Season 11 is currently ongoing, and Diablo 4 once again has players fighting against hordes of monsters with the option to increase the challenge for more rewards.
After certain changes have been made to the game, a new overall stat called Toughness has been introduced and is now visible for those who wish to take on Torment I and higher.
The majority of the settings remain the same as the other seasons, and we have put everything together for you to easily check out when needed.
Types of Difficulties
The standard difficulties for Diablo 4 include Normal, Hard, Expert, and Penitent, which provide you with more of a challenge as you move higher.
These difficulties merely increase the amount of XP and Gold that you obtain when defeating enemies, unlike the Torment Tiers, which provide even more rewards.
Torment I through Torment IV have increasing challenges and have a recommended Toughness level that should be met for you to be able to face the stronger enemies that you encounter.
How To Unlock Torment in Season 11?
Torment I to Torment IV are unlocked later, once you have reached Level 60, and require you to complete certain tiers in The Pit, depending on each tier.
Playing on Torment Difficulties provides you with even more rewards than the standard difficulties and is considered the more endgame part of Diablo 4.
Each level of Torment will require that you return to The Pit and complete a specific tier before it may be unlocked and activated.
All Difficulty Levels in Diablo 4 Season 11
Normal (Gather Your Strength)
The difficulty set for new and returning players, which offers the base amount of XP and Gold for those who prefer an easy start, and to enjoy the game’s story.
Hard (Hell Has Awoken)
Recommended for players who have already played Diablo 4 and even the previous games of the franchise, providing a moderate experience with increased XP and Gold gain.
- Monster Kills grant 75% more XP
- Earn 50% more Gold
Expert (The Hordes Amass)
Meant to be played by players who are already skilled in Diablo 4, who have already gotten their hands on Legendary Items, and have created their starting builds.
- Monster Kills grant 125% more XP
- Earn 100% more Gold
Penitent (Repent Your Sins)
A more punishing difficulty in the standard choices of Diablo 4 difficulties, which is a good option for those who are experienced and have already begun tempering their Legendary items.
- Monster Kills grant 175% more XP
- Earn 200% more Gold
Torment I (Test Your Mettle)
The earliest Torment difficulty allows you to get better rewards, which is meant for those with the highest level of skill and equipment already enhanced with Tempering and Masterworking.
- The start of Diablo 4’s Endgame, with new activities and items available
- Monster Kills grant 300% more XP
- Earn 300% more Gold
- Common, Magic, and Rare equipment is automatically salvaged
- Ancestral quality items become available
- Recommended Toughness: 2000
Torment II (The Fires Burn Hotter)
A more difficult yet more rewarding choice for players who want to push themselves further, who have gained access to more powerful equipment, and have upgraded it.
- Monster Kills grant 400% more XP
- Earn 400% more Gold
- Increased Legendary, Unique, and Mythic Unique items per Torment tier
- Increased chance for items to be of Ancestral quality per Torment tier
- Recommended Toughness: 5000
Torment III (Abandon All Hope)
Meant to be selected by the most skilled and powerful wanderers of Sanctuary, which requires full upgrades and proper builds to conquer your foes.
- Monster Kills grant 500% more XP
- Earn 500% more Gold
- Increased Legendary, Unique, and Mythic Unique items per Torment tier
- Increased chance for items to be of Ancestral quality per Torment tier
- Recommended Toughness: 15000
Torment IV (The Abyss Stares Back)
The greatest difficulty in Diablo 4 is that it offers better rewards but at the cost of more punishing challenges when exploring and doing activities across Sanctuary.
- Monster Kills grant 600% more XP
- Earn 600% more Gold
- Increased Legendary, Unique, and Mythic Unique items per Torment tier
- Increased chance for items to be of Ancestral quality per Torment tier
- Recommended Toughness: 35000
What Happened To Resistance Reduction?
Resistance Reduction per Torment Tier has been removed as of Season 11, and instead, the enemies that you face are now more challenging.
This requires that you improve your defenses in order to improve the Overall Stat now known as Toughness, as those who do not reach the recommended amount will have a hard time.
Toughness now serves as an overall count of your defenses, but also has individual values that can still be viewed to help you figure out which defense properties need to be improved to balance it out.
Verdict
Season 11’s difficulty structure keeps Diablo 4 approachable early while offering a clear, rewarding path into the endgame through Torment tiers and the new Toughness system.
The removal of resistance reduction shifts focus toward well-rounded defenses, encouraging players to invest thoughtfully in gear, upgrades, and survivability before pushing higher tiers.
Overall, the updated difficulty settings strike a strong balance between accessibility and challenge, rewarding preparation and progression without overwhelming players moving into endgame content.
