The next DLC for Diablo 4, Lord of Hatred, will bring numerous changes, including new classes and a reworked skill system.
Among these, Talismans system is particularly mysterious. While the trailer showcased some gameplay, the official information is limited, yet it could potentially revolutionize gameplay. Let's analyze the available information to speculate on its specific mechanics and uses.
Talismans in Other Games
Before discussing Diablo 4's Talismans system, similar systems in other ARPGs, as these systems may serve as design references for Talismans system.
The concept of a charm system has early roots in Diablo series. In Diablo II, charms provided attribute bonuses but occupied inventory space—a classic but somewhat outdated design.
In the early stages of Diablo III's development, a separate amulet interface was planned to embed Talismans, which provided effects. Its initial design leaned towards providing players with attribute bonuses, but it was ultimately abandoned in pursuit of system simplification.
Perhaps most similar to Diablo 4's Talismans is Last Epoch's Idol system, which features a separate UI and slots of varying shapes and sizes where players can insert Idols to gain additional affix bonuses.
Diablo 4's Talismans system took a completely different path, focusing on activating set bonuses and emphasizing gameplay changes. This was likely a decision made by the development team to avoid excessive numerical inflation while enriching gameplay.
Talismans System Interface
Talismans system will be the primary vehicle for introducing Set Bonuses in Diablo IV, but its design philosophy differs significantly from the traditional method of directly equipping sets. Based on the official game trailers, we can observe Talismans system's user interface design.
Talismans interface, likely located in the character menu or equipment bar, features a central circular area surrounded by 6 external slots. Players appear to need to collect a new type of item (perhaps called Talismans or Talismans Shards) and embed it into these slots.
Embedded external items infuse their power into the central area, which then activates set bonuses or special effects based on the combination of embedded items.
In the trailer, the central area is already functioning even with only five slots filled, suggesting that the effects may gradually unlock or strengthen with the number of embedded items. However, the exact number of embedded items required and whether specific combinations are necessary are unclear.
Class Related
Additionally, in the official trailer, you'll find Druid's class icon imprinted on the surface of these embedded items (on either side of the runes). This may indicate the existence of Talismans Shards designed for specific classes, used to activate set effects highly relevant to that class's skills or build.
Furthermore, considering that Diablo IV's loot system typically doesn't only drop Diablo 4 items specific to a particular class, the specific class icon likely indicates the existence of universal Talisman shards usable across all classes. These universal Talisman shards might offer more attribute-oriented bonuses or non-class-specific gameplay changes.
Talisman System Combinations
Additionally, the central symbol is noteworthy after activating these symbols. It appears to be a fusion of elements from all the surrounding Talisman shard symbols. This might suggest that Talisman system isn't simply about collecting a certain number of shards to activate fixed effects, but rather allows for more freedom in mixing and matching different shards to create diverse combo effects, perhaps similar to the Runeword system.
This would make the system more flexible, and different combinations of Talisman shards might produce different effects, and shards from the same set might provide different bonuses depending on how many of them are equipped. In other words, you could activate both 2-piece and 3-piece set effects simultaneously.
Talisman System Effects
After showcasing the charm interface, the trailer followed with a Druid gameplay clip, demonstrating skill combinations and effects not currently available or implemented in the game.
When Druid transforms into Dire Werebear using Grizzly Rage, he used the basic skill Storm Strike. In Season 11, Druids typically cannot use Storm Strike in this form. This likely demonstrates how charm set bonuses break skill form limitations and allow for entirely new builds.
Another skill worth noting is Druid's use of Trample, which produces a new rock animation different from the existing Landslide effects, ending with a circular ground explosion that knocks back enemies. This is clearly a new ability not currently available in the game, likely directly derived from charm set effects.
These demonstrations suggest that the core focus of the charm system is not simply providing numerical attribute bonuses, and its primary purpose is to introduce new effects and skill synergies that alter the core gameplay loop, thereby providing more build possibilities.
Talismans System in Endgame
Talismans are likely to become crucial endgame items in the game, requiring players to invest time in farming. Unlike Glyphs currently available on Paragon Board, which are almost all easily obtainable, Talismans may have rarities ranging from Rare to Legendary, and even Unique or higher.
Furthermore, activating higher-rarity shards will unlock more powerful set bonuses, making them highly attractive core objectives in endgame. If they can also be traded, the game's economy will be significantly impacted.
Talismans system may become a core source of power for some new builds, similar to Runeword system, and will undoubtedly further enhance player build strength. Players without DLC 2 will lag behind those with well-balanced Talismans builds in terms of damage output.
