Coming back to Diablo IV after those early seasons is a bit of a shock, in a good way. You're not tripping over endless yellow junk anymore, and the game doesn't ask you to do inventory paperwork every ten minutes. The whole pace feels calmer, like someone finally admitted that sorting loot isn't "content." When a Legendary drops while you're leveling, it actually matters, and you're not numb to it. Even the economy side feels more intentional now, since you can focus on upgrades instead of constantly burning through materials and Diablo 4 gold just to keep up with the cleanup.
Less Time in Menus
The biggest win, honestly, is how fast you can judge an item. You pick it up, glance at it, and your brain already knows: keep, sell, salvage, done. The affix pools feel tighter, and the stats are less of a puzzle box. That matters after a long session. You're not comparing five near-identical rings like you're doing taxes. You stay out in the world, you keep your momentum, and the game feels more like an action RPG again instead of a spreadsheet with demons in the background.
Gear Feels Like a Project
Endgame gearing also has a different tone now. Tempering and Masterworking push you into making decisions instead of just praying for one perfect drop. You find a solid base, then you build on it. Step by step. There's still that sting when a Temper roll goes sideways and you "brick" something you were excited about, but it's a risk you chose, not a random slap from the loot gods. It's weirdly motivating, too, because progress isn't invisible. You can feel your character tightening up, getting sharper, clearing harder content because you invested smart.
Target Farming Has a Point
And yeah, target farming actually feels real now. When you know certain bosses and elite rotations are more likely to cough up what you need, logging in has direction. You're not just wandering around hoping the game feels generous. You've got a route, a plan, a reason to do "one more run." It also makes experimenting less painful. People switch builds more when the gear chase doesn't feel like starting over from scratch. It's still a grind, sure, but it's a grind where effort shows up on your character sheet.
The Loop Finally Respects You
What I notice most is the lack of burnout. You play longer because you're doing the fun part more often: fighting, moving, testing skills, pushing content. The loot system isn't trying to bury you under noise, and that makes each upgrade land cleaner. You're chasing specifics, improving what you've already earned, and making choices that actually stick. If you're gearing up for a new setup or trying to smooth out the last few weak spots, it's nice not to feel punished for caring about efficiency, even if you occasionally decide to buy Diablo 4 gold to save time and stay focused on the parts of the game that feel good again.
