Diablo 4 brings some of the best traditions in the franchise back to the gaming world, one of them being the piles of gold, gear, and other fun bits of loot that reward brave adventurers for their trouble. The quality of items in Diablo 4 starts with Common and runs up to Unique, with higher-level items and accessories available as players reach the endgame.
There's an option in Diablo 4 to upgrade various types of gear and equipment, so it stays useful for longer. Other items like gems and consumables are also worth the investment of gold and materials when upgrades are required. This isn't about the highest-level items, but something that has a special buff or complements a character's unique build. Once in a while, there might be that special piece of gear that makes the cost and materials worth the trouble in this open-world dungeon crawler.
7 Khanjali Of Frozen Orbit
Frozen Orbit is also the name of an Offensive Aspect that appears on a variety of Legendary items, and it's the additional ability it grants that's more important than the item itself. This is a nice dagger for any class that can use it, but when it comes to upgrades, this would be best reserved for a Sorcerer.
The Khanjali of Frozen Orbit grants an extra ability to the spell Frozen Orb. Instead of reaching its target and exploding, it stays in place and explodes twice. Anything that improves spell damage or critical hit would make a good combination for this cool spellcaster build. Upgrade it and keep it for as long as possible, then salvage it to get the Aspect and use it on something else.
6 Health Potions
Players can often forget that Diablo 4 is an RPG without a dedicated healing class, with the Druid being the only class with any spellcasting powers that restore hit points. Therefore, upgrading health potions is a must if players are to survive and thrive.
When it's time for combat, self-healing options are extremely limited depending on the character's unique skill tree build and gear. Choosing gear that improves the character's constitution and hit points is helpful, but upgrading the healing potions as soon as possible should be every player's priority.
5 Mother's Embrace
This might be one of the first Unique items that many players see in Diablo 4, depending on when they finish the campaign quests. Thanks to the level scaling now featured in the game, it's up to each player when and how they close the storyline.
After following Lilith across what's left of Sanctuary, and fighting anyone and anything she leaves in her wake, she finally faces the protagonist. When she falls, she drops a Unique ring called Mother's Embrace, which is great for any class.
Mother's Embrace improves critical strike damage and chance, Overpower damage, and Core Spell damage. It also has the power to refund resources like Mana or Fury if the Core Spell hits five or more enemies. It's worth upgrading at a jeweler and keeping it for as long as possible.
4 Eluding Boneweave Armor
The Boneweave armor is a Legendary chest piece that can drop from a variety of elite enemies that can be found in both dungeons and cellars. Other classes would be better off selling this or salvaging it, however, it's worth upgrading for a Sorcerer of the fiery persuasion.
The Eluding Boneweave armor reduces damage and improves both the character's Pyromancy and Conjuration skills. Other classes will appreciate the ability to become Unstoppable if injured while crowd-controlled, as the Dodge function is essential to survival.
3 Resistance Elixirs
Another detail that's easy to miss in a sea of upgradable gear and equipment is elixirs. Players can also upgrade the elixirs and potions used for elemental buffs, armor improvements, and increased experience gain. The trick here is to upgrade the raw materials that the player has foraged and collected in the wilderness to make more complex potions.
Refining raw herbs and plants is something the Alchemist can also do in addition to brewing the basic Weak versions of most potions. Players should make and upgrade anything that improves Thorns or Poison a priority to improve the character's chances of success and survival.
2 Vigo's Protecting Amulet
An overpowered item if there ever was one, this item is one of the Legendary pieces of gear that players get as a reward from the main storyline. After facing and defeating Lilith's Lament as part of the Descent quest, the reward is Vigo's Protecting Amulet. Melee fighters might take it or leave it, but for the casters, it's a handy item worthy of a few upgrades.
The only class-specific buff on the amulet is the improvement to Fury generation, which is useful to Barbarians. Other perks include improvements to cooldown times, weapon mastery, and a better rate of healing. The best part comes from the bubble of invulnerability that randomly pops around the character, making them immune from any damage for almost 5 seconds.
1 Gemstones
There are different grades of gemstones in Diablo 4, just like there are different kinds of gear. Jewelers don't just upgrade necklaces and rings; they can also cut and refine the rough gemstones that characters collect during their travels. The collection includes conventional precious stones along with small skulls, which are collected and cut in the same way.
Investing in upgraded gems isn't just a good investment of both gold and resources during the progression of each character. It's also another way to upgrade any gear that has a gem socket. Putting new sockets into gear is barely worth it. It's better to upgrade the gems instead.
Diablo 4 is available now on PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, and PS5.