Acolyte of Chayula

Barbarian

Druid

Necromancer

Rogue

Sorcerer

Spiritborn


<p>Season 8 introduces a new event where Belial&#8217;s illusory foot soldiers invade Sanctuary, bringing a new challenge, rewards, and Boss Powers.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What Are Apparition Incursions?</h2>



<p>Belial is returning and sending his Apparition Monsters all over Sanctuary. These monsters, spawning in waves and marked by Belial’s sickening green eye on their bodies, must be sent back to their master’s imagination. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How Does the New Zone Takeover Work?</h2>



<p>The main goal is to defeat all Apparition Monsters in an active zone to summon one of the 10 Apparition Bosses. After defeating the first boss, the incursion will shift to another location in the zone, where the event will repeat. After the second boss dies, a countdown will begin to summon a more comprehensible version of Belial himself.</p>



<p>Completing the event rewards you with loot and a unique Boss Power, which will help you get to Torment 1 and higher. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://bnetcmsus-a.akamaihd.net/cms/page_media/KAZAEX1LPFCB1741131919506.png" alt=""/></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Why Are Apparition Incursions Important?</h2>



<p>The new event is <strong>the only way </strong>to unlock the first Boss Powers, making it easier to level up and will also be a good source of the new <strong>Spectral Ash</strong> <strong>currency</strong>, used to <strong>upgrade your Boss Powers</strong>. We also expect Blizzard to buff the XP rewards from the incursions, making it a great source of leveling.</p>


Diablo 4 Season 8: Belial’s Apparition Incursions Bring Boss Powers and Spectral Ash


<p>With Season 8 just around the <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/news/season-8-start-date/">corner</a>, we’re taking a closer look at some of the Boss Powers—what they are, how they work, and how you can get your hands on them. This new seasonal feature lets us turn the tide against all our enemies, letting us learn their abilities and using them to our advantage!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What Are Boss Powers?</h2>



<p>Boss Powers allow you to absorb the essence of important enemies and use their abilities as your own. There are <strong>24 Boss Powers</strong> available in Season 8, each with two components: </p>



<ul>
<li><strong>Main Power:</strong> The core ability, shaping how you play and defining your build.</li>



<li><strong>Modifier Power:</strong> Amplifies and enhances your Main Power, pushing its potential. </li>
</ul>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://static.icy-veins.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Snimka-obrazovky-2025-03-07-o-20.49.12.jpg" alt=""/></figure>



<p>You can have one Main Power and up to three Modifier Powers active at a time, which will create new possibilities for many builds and will help during leveling up all the way to 60.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How to Obtain Boss Powers?</h2>



<p><br>To obtain Boss Powers, you have to defeat specific bosses all over Sanctuary for the first time in Season 8. For example, all the World-Bosses will award a different Power, while many others can be found by defeating Apparitions in the <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/news/diablo-4-season-8-belials-apparition-incursions-bring-boss-powers-and-spectral-ash/">new Apparition Incursion events</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Boss Powers to Kickstart Your Build</h2>



<p>Let us take a look at some of the early Boss Powers and how impactful they can be:</p>



<p><strong>Wandering Death&#8217;s Chest Beam&nbsp;</strong></p>



<ul>
<li><strong>Main:</strong> While Channeling a Skill, spawn a beam that deals 300% Frostbite damage per second. Enemies hit take 50%[x] increased damage from you for 1 second.</li>



<li><strong>Modifier:</strong> Your Main Boss Power instantly Executes Non-Boss enemies hit with less than 15% Life. When you Execute enemies you gain 25 Primary Resource.</li>
</ul>



<p><strong>Avarice&#8217;s Explosive Ore</strong>&nbsp;</p>



<ul>
<li><strong>Main:</strong> When you gain excess Primary Resource, spawn a Piece of Ore. After 2.5 seconds the Piece of Ore explodes dealing 700% Fire damage. You can spawn up to 3 Pieces of Ore at once.</li>



<li><strong>Modifier:</strong> Activating your Main Boss Power spends all your Primary Resource to increase its damage by 1.5%[x] per Resource point spent.</li>
</ul>



