One of many amazing details that really makes the grimdark RPG game stand out as a visual showstopper in 2023 is seeing your Diablo 4 skill intensity augment the effects on your powers as you level them up. There were concerns raised about the continued existence of the much-anticipated feature after the Diablo 4 beta. Thankfully, the assistant art director for the game has confirmed its inclusion and detailed exactly how it functions in the complete game.
Responding to a fan query about whether the feature was still included, Diablo 4 VFX developer Daniel Briggs confirms, “Yes this is still in the game!” He notes that at its level 25 cap, the beta doesn’t show off quite the full extent of how this feature will operate. “There is a ton of additional content, especially at higher world tiers,” he explains, “Your skill intensity is based on your skill points and legendary affixes for that skill.”
Briggs details the various factors that determine the size and intensity of your skill effects. He says, “it is a bit gradual as you level but comparing a maxed-out skill to level one is noticeable. The blog examples are in game! Blue flames on sorcerer skills are the most obvious [right now].”
As for what exactly will increase your skills’ visual intensity, Briggs lists four different factors. Up to five points can be spent on the skill in your skill tree directly, up to six can come from skill point affixes, up to three can come from skill category affixes, and four more can come from an “extremely rare -REDACTED-” source. He adds that the likes of legendary items and legendary paragon nodes and glyphs can also have an effect on its size.
Diablo 4 skill intensity – comparison shots showing the incinerate skill at a lower level (with a light stream of fire) and a higher level (a billowing cloud of flame with lashings of blue towards the source).
It’s an extremely cool feature, so I’m personally very pleased to see that it’s definitely making it into the full product. Nothing sells your character’s progression quite as well as your skills ramping up over time from simple thwacks into screen-clearing, ground-cracking wallops.
While you wait for the Diablo 4 release date, make sure to read up on all the Diablo 4 classes to help decide which one you’re going to start with. You might also want to check in on the Diablo 4 system requirements and ensure your gaming rig is ready for Lilith’s arrival – we know we are.