How to Change Difficulty (World Tiers) in Diablo 4

While players are experiencing the story of Diablo 4, dungeons, world bosses, and everything else there is to do in Sanctuary, they can select from several difficulty levels called World Tiers. At the beginning, only two of these are available, but players will be able to raise the overall difficulty, giving them access to better loot from enemies. But first, players should have an idea of what kind of changes each world tier will make for them.

Updated on June 1, 2023: This guide was originally published during Diablo 4's beta period. Now that the game has fully launched worldwide, we've made some changes to it so that players can get the most up-to-date information on all the World Tiers and how to go about changing the tiers.

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By Drew Swanson

World Tiers and Difficulty in Diablo 4

In the full release of Diablo 4, there are a total of four or five world tiers. These are:

Tier 1: Adventure
Tier 2: Veteran
Tier 3: Nightmare
Tier 4: Torment

Each of these tiers will change the difficulty of the world, the possible loot drops, and even the amount of gold a player will get from each battle. Here is a brief explanation of each level and who each is designed for.

Tier 1: Adventure Explanation

Tier 1 is designed for new Diablo players or those who are more interested in the story over a challenge. It is designed for levels 1 to 50. This world tier has lower rewards for each battle, but the battles will all be easier than normal.

Tier 2: Veteran Explanation

The second tier is also for levels 1 to 50 but is more challenging than the Adventurer Tier. Players will have more difficulty with each battle but will be rewarded accordingly.

Enemies give 20% more XP
Enemies drop 15% more Gold

Tier 3: Nightmare Explanation

Tier three of Diablo 4 is one of the higher-level challenges, designed for characters level 50-70 only. This tier will only be available to players who completed the story and the Cathedral of Light Diablo 4 dungeon on Tier 2.

Sacred items can drop
Uniques can drop
Nightmare Sigils that unlock Nightmare Dungeons can drop
Helltides can appear in Diablo 4's Sanctuary
Some enemies can be Champions
Enemies give 100% more XP
Enemies drop 15% more Gold
Enemies overcome 20% more Resistances

Tier 4: Torment Explanation

In order to unlock Tier 4, players need to complete the Fallen Temple on Tier 3. This tier is recommended for level 70+ characters only.

Ancestral items can drop
Uniques can drop
Diablo 4 enemies give 200% more XP
Enemies drop 15% more Gold
Enemies overcome 40% more Resistances

Changing Difficulty and World Tiers in Diablo 4

In order to change the world tier, players can just head to the city of Kyovashad or any other major city. Look for the Statue of Inarius in the northeast section of town; this is the world-tier statue. Interact with it to choose the world tier.

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Released: June 5, 2023
ESRB: Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
Developer(s): Blizzard
Publisher(s): Blizzard