<p><strong>Ashava&#8217;s Poison Breath&nbsp;</strong></p>



<ul>
<li><strong>Main:</strong> Hitting an enemy affected by Damage over Time spawns a wave of acid that deals 400% Poisoning damage over 4 seconds. Applies 10% more Poisoning for each 1% of the target&#8217;s current Life affected by Damage over Time.</li>



<li><strong>Modifier:</strong> Once per activation, damaging an enemy with your Main Boss Power also applies 45% Poisoning damage to it over 3 seconds.</li>
</ul>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://bnetcmsus-a.akamaihd.net/cms/page_media/D9CP3GYUFI121741131946172.gif" alt=""/></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">More Powers The Higher You Get!</h2>



<p>After reaching level 60 and Torment 1, you will unlock even more powerful Boss Powers, granting access to abilities that are build defining, but also harder to obtain.<br>Stay tuned for a deeper look into those abilities pretty soon!</p>


Season 8 Boss Powers Revealed: How to Unlock Game-Changing Abilities Early


<p>As <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Diablo 4</a> continues to grow with the release of new content and seasonal updates, the community is consistently asking about a few very important quality-of-life (QoL) improvements. These are not &#8220;cool features&#8221; but rather changes to the game that would make the moment-to-moment experience feel a lot better.</p>



<p>A recent thread on Reddit has brought many of these requests back into focus:</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-reddit wp-block-embed-reddit"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="reddit-embed-bq" style="height:316px" ><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/diablo4/comments/1jmj7fo/some_ideas_for_future_qol_summon_blacksmith_pet/">Some ideas for future QoL: summon Blacksmith / pet transfer item in personal stash</a><br> by<a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/Talos_Bane/">u/Talos_Bane</a> in<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/diablo4/">diablo4</a></blockquote><script async src="https://embed.reddit.com/widgets.js" charset="UTF-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<p>Here is a breakdown of the most requested changes players want to see.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Most Requested QoL Features from the Community</h2>



<ul>
<li><strong>Summonable Blacksmith or Salvage Pet<br></strong>One of the most popular ideas is the ability to salvage items on the go using a pet or summonable NPC. This would reduce constant trips to town and free up inventory space during long dungeon runs.</li>



<li><strong>Pet-Linked Stash Transfer<br></strong>In addition to salvaging, some players would also like the option to send items directly to their stash using the pet. It would be a simple way to clean up your bags without interrupting gameplay.</li>



<li><strong>Better Pet Utility<br></strong>Several suggestions also focus on making pets more useful in general, like letting them pick up more types of loot or speed up gold collection.</li>



<li><strong>Loot Filter System<br></strong>A proper loot filter is something Diablo 4 players have been asking for since its launch. Being able to select which item types show up would help prevent clutter, reduce accidental item misses, and make looting feel better, especially for controller players who often struggle to pick up a single item when the screen is crowded.</li>



<li><strong>Improved Inventory Management<br></strong>Players want more space, better sorting options, and filters to quickly organize items. Some would also like a way to auto-mark certain gear for salvage or sell, saving time when managing loot.</li>



<li><strong>Better Stash Organization<br></strong>Gear, gems, materials, and other items all take up valuable space, so players have asked for more stash tabs, or dedicated tabs specifically for certain item types, to help reduce clutter.</li>



<li><strong>Access Armory Outside of Town<br></strong>Another common suggestion is to make the Armory usable anytime, not just in town. Being able to switch builds mid-activity would open up more flexibility during high-end content.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">But Will These Improvements Happen?</h2>



<p>Blizzard has made some small QoL improvements in past patches, but most of these larger requests remain unaddressed. However, perhaps with continued feedback from the community, there is still hope that future updates will change more of these so called &#8220;pain points&#8221;, especially as we move deeper into new seasons and long-term support.</p>



<p>For now, though, players continue to push for changes that would make inventory, looting, and build management faster and more convenient across all platforms.</p>


Most Requested QoL Features Diablo 4 Players Still Want!

