Grinding Gear Games, recognized for their development of Path of Exile and the highly anticipated Path of Exile 2, emphasizes the importance of distinct itemization strategies for Rare and Unique items within their games. In contrast, this aspect appears to be less pronounced in Diablo 4, an action role-playing game (ARPG) that many players view as a direct competitor to the Path of Exile series.
Itemization, often referred to as gearing, is a fundamental element of any loot-driven game. Selecting the appropriate items with specific stats can elevate your character’s build to remarkable heights. Furthermore, in environments that allow trading, acquiring desirable items can significantly enhance your in-game wealth.
ARPGs, among other genres, typically feature a class of items known as Unique items, which stand apart from standard gear. Uniques include fixed modifiers and often have specialized properties that can dramatically alter gameplay experiences or even inspire entirely new character builds.
Striking Contrasts: Itemization in Path of Exile 2 versus Diablo 4
During an insightful interview with YouTuber ZiggyD, following the content-rich showcase of the upcoming Dawn of the Hunt update, Game Directors Jonathan Rogers and Mark Roberts delved into the design philosophy behind Unique items in Path of Exile 2. They explained that these items are crafted without a focus on current meta builds or market trends.
A significant takeaway from their discussion was the power dynamics between Rare and Unique items. The developers noted that while Unique items might offer extraordinary benefits in the early game, they are intended to be replaced by more powerful Rare items as players progress. Rare items are strategically designed to be the backbone of most player builds.
“I mean there’s always a tension because we want Rares to still matter… we don’t want your character to be only full of Uniques. (…) When you find [early-game Uniques], they should be powerful… for a little while. But there’s also some kind of combo thing you might be able to do with them at Endgame.”
The potential combinations that developers envision for endgame scenarios may not always be immediately clear, either to Grinding Gear Games or to players encountering the latest balance patches in Path of Exile.
It’s easy to overlook a seemingly mediocre low-level Unique if your current Magic items are outperforming it. However, as players adapt to evolving game metas, these Unique items may gain newfound desirability as hidden synergies come to light.
“I feel like a game has to have that stuff in it, in order to feel like there’s lots of interesting ways to experiment. The feeling of being the first person to discover some new interaction is an amazing thing.”
In Path of Exile, Rare items with their diverse affixes frequently surpass many Unique items and can serve as the primary power source for various builds. Despite limited crafting options, Path of Exile 2 continues to focus on enhancing Magic-tier items, thus broadening the possible build-crafting strategies available to players.
Additionally, Unique items, whether overtly defined or hidden from view, remain critical at all stages of gameplay. Within the ARPG genre, certain items dubbed Chase Uniques—like Mageblood or Headhunter in Path of Exile 2, and Harlequin Crest or Ring of Starless Skies in Diablo 4—possess the potential to shape player experience significantly.
Conversely, Diablo 4 represents a different approach in terms of itemization, where Uniques (including the even more powerful Mythic Uniques) dominate the item landscape. The pursuit of Unique items is prevalent within Diablo 4, with most effective builds revolving around these formidable gear pieces. As a result, Rare and Legendary items quickly lose their relevance, as players derive power primarily from Codex Aspects rather than item affixes.
This emphasis leads to a rapid devaluation of items below the Unique threshold, establishing a fast-paced gear grind where early-game items serve merely as temporary tools in the leveling process.
Despite recent loot adjustments aimed at slowing down leveling times in the upcoming Season 8, Diablo 4 faces challenges regarding its power-creep dynamic. It may be worthwhile for Blizzard to consider enhancing the significance of lower-tier items in the long term. Meanwhile, Path of Exile 2 is set to release the Dawn of the Hunt expansion on April 4, 2025.