Hardcore mode has been a time-honored Diablo tradition going back to Diablo II, challenging players with the possibility of permanent death. But what happens if your Hardcore character happens to stumble into one of Diablo IV’s Fields of Hatred? Well, watch your back.
Asked whether are consequences for Hardcore characters who die in Diablo IV’s PvP, Blizzard community director Adam Fletcher said simply, “Permadeath.”
In other words, it’s time to roll a new character.
Permadeath. https://t.co/ZxRz4eE5GX
— Adam Fletcher (@PezRadar) April 20, 2023
Hardcore players will want to watch their step then, since the Fields of Hatred can be entered at will on Diablo IV’s open-world. There players can collect Shards of Hatred by killing other players as well as monsters. The areas also feature special vendors that serve as a further enticement to test your might in one of Diablo IV’s PvP zones.
For the daring, though, there’s the Fearless Combatant achievement, which can only be earned by getting 10 PvP kills in Hardcore Mode. Otherwise you can avoid Fields of Hatred altogether, which is likely the more prudent route unless you get to be especially powerful.
In the meantime, fans will get to try Diablo IV one more time before launch as part of an upcoming “server slam.” The server slam, which is designed to stress test Diablo IV’s servers before launch, will include the various changes from previous beta tests. It will commence at 12pm PST on Friday and conclude at 12pm PST on Sunday.
While you wait, check out our recent interview with Diablo IV’s developers, in which they talk about class changes, dungeons, and more ahead of the final test.
Kat Bailey is a Senior News Editor at IGN as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.