When Should You Start Selling Gear in Diablo 4? A Comprehensive Guide

The age-old question in any loot-driven RPG, and especially in Diablo 4, is: “Should I sell this or salvage it?” The answer isn’t always straightforward and depends on your stage in the game. Early on, salvaging is king for valuable resources. However, as you progress, selling gear becomes an important method to amass gold. This article will break down when you should transition from primarily salvaging to primarily selling, providing a clear roadmap to maximize your efficiency in Diablo 4.

The Transition Point: World Tier Three and Beyond

The general consensus within the Diablo 4 community is that you should primarily start selling most gear once you reach World Tier Three. Before this point, salvaging is far more beneficial, as the materials you gain are crucial for upgrading your equipment and crafting. In the early game, you’ll be relying on Magic (Blue) and Rare (Yellow) items for the bulk of your power, and dismantling them will give you the materials to upgrade these items and create new ones.

However, once you hit World Tier Three, the situation changes drastically. At this point, you should have a decent stockpile of basic materials. You’ll also begin to encounter far more Legendary items which, when salvaged, grant rare materials which are used for imbuing gear with aspects. Moreover, your gear is likely becoming powerful enough that only substantial upgrades will make a notable difference. This is when selling becomes more lucrative as the gold you gain is useful for:

• Repairing gear damaged during combat.
• Upgrading your existing, good equipment further at the blacksmith.
• Purchasing items from vendors if something specific catches your eye.
• Saving up for future high-cost transactions, such as powerful items.

The transition should be fluid: while in World Tier 3 and beyond you should generally sell blues, you should also continue salvaging the following:

• Rares (Yellows) with the stats or aspects you need.
• Legendaries for their powerful legendary aspects.
• Items that can be useful for future builds.

The Early Game: Salvage is King

In the early game, you’ll be focusing on gear upgrades as they come along. Here, the resources gained from salvaging lower-rarity items are critical for improving your gear and character. Don’t focus on hoarding gold or selling gear until you get to World Tier 3.

Mid-Game: Balancing Salvage and Selling

As you move into mid-game, particularly after completing the campaign, you will have started to get regular Rare and Legendary drops. As a result, your ability to salvage for materials and then apply these aspects, means that you’ll need to find ways to get more gold, which usually comes down to selling gear.

End Game: Selling Dominates

Once you’ve reached the endgame, specifically the higher world tiers, you will often find that selling is the best way to accumulate gold. The materials from salvaging lower-tier gear will become largely useless, and the gold you earn from selling can be invaluable. However, always keep an eye out for items with useful aspects or stats for future builds and salvaging these when possible.

Deciding What To Sell and What To Salvage

It’s not as simple as “sell everything blue” in World Tier Three and beyond. Here’s a breakdown to help guide your decisions:

Sell:

• Magic (Blue) Items: Once you’re consistently getting Rare and Legendary drops, blue items become virtually worthless for salvaging. Sell them for a quick gold boost.
• Most Rares (Yellow) Items: If a rare item is not a notable upgrade with valuable stats, or does not carry a desirable aspect, selling is the best course of action.
• Unneeded Legendaries with un-useful aspects: Legendaries should generally be salvaged for their aspects. But if you have a huge stockpile of particular aspects, consider selling the same duplicates.

Salvage:

• Rares (Yellow) Items with Desirable Stats: If a rare item has a good roll of stats you need, keep it and upgrade it! Similarly, salvage it for resources if you need an item type for a later build.
• Legendaries: Generally, the most valuable aspect of a legendary is the aspect that you can extract at the Occultist. Salvage all Legendaries unless they are a clear upgrade or you have the aspect already, or can sell them for a high value at the trader.

Exceptions to the Rules:

Keep an eye out for items with specific high-value stats that traders and other players may want. If you are unsure whether to sell or salvage, then sell it. At the endgame, you are far more likely to need gold than to get good value from more materials.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify the best approach to selling gear in Diablo 4:

1. Is it always better to salvage in the early game?

Yes, generally. The materials gained from salvaging are crucial for upgrading your equipment, especially since better gear is less common. Gold early on isn’t as vital as having decent items.

2. Should I sell blue items in World Tier Two?

It can be worth it to sell blue items from World Tier 2 if you find that you are constantly running out of gold, otherwise it is better to salvage for now.

3. What about jewelry like rings and amulets? Should I sell or salvage those?

The same principles apply. If the jewelry isn’t an upgrade or you don’t have a need for the salvage materials, sell it. However, keep an eye out for rare and legendary jewelry with useful stat rolls and aspects for your build.

4. How much gold can I make by selling gear in Diablo 4?

The amount of gold you make varies depending on the item’s rarity and item power. Late game, you can easily acquire a steady amount of gold simply by selling lower-tier items. In later tiers, it becomes a reliable income source.

5. Is there a point where salvaging becomes pointless?

Yes, once you have a vast stockpile of basic crafting materials and you are consistently using Legendary gear, most common and rare materials become less valuable. At this point, it is better to prioritize selling most gear.

6. Should I sell gems in Diablo 4?

No, you should keep all gems. These are used to upgrade to higher tiers at the jeweler and are valuable even into the endgame. You may want to start selling these at the later stages of the game, but usually gems are worth more as an upgraded gem than sold separately.

7. What do I do with unwanted Legendaries?

You have two options: extract their legendary aspect at the Occultist and destroy the item, or sell it, in that order of priority.

8. Can you make money from anything other than selling gear?

Yes, you can get gold by completing side quests, defeating enemies, and opening treasure chests. However, selling excess gear is the most consistent method.

9. Is item power important when selling gear?

Yes, higher item power items will sell for more gold. This is especially true for higher rarity items.

10. What is the fastest way to level in Diablo 4?

While the article doesn’t focus on leveling, some players find running through dungeons, and completing specific side quests that offer the most experience, the quickest ways to level in Diablo 4.

11. Are there any items I should never sell or salvage?

Keep hold of Unique items, as these often have specific builds and playstyles. Don’t salvage these items, unless you have several duplicates.

12. How does the item power of gear affect its price when selling?

Higher item power (ilvl) directly translates to a higher sale price. Items with higher ilvl will also generally roll higher stats.

13. Can I trade gear with other players in Diablo 4?

Yes, certain items can be traded with other players. However, legendary and unique items can not be traded.

14. Are microtransactions pay-to-win in Diablo 4?

No, Diablo 4 has microtransactions, but they are largely cosmetic and do not affect gameplay.

15. Can I re-roll the stats on items?

Yes, at the Occultist you can pay to re-roll a single affix on an item, or also to extract legendary aspects. However, you cannot re-roll unique items.

Conclusion

Knowing when to sell gear in Diablo 4 is a key part of optimizing your resources and progression. While salvaging is invaluable in the early game, the transition to primarily selling gear upon reaching World Tier Three can dramatically boost your gold reserves and overall gameplay experience. Always be aware of the gear you need for your builds, and always salvage Legendaries for their valuable aspects and resources. By balancing the two strategies, you’ll become a more efficient, powerful player in Diablo 4. Happy hunting!