All Diablo 4 Season 8 PTR Class Changes


<p><a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/sorcerer/builds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Sorceress</a> has always been one of the most popular classes in the Diablo series, thanks to her fast movement and powerful elemental skills. But for console players, one core ability, <a class="icy-gtnbrg-link" href="#"><span class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip"><img decoding="async" data-tooltip-name="Teleport" class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip-img" src="https://wp.icy-veins.com/static/d4/latest/images/icons/2DUI_Skills_Sorceress_7.webp" alt="Teleport"><span class="tooltip-spell-name d4-text">Teleport</span></span></a>, just does not feel right.</p>



<p>Across Reddit and forums, players continue to voice their concerns about Teleport being too clunky on controller, especially compared to how it works on PC. One recent Reddit post lays out the issue clearly:</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-reddit wp-block-embed-reddit"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="reddit-embed-bq" style="height:316px" ><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/diablo4/comments/1jn3vll/sorcerer_teleport_on_console_and_how_to_improve_it/">Sorcerer teleport on console and how to improve it</a><br> by<a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/Rich-Primary3191/">u/Rich-Primary3191</a> in<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/diablo4/">diablo4</a></blockquote><script async src="https://embed.reddit.com/widgets.js" charset="UTF-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What Is the Issue with Teleport on Console?</h2>



<p>On PC, Teleport lets you choose exactly where to go by clicking anywhere on the screen. You can instantly blink across the battlefield, either to escape danger or close the gap on a boss.</p>



<p>On console, you do not have a mouse cursor. Instead, <a class="icy-gtnbrg-link" href="#"><span class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip"><img decoding="async" data-tooltip-name="Teleport" class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip-img" src="https://wp.icy-veins.com/static/d4/latest/images/icons/2DUI_Skills_Sorceress_7.webp" alt="Teleport"><span class="tooltip-spell-name d4-text">Teleport</span></span></a> sends you in a set direction with a fixed, shorter distance, which often feels unpredictable. Sometimes you end up right in the middle of an enemy pack instead of behind them, or worse, you try to dodge an attack and still land inside the hit zone. It makes positioning much harder, and players say it limits one of the class’s most important tools.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full has-custom-border"><img decoding="async" src="https://wp-prod.icy-veins.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/SorcTeleportConsole.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image 63345" style="border-radius:8px"/></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Player Suggestions for Fixing Teleport</h2>



<p>Several players have come up with ideas to make Teleport feel better on console, especially for controller users:</p>



<ul>
<li><strong>Analog Stick Distance Scaling:</strong> The farther you push the stick, the farther you teleport. This would allow players to control both direction and distance naturally, without needing a cursor.</li>



<li><strong>Hold to Teleport Further:</strong> Tap to teleport normally, or hold the button to go the maximum distance. This would make it easier to escape quickly without overshooting when you do not need to.</li>



<li><strong>Smarter Targeting Past Enemies:</strong> One idea is to let Teleport automatically place the Sorceress beyond enemy packs when the button is held, which would reduce the risk of blinking into danger.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Will Blizzard Change It?</h2>



<p>Right now, there is no official word from Blizzard regarding the question if console Teleport will be updated. But with more players speaking up about it, especially on Reddit, it is becoming a common discussion point for the class.</p>



<p>Until then, console <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/sorcerer/builds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sorceress</a> mains will have to work around the current version, but there is hope that future updates will bring some much-needed improvements to make the skill feel just as good as it does on PC.</p>


Console Players Really Want a Sorceress Teleport Fix – Here’s Why


<p>Here&#8217;s a comprehensive list of all Runeword changes coming in Season 8&#8217;s Patch 2.2!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Rune Words</h2>



<p><a class="icy-gtnbrg-link" href="#"><span class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip"><img decoding="async" class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip-img" src="https://wp.icy-veins.com/static/d4/latest/images/icons/2DInventory_Runes_V2_25.webp" alt="Xan"><span class="tooltip-spell-name" data-item-type="Rune of Invocation" data-item-quality="legendary">Xan</span></span></a></p>



<ul>
<li>Previous: Your next skill critically overpowers. Overflow: 1% damage per 10 Offering.</li>



<li>Now: Your next attack will cause your hits to be a guaranteed Critical Strike and Overpower for 0.25 seconds. Overflow: 0.35% damage per Offering.</li>



<li>Offering required reduced from 700 to 300.</li>
</ul>



<p><a class="icy-gtnbrg-link" href="#"><span class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip"><img decoding="async" class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip-img" src="https://wp.icy-veins.com/static/d4/latest/images/icons/2DInventory_Runes_V2_19.webp" alt="Qax"><span class="tooltip-spell-name" data-item-type="Rune of Invocation" data-item-quality="rare">Qax</span></span></a></p>



