Fans of modern ARPG hits such asDiablo 3andPath of Exilewho expect the same kind of isometric, action-packed, RPG goodness might have mixed feelings when playingDiablo 2: Resurrected.After all, ifBlizzardindeed remasters the classicDiablo 2for modern setups, this means adaptingD2’s fast-paced yet equally technical gameplay for both pros and newcomers to enjoy.
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In fact, those waiting forDiablo 4might want to keep an eye on howResurrecteddiffers fromD3in terms of overall mechanics. Moreover, players with intense expectations might walk intoD2expecting a breeze and end up encountering a storm. In these cases, what exactly can ruin someone’sDiablo 2playthrough? Here are a few things to note.
Updated July 05, 2025 by Rhenn Taguiam:Blizzard’sDiablo 2remains one of the most acclaimed CRPGs of all time, thanks to its gothic atmosphere and immensely tactical gameplay. In fact, fans loved the game so much that the remasteredDiablo 2 Resurrectedbecame a hotly-anticipated title prior to its September release. However, fans who want to prepare for this remastered experience may want to try outDiablo 2in its original iteration. For fans preparing for this experience, this list has been updated to include additional tips to avoid ruining playthroughs.
15Don’t Underestimate Mobs
Despite their name, mobs in anyDiablogame aren’t just cannon fodder. Even the simplest of skeletons can be tough to kill, especially for newbies — and even more so in large numbers. Given the nature ofDiablo 2as a dungeon crawler, players will quickly find themselves overwhelmed with a tremendous number of mobs if they’re not careful.
To avoid this mistake, it’s advisable for players to traverse a dungeon carefully and eliminate mobs they encounter one by onewith efficient builds. This can increase the time one spends inside a dungeon, but it helps ease the level of pressure players face when they have to start eliminating mobs surrounding tougher Elite Mobs.
14Understand Elite Mobs
Similar to other games, Elite Mobs are simply “upgraded” versions of mobs. However, in theDiablofranchise, Elite Mobs aren’t just reskinned versions of mobs. They also receive a number of random stat buffs on top of their higher base stats. In turn, Elite Mobs aretougher to kill and can pack a mean punch,which explains why they drop good loot forrelevant recipes and builds.
Unlike sub-bosses in other games, Elite Mobs are procedurally generated. As such, some players might even feel like an Elite Mob is deadlier than a boss. A boss is somewhat predictable and has a limited skill-set; however, Elite Mobs have entirely unique skill sets of their own, and there’s no way of knowing who players will be facing. When players see a monster with a unique name, they better take their buffs to heart so they know how to counter them.
13Use Potions
Anyone who’s ever heard of a “Diablo 2pro” would likely remember a story or two about them soloing a boss without any potions, or usingas few potions as possible. However, if there’s anything players should spend on, it’s gettingas many potions as possible.
Life is the most important currency inDiablo 2, and bosses can easily have players spending all of their potions in the most crucial of encounters. Considering the position-heavy nature of the game, players will be spending a lot of their time dodging and trying to rework their attacks. As such, having more potions than they need gives players the necessary allowance to keep up the fight.
12Don’t Forget Hotkeys
Players who dabbled intoDiablo 3will likely remember its fast-paced gameplay, which makes it sensible for the game to let players keybind skills to certain hotkeys. As such, players who tryDiablo 2for the first time might be surprised that there doesn’t seem to be any such feature. UnlikeDiablo 3,which shows available skills and their potential keybinds,Diablo 2has an attack or skill slotted in the left mouse button and the right mouse button — and that’s it.
Actually, it is possible to keybind inDiablo 2. To do this, players can hover over their preset attack on the left or right mouse button slot and click it to reveal their character’s other available skills. They canhover over their desired skill and press any of the function keys (F1 to F8) in order to assign that skill to that particular key.For instance, for the Necromancer, this is a nifty way to get quick access toall their golem types.
11Don’t Focus On One Damage Type
Fans ofDiablo 2will likely deepdive into the best builds or eventhe best Runewordsto get a sense of what the endgame could be like in terms of dealing high damage numbers. As such, it will soon dawn upon them that certain classes excel in dealing certain damage types. The Sorceress, for example, does brilliant Fire damage, so it makes sense to make a build around this specialization.
However, using this solely as a basis for builds can become deadly real quick.Monsters eventually get resistance to multiple types of damage.This gets deadlier when it comes to bosses, especially at higher difficulties. Instead, players should at least try to find a build suitable for all damage types, so they can easily adapt when facing certain bosses.
10Don’t Expect Concepts For D3 Callbacks
It’s important to note thatD3’s events happen around two decades afterD2’s. Despite the short span of time, the events inD2were enough to change the status quo of Sanctuary in its entirety. As such, fans who expect to find concepts thatD3"references" inD2might be disappointed.
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Essentially, newcomers shouldenterD2much in the same way a completely new player would treat the game.While it’s true that background information inD3ties intoD2, players need the help of bothD2and outside media (e.g., books)to understand these references.
9Don’t Follow Any Guides Yet
GivenDiablo 2’s age, it’s normal for new players to want to finish the game as soon as they start playing it. After all, Russia’s 327 just speedran the game for 57:45as of November 2020. However,D2newcomersmight not enjoy the game if they plan on rushing it in a couple of days.Remember,build guides will likely mention items that only appear hundreds of hours into a playthrough.
WhileD3’s Seasons focus on the “rush” of acquiring the best items and killing enemies the fastest,D2’s endgame is all about the journey. Before players embark on cheesing or optimizing their builds, it helps to focus on carefully learning stat synergies between Attributes, Skills, Gear, and Sockets. UnlikeD3’s endgame that focuses heavily on gear, character builds inD2invest greatly on how everything affects a character’s stats.
8Don’t Rely On Multiple Saves
As withDiablo 3, players inDiablo 2have multiple character slots, but only one Save Slot for each. Essentially,D2does away with the typical “multiple saves” formula. Instead,all progress that happens to one character gets stored in its own character slot. In turn, players who want to get serious in the endgame might have to redo their entire character if they feel unsatisfied with their progress.
To avoid frustration, players shouldtake note of all their character choices carefully.Thankfully, even stat distribution ensures players confirm their choices first before finalizing them. While the same “one save” formula is present inD3, the lack of respecialization inD2makes character decisions all the more important.
7Don’t Ignore Dodge
Players who triedDiablo 3might discover that dodging isn’t always an essential element, especially for high-defense builds. However, inDiablo 2,mobility determines survival.Mobs inD2tend to punish players more due to their unpredictability and their interaction with stats. In turn, players need to pay more attention on their distance, actively moving out of enemy attacks, and even spamming teleportation scrolls.
While players don’t have Nemeses stalking them after resurrection inD2, revived players do lose all their items and leave them where they died. This means that players who die in a boss battle will have to retrieve their items from that exact same place. In short, dying inD2is an inconvenience, and dodging can leave players less frustrated in the process.
6Don’t Forget Essential Statistics
Players who want to get intoD2’s endgame seamlessly shouldn’t forget essential statistics even in their first run. After all, ending up with a weak character might forceD2players to restart just to get an optimized character for the endgame.
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In turn, players have some essentials to remember. For defense, players need to take note of Vitality (for Life) and Resistances for damage mitigation. Most enemies love using Lightning and Fire, meaning Resistances to them matter the most. Meanwhile, the best offensive statsdiffer depending on the class. For spellcasters, Faster Cast Rate ensures combos and proccing spell effects happen faster. Melee specialists use Attack Rating to achieve the same benefit with their physical attacks.
