The True Cost of Unlocking Everything in Diablo Immortal: A Deep Dive
It’s a question that’s been on the minds of many Diablo fans: How much does it really cost to unlock everything in Diablo Immortal? The simple answer, if you’re aiming for absolute, no-stone-unturned completion, is potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars. However, that astronomical figure comes with significant caveats and depends heavily on your definition of “everything.” Let’s break down the realities of spending in Diablo Immortal, separating fact from the hype, and see what it actually takes to achieve various levels of “completion.”
The Core Problem: Legendary Gems and Maxing a Character
The headline-grabbing cost of Diablo Immortal comes primarily from the randomized nature of obtaining and leveling Legendary Gems. These powerful items provide massive boosts to a character’s stats and are essential for competitive end-game play. Unlike regular gems, they don’t drop frequently. They are primarily obtained through Legendary Crests, which are used in Elder Rifts, the game’s version of loot boxes.
Here’s where the costs start to balloon:
- Low Drop Rates: The drop rates for high-rarity Legendary Gems, particularly 5-star gems, are incredibly low. This means you might spend a lot of money on Legendary Crests and still not get the specific gems you need, or even high-star versions of gems.
- Upgrading Gems: Even if you obtain a 5-star Legendary Gem, it’s not at its maximum power right away. You need to fuse it with copies of itself, and this process becomes extremely resource-intensive at higher ranks. These copies are also, for the most part, only obtainable through the lootbox system.
Estimates suggest that fully maxing out a single character with the best Legendary Gems could cost upwards of $100,000, and sometimes even more. While this figure is staggering, remember that very few players actually spend this much. Most players will never get close to maxing everything. However, this “whale chasing” scenario is a core driver of the game’s economy.
The Grind vs. The Cash
While maxing out through spending is technically possible, it’s not the only way to play. Diablo Immortal offers a fully playable experience for free. All story content, dungeons, raids, and most activities are available without spending a penny. Free-to-play players can absolutely enjoy the game and progress, though at a slower pace. Here’s how:
- Free Gameplay: Completing the main story, participating in group content, and engaging in the daily grind are all accessible for free. This allows players to enjoy the core of the game.
- Grinding for Gems: You can obtain Legendary Gems through normal gameplay, but the drop rates are significantly lower, and getting specific gems will take a very long time. It’s a time commitment vs. a financial commitment.
- Marketplace: Players can utilize the game’s marketplace to trade for gems, which allows some level of accessibility to better gems for free-to-play players; however, this system isn’t perfect and is time-consuming.
The game’s monetization model encourages spending to speed up progress and access more powerful items, but it is not mandatory.
Beyond Gems: Other Cost Considerations
While Legendary Gems are the primary source of expense, other aspects contribute to the overall cost of unlocking everything:
- Battle Pass: The Battle Pass offers a consistent source of rewards, including Legendary Crests and other valuable resources. It’s generally considered one of the best ways to get value from spending in the game.
- Upgrading Legendary Gear: While upgrading non-gem gear is less costly than gems, fully upgrading all legendary gear still requires significant resources in the form of gold, scrap materials, and other in-game items.
- Eternal Orbs: This is the game’s premium currency used to buy Crests and other items. Real money is needed to obtain it. There are ways to grind for limited amounts of Eternal Orbs but it’s time-consuming.
- Cosmetics: If you want to unlock all the cosmetics, you’ll also need to purchase them through in-game microtransactions.
These elements further contribute to the total potential cost of “unlocking everything,” pushing the expenses even higher. However, again, they are all optional and have minimal impact on gameplay, outside of the Battle Pass and its resources.
The Realistic Cost
The true cost of “unlocking everything” is subjective. For most players, it’s not about maxing out every gem. A more realistic spending goal could include:
- Purchasing the Battle Pass each season: This provides great value and resources.
- Spending some extra for boosts: Players may decide to purchase some additional Crests or other items for faster progression.
- Not focusing on “perfect” gear: Settling for good gear and not chasing the absolute best items can drastically reduce the cost.
For these players, spending a few dollars a month or a few hundred dollars over a year is more likely. However, if you are determined to be a top-tier competitive player who wants every single thing at its maximum, then you will be required to spend into the thousands.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I complete Diablo Immortal without paying?
Yes, all the core gameplay content, including the story, dungeons, and raids, can be completed without spending any money. The game is entirely playable for free.
2. How long does it take to reach the max level in Diablo Immortal?
It typically takes around 20 hours to reach the level cap of 60 through story progression and grinding.
3. What should I spend Platinum on in Diablo Immortal?
Platinum can be used to buy gems and Skill Stones in the Market, as well as weekly purple and red crests from vendors.
4. Can I buy gold in Diablo Immortal?
No, you cannot directly purchase gold through in-game microtransactions. Gold is earned through gameplay.
5. Is it worth spending money in Diablo Immortal?
Spending money can speed up progress, but it’s not essential for enjoyment or completion of the core content. Casual players will likely have more fun without feeling pressured to spend. If you do choose to spend, the battle pass offers great value.
6. Can you get Legendary Gems without paying?
Yes, you can obtain Legendary Gems through gameplay, but the drop rates are low, and getting specific gems can take a long time.
7. What is the best attribute in Diablo Immortal?
Strength increases physical damage, while Intelligence increases magical damage. Which is best will depend on the class you are playing.
8. What is the level cap in Diablo Immortal?
The level cap is 60, and the game has a Paragon system that is unlocked at max level, which is essential for endgame.
9. How much does it cost to upgrade legendary gear in Diablo Immortal?
Fully upgrading one legendary item from Rank 0 to Rank 20 costs a significant amount of gold, scrap materials, and enchanted dust. These costs will multiply if you want to max all your gear.
10. What is the best thing to buy in Diablo Immortal if I am going to spend money?
The Battle Pass, Boon of the Plenty, and Prodigy Path and Progenitors are considered some of the best purchases for your money.
11. What happens after finishing the main story in Diablo Immortal?
You will unlock the Paragon leveling system and new endgame content, including dungeons and raids.
12. Does Diablo Immortal have an endgame?
Yes, the game has a robust endgame with various activities, including joining factions and engaging in raids.
13. How often can I change classes in Diablo Immortal?
You can change classes once every seven days, starting at level 35.
14. Is Diablo Immortal pay-to-win?
The game’s microtransactions allow players to obtain significantly better gear and boosts, leading to a “pay-to-win” perception, especially at the competitive high-end of the game.
15. What is the Rank 10 reward in the Diablo Immortal Battle Pass?
You will receive a Class-exclusive Legendary at Rank 10 of the Battle Pass.
Final Thoughts
While the potential cost to unlock absolutely everything in Diablo Immortal is exorbitant, it’s important to remember that it’s not necessary to spend to enjoy the game. You can play entirely for free and still have a satisfying experience. If you choose to spend, the Battle Pass provides the best value, and spending beyond that will come down to personal preference and how invested you want to be in the game. Understanding the financial realities of the game, along with the free-to-play accessibility will allow you to have an enjoyable experience, without necessarily breaking the bank.