<ul>
<li>Previous: Your next non-Basic skill spends all your Primary Resource to deal up to 100% increased damage based on the percentage of Resource spent.</li>



<li>Now: Casting a Skill other than a Basic or Defensive spends all your Primary Resource to increase your damage up to 100% for 1 second.</li>
</ul>



<p><span class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip"><a class="icy-gtnbrg-link" href="#"><img decoding="async" class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip-img" src="https://wp.icy-veins.com/static/d4/latest/images/icons/2DInventory_Runes_V2_29.webp" alt="Vex"><span class="tooltip-spell-name" data-item-type="Rune of Invocation" data-item-quality="legendary">Vex</span></a></span> (+1 to all skills for 10s. Overflow: More ranks up to 3)</p>



<ul>
<li>Offering cost reduced from 150 to 100.</li>
</ul>



<p><span class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip"><a class="icy-gtnbrg-link" href="#"><img decoding="async" class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip-img" src="https://wp.icy-veins.com/static/d4/latest/images/icons/2DInventory_Runes_V2_24.webp" alt="Lum"><span class="tooltip-spell-name" data-item-type="Rune of Invocation" data-item-quality="magic">Lum</span></a></span> (Gain max resource)</p>



<ul>
<li>Offering gained increased from 2.5% to 3.5%.</li>
</ul>



<p><a class="icy-gtnbrg-link" href="#"><span class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip"><img decoding="async" class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip-img" src="https://wp.icy-veins.com/static/d4/latest/images/icons/2DInventory_Runes_V2_35.webp" alt="Ahu"><span class="tooltip-spell-name" data-item-type="Rune of Ritual" data-item-quality="legendary">Ahu</span></span></a></p>



<ul>
<li>Previous: Lucky hit: 100% when hitting an Injured enemy.</li>



<li>Now: Lucky hit: 100% when hitting a non-Healthy enemy.</li>



<li>Offering gained reduced from 25 to 15.</li>
</ul>



<p><a class="icy-gtnbrg-link" href="#"><span class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip"><img decoding="async" class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip-img" src="https://wp.icy-veins.com/static/d4/latest/images/icons/2DInventory_Runes_V2_11.webp" alt="Tec"><span class="tooltip-spell-name" data-item-type="Rune of Invocation" data-item-quality="magic">Tec</span></span></a></p>



<ul>
<li>Damage reduced from 1,400% to 1,000%.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Bug Fixes</h2>



<ul>
<li>Fixed an issue where the Intricacy Passive would not correctly remember which Skill was last used after transferring to a new Zone.</li>



<li>Fixed an issue that allowed for snapshotting of the Resilient Passive.</li>



<li>Fixed an issue where Resource Generation stats for other classes would display in character stats for Spiritborn Players.</li>



<li>Fixed an issue where casting The Hunter could cause the Wanderer to get partially stuck under the ground.</li>



<li>Fixed an issue where Spiritborn&#8217;s In-Fighter legendary paragon node did not display its bonus and gaining a new stack would not refresh all stacks.</li>



<li>Fixed an issue where two identical timers for Kurast Undercity runs would display while playing Local Co-Op.</li>



<li>Fixed an issue where the Xal rune would play the heal sound effect when at full life.</li>



<li>Fixed an issue where swapping weapons would end the Jah rune&#8217;s teleport buff.</li>



<li>Fixed an issue where the Nagu+Ceh combo would sometimes break if the target died right before the Spirit Wolf tries to do its ice explosion.</li>



<li>Fixed an issue where some of the text on the Que rune was displaying in the incorrect font style.</li>
</ul>


Runeword Changes in Season 8


<p>Infernal Hordes are still one of the most fun and engaging activities in Diablo 4. However, one mechanic still stands out negatively while doing them: Soul Spires! A rework could improve the flow of Infernal Hordes and make Soul Spires a bit more interesting.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Problem With Soulspires</h2>



<p>Currently, Soulspires feel underwhelming and don&#8217;t provide enough value compared to Aetheric Masses, Aether Fiends, and especially Hellbornes. Instead of offering valuable choices, Soulspires often feel like a wasted opportunity, slowing down the hunt for the highest amount of Aether possible. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" src="https://wp-prod.icy-veins.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Soulspire-Affix1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image 63290"/></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Potential Fixes</h2>



