able to fight with other players online against each other or together against a boss. In-game events, separate currency, and unique character abilities make this process even more exciting.