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Decoding Diablo 4: What to Do With Unused Aspects

So, you’re drowning in Legendary gear and your inventory is bursting with Aspects in Diablo 4? You’re not alone! Many players find themselves swimming in these powerful abilities, unsure of what to do with the excess. The short and sweet answer is: you have several options depending on the source and quality of the Aspect. You can imprint them onto Rare (yellow) gear to turn them into Legendaries, salvage the Legendary gear they come from for crafting materials, or store them for future builds or characters. Understanding the nuances of each approach is key to optimizing your character and maximizing your efficiency in Sanctuary. This guide dives deep into the world of Aspects, helping you make the most of these crucial components of your Diablo 4 builds.

Understanding Aspects: Your Key to Power

Aspects are essentially passive abilities that significantly enhance your character’s skills and abilities. They come in two main flavors: those found on Legendary items that drop in the world, and those earned by completing dungeons (which are then added to your Codex of Power). The Codex of Power Aspects are incredibly valuable because they can be reused indefinitely, making them a reliable source of power.

Legendary Aspects, however, present a unique challenge. Once extracted from an item, they are consumed upon use. This means you need to carefully consider which Aspects you want to keep and how you intend to use them. You’ll need to visit an Occultist to extract or imprint these Aspects.

Maximizing Your Aspect Arsenal

Here’s a detailed breakdown of what you can do with those unused Aspects cluttering your stash:

Imprinting on Rare Gear: This is the most common and arguably the most powerful use of extracted Aspects. Find a Rare (yellow) item with stats that complement your build, and then imprint the Aspect onto it at the Occultist. This transforms the Rare item into a Legendary item with the Aspect’s power and its original stats. Consider the item’s inherent stats carefully before imprinting, as these will stay after the item is imprinted.
Salvaging Legendary Gear: If the Legendary item has an Aspect you don’t need, and the item stats themselves aren’t particularly useful, salvage it at a blacksmith. This breaks down the item into valuable crafting materials, which are essential for upgrading your gear later in the game. Salvaging is almost always the best option.
Strategic Storage: Holding onto certain Aspects is crucial, especially if you’re planning on experimenting with different builds or leveling up alt characters. Aspects that enhance core skills or provide significant utility should be kept in your stash. Managing your stash space effectively is essential for long-term progression.
Codex of Power Aspects are Forever (Almost): Aspects unlocked in the Codex of Power via dungeons are generally always available to you for imprinting. So if you have access to a Codex of Power Aspect, it’s almost always the best option to use that aspect instead of consuming a single-use extracted Aspect.

Understanding Aspect Limitations

Diablo 4 does have limitations in place when dealing with Aspects:

No Stacking: You cannot stack the same Aspect on multiple pieces of gear. If you try, only one will be active, rendering the others useless.
Consumable Imprinting: Once you imprint an extracted Aspect onto a piece of gear, the Aspect is consumed, and the original Legendary item it came from is destroyed during extraction. Choose wisely!
No Re-Extraction: You cannot extract an Aspect from an item that has already been imprinted. If you want that Aspect again, you need to find another source.

Finding the Right Aspect

The Aspects you decide to use are heavily dictated by your build. This means what is considered a “good” Aspect will change frequently as you level up and respec your skills.

Early game you may be using aspects for raw damage and resource cost reduction.
Mid game you may focus on damage reduction and survivability.
End game your entire build hinges on very specific aspects working together in order to output the highest damage.

Diablo 4 INSANE TRICK – How To Upgrade ASPECTS To Make Them MORE POWERFUL

In addition to finding better gear, the quality of the Aspect will also change as you level up. This means that even though you found that sweet Aspect, you may be replacing it soon.

FAQs: Mastering the Art of Aspects

Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the nuances of dealing with Aspects in Diablo 4:

Can I reuse extracted Aspects?

No, extracted Aspects are consumed upon use. Once you imprint an Aspect onto a piece of gear, it’s gone. However, Aspects obtained through the Codex of Power (by completing dungeons) can be reused indefinitely.

Are Aspects passive abilities in Diablo 4?

Yes, Aspects provide powerful passive abilities that enhance your character’s skills and attributes. They are a crucial part of character customization and build optimization.

Can you extract imprinted Aspects in Diablo 4?

No, once you imprint an Aspect onto an item, you cannot extract it again. The item is effectively permanently bound to that Aspect.

Do Legendary Aspects stack in Diablo 4?

No, Legendary Aspects do not stack. Equipping multiple items with the same Aspect will only provide the benefit of one.

Are Aspects permanent in Diablo 4?

Aspects unlocked via dungeons (Codex of Power) are permanent and can be used repeatedly. Extracted Aspects from Legendary items are not permanent and are consumed upon use.

Can you salvage Aspects in Diablo 4?

You cannot directly salvage Aspects. However, you can salvage the Legendary item that an Aspect is on (if you don’t want to extract the Aspect first). Keep in mind if the Aspect is imprinted at an Occultist, then you will not be able to salvage that weapon.

How many times can you use Aspects in Diablo 4?

Extracted Aspects can be used only once. Codex of Power Aspects can be used indefinitely.

Should I save Legendaries in Diablo 4?

Yes, absolutely! Legendaries can be salvaged for valuable crafting materials or have their Aspects extracted. They are essential for character progression and build customization.

What are the best Legendary Aspects in Diablo 4?

The “best” Aspects depend entirely on your character class and build. However, some universally useful Aspects include those that provide increased mobility, resource generation, or damage reduction. Experiment and find what works best for your playstyle.

Does anything carry over in Diablo 4?

Map progress and Altar of Lilith completion carry over between seasons. This makes subsequent seasons much easier to navigate.

When should I imprint Aspects in Diablo 4?

Imprint Aspects when you find a significant upgrade to your gear or when you’re ready to commit to a specific build. Don’t be afraid to experiment, but be mindful of the consumable nature of extracted Aspects.

Does using an Aspect consume it?

Yes, using an extracted Aspect consumes it.

Is it better to sell or salvage in Diablo 4?

Salvaging is generally better for Legendary items. The crafting materials you obtain are more valuable than the gold you would receive from selling.

What items should I keep in Diablo 4?

Keep items with useful affixes, Legendaries (for extracting Aspects or salvaging), gems, and resources needed for crafting and upgrading.

Do Aspects disappear when used Diablo 4?

Yes, Aspects you’ve extracted will disappear from your inventory after you have imprinted them onto a piece of gear.

Mastering the use of Aspects is a core part of Diablo 4. Good luck in Sanctuary!

And remember, like a good video game, learning itself can be an engaging and rewarding experience. You can learn more about the relationship between gaming and education by checking out the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.

What can I do with unused aspects?