<p>A simple change would be to give players better choices for their Infernal offers. For example, there could be an option to choose between:&nbsp;</p>



<ul>
<li>4x Aether, but a lot of extra damage on normal monsters and elites. </li>



<li>Spawning additional Aether Fiends or elite enemies for a chance of more Aether.</li>
</ul>



<p>This would give players more valuable choices and let them decide if they want harder fights with higher rewards.&nbsp;</p>



<p>On Reddit, some more suggestions have been made on how they could have follow-up mechanics:</p>



<ul>
<li>Spawn mini-bosses that drop extra Aether when defeated.</li>



<li>Create an area-wide buff or debuff while Soulspires are active.</li>



<li>Enemies inside a Soulspire deal more damage but also reward more Aether.</li>
</ul>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-reddit wp-block-embed-reddit"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="reddit-embed-bq" ><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/diablo4/comments/1jelxkb/comment/mil83gd/">Comment</a><br> by<a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/maxima-3point0/">u/maxima-3point0</a> from discussion<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/diablo4/comments/1jelxkb/infernal_hoards_rework_soul_spires/"></a><br> in<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/diablo4/">diablo4</a></blockquote><script async src="https://embed.reddit.com/widgets.js" charset="UTF-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Seasonal Variations and Changes</h2>



<p>Another way to improve Soulspires would be by integrating them into the seasonal theme. This could also change Infernal Hordes as a whole, making them feel fresh with each new season. For example, in <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/guides/diablo-4-latest-season/">Season 7</a>, Spires could have had enemies that were introduced in Headhunt Zones like the Headrotten and the Headless Husk, maybe giving players even more options to farm Fugitive Heads and Restless Rot.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" src="https://wp.icy-veins.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2025-01-22-10_09_46-.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image 56121"/></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Final Thoughts</h2>



<p>Infernal Hordes is one of the best modes in Diablo 4, but Soulspires need a rework. Right now, it feels like the only real way to maximize Aether gain is through Hellborn, and that’s a problem. There should be more viable options to optimize Aether gain instead of pushing players into one dominant path. </p>



<p>A rework of Soulspires, or even an addition of new options and modifiers in general, could make Infernal Hordes even more fun and would change the gameplay of one of the only features that isn’t tied to a seasonal <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/news/diablo-4s-burrowed-powers-problem-are-seasonal-mechanics-digging-the-game-into-a-hole/">Borrowed Power</a>.</p>


Soulspires Need a Major Overhaul in Infernal Hordes


<p>With Belial&#8217;s return confirmed for <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Diablo 4</a> Season 8, many players are asking the same question: Who is this demon, and why does he matter? </p>



<p>While we have already briefly <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/news/diablo-4-the-return-of-belial-in-season-8/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">discussed the topic of Belial coming back next season</a>, today we want to dig a little deeper into the lore side of things. So, if you are new to the series or skipped Diablo 3, here is a quick breakdown of who Belial is and why his return matters in the bigger picture of the Diablo universe.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Who Is Belial, the Lord of Lies?</h2>



<p>Belial is one of the Lesser Evils in the Diablo universe and holds the title of Lord of Lies. He is not your typical brute-force demon. Belial is all about manipulation, misdirection, and deceit. His power lies in controlling information, spreading paranoia, and making sure no one knows who to trust. In the Eternal Conflict, the never-ending war between Heaven and Hell, Belial has always been more interested in divide-and-conquer tactics than open combat.</p>



<p>Unlike the Prime Evils such as Diablo and Mephisto, the Lesser Evils (Belial, Azmodan, <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/guides/uber-andariel-boss-guide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Andariel</a>, and <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/guides/uber-duriel-boss-guide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Duriel</a>) are still extremely powerful. In fact, Belial was once part of a rebellion that banished Diablo and the other Prime Evils from Hell entirely. So do not let the &#8220;Lesser&#8221; title fool you, because Belial knows how to play the long game.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Belial in Previous Games</h2>



