What are the Diablo 4 item rarity levels? Not all items are created equal in Diablo 4, and there's a lot of loot to sift through on your journey across Sanctuary. Thankfully, Blizzard has continued Diablo's long-standing tradition of splitting items into tiers of color-coded rarity, a system that's withstood the test of time – and one which you've likely seen crop up in many other games.
Equipment is a core component of runewords, and more.
Diablo 4 rarity levels explained
Here are the Diablo 4 item rarity levels and their corresponding colors:
- Normal – White
- Magic – Blue
- Rare – Yellow
- Legendary – Orange
- Unique – Gold
While item rarity is generally a good shorthand for what items are better than others, it's worth bearing in mind that the value of your items doesn't always correspond to the color ascribed to them. You might find an item that falls lower on the loot tier system includes modifiers that better complement your build, so be sure to choose wisely at higher levels.
Normal
You're most likely to find items of Normal rarity during your first few hours exploring through Sanctuary. They don't have any unique or variable properties besides a basic stat boost, which is just enough to keep you alive until something better drops. In our experience, you should quickly outstrip any Normal items you have equipped after tackling a few cellars and salvage.
Magic
Magic items are the next on the rung of Diablo 4 rarity levels. If you're new to Diablo, don't be fooled by the name – these items aren't restricted to spellcasters and can be used to bolster even the scrappiest Diablo 4 max level cap.
Rare
We consider Rare items to be the awkward teen phase of the Diablo 4 item rarity levels since they primarily serve as a stepping stone between Magic and Legendary items. They can include between two to six affixes depending on the drop, so the overall value of this rarity varies wildly – but it's generally safe to assume they're a cut above your Magic alternatives. You can expect to acquire Rare items when completing side quests, dungeons, or other activities that can increase your Diablo 4 Renown.
Legendary
Legendary items are some of the most coveted in Sanctuary and the rarity you should be looking to kit yourself out in while approaching the Diablo 4 multiplayer.
Unique
Diablo 2. This rarity level includes "build-around items with completely fixed affixes, heavily thematic and usually class-specific powers, and distinctive look," as described in Blizzard's blog post – though we've encountered a few generic drops that all classes can equip.
As their name indicates, each Unique item comes with its own unique effect that can enhance your class abilities. While only one Unique item can be equipped at a time, their benefits outweigh the effort (and gold) it takes to craft your The Butcher.
Now that you're an expert on the Diablo 4 item rarity levels, ensure you're sporting the best threads in the Diablo 4 classes guides if you're just starting out.