<p>In <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d3/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Diablo 3</a>, Belial served as the final boss of Act II. Disguised as Emperor Hakan II in the city of Caldeum, he manipulated the kingdom from within, spreading fear and misinformation. Once revealed, players fought him in a rather dramatic two-phase battle that highlighted his deceitful nature and monstrous true form.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full has-custom-border"><img decoding="async" src="https://wp-prod.icy-veins.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Belial-d3-bossfight-room.jpg" alt="Boss Room - Belial Fight - Diablo 3" class="wp-image 63234" style="border-radius:8px"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Boss Room &#8211; Belial Fight &#8211; Diablo 3</figcaption></figure>



<p>He was defeated, but like many of the Prime Evils, death is rarely the end.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Why Belial&#8217;s Return Is a Big Deal for Diablo 4</h2>



<p>Belial&#8217;s presence in Diablo 4 also suggests a change from open warfare to psychological manipulation and corruption. He is not just another demon to slay, because he brings confusion, twisted alliances, and schemes that usually affect entire regions.</p>



<p>Given the grim tone of Diablo 4 and its focus on slow-burning dread, Belial&#8217;s style of evil fits perfectly. We can probably expect lies, betrayals, and quests where things are not what they seem. <strong>Perhaps this might even be a hint of what is to come beyond Season 8?</strong></p>


Season 8 Brings Back a Classic Villain – But Who Exactly Is Belial?


<p>For an entire season now, a small but very irritating bug has been annoying nearly every player. The in-game shop constantly shows an exclamation mark, which usually indicates new cosmetics or bundles have arrived at Tejal’s store. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A Bug or Feature?</h2>



<p>What started as a small annoyance at the beginning of <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/guides/diablo-4-latest-season/">Season 7</a> has turned into a season-long frustration, to the point that players started complaining about it on Reddit.<br><br><a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/Other-Front-1412/">Other-Front-1412</a> became so frustrated that he had to vent about how annoying it is. No matter what he does, the notification won’t go away! </p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-reddit wp-block-embed-reddit"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="reddit-embed-bq" style="height:316px" ><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/diablo4/comments/1jeesjv/please_take_this_off_i_beg_you/">Please take this off! I beg you!</a><br> by<a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/Other-Front-1412/">u/Other-Front-1412</a> in<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/diablo4/">diablo4</a></blockquote><script async src="https://embed.reddit.com/widgets.js" charset="UTF-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<p>Others believe it might just be a feature by now, since Blizzard has yet to fix it.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-reddit wp-block-embed-reddit"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="reddit-embed-bq" ><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/diablo4/comments/1jeesjv/comment/mihzx4z/">Comment</a><br> by<a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/Other-Front-1412/">u/Other-Front-1412</a> from discussion<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/diablo4/comments/1jeesjv/please_take_this_off_i_beg_you/"></a><br> in<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/diablo4/">diablo4</a></blockquote><script async src="https://embed.reddit.com/widgets.js" charset="UTF-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<p>One player even joked that he tried to buy the entire store, only to find the <strong>&#8220;!</strong>&#8221; still in his place at the shop.</p>



<blockquote class="reddit-embed-bq" data-embed-height="276"><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/diablo4/comments/1jeesjv/comment/mii3p56/">Comment</a><br> by<a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/Other-Front-1412/">u/Other-Front-1412</a> from discussion<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/diablo4/comments/1jeesjv/please_take_this_off_i_beg_you/"></a><br> in<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/diablo4/">diablo4</a></blockquote>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Is There a Fix Coming?</h2>



<p>With <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/news/season-8-start-date/">Season 8</a> only a few weeks away, we can only hope this bug will finally be fixed. Do you think it’s an oversight or are we doomed to see the &#8220;<strong>!&#8221; </strong>forever? Let us know on <a href="https://x.com/icyveins">X</a>!</p>


Diablo 4’s Shop Notification Bug: A Persistent Annoyance


<p>For many players the loot grind is a double-edged sword. Getting the perfect item with a triple Greater-Affix can be very exciting, but when you have no use for it, it quickly turns into frustration.</p>



<p>With trading being limited to direct player-to-player interaction and third-party websites, many items just end up in the stash being unused.</p>



<p>Some argued on Reddit that a well-implemented auction house could be a solution to some of the occurring issues Diablo 4 still has, while others are warning about the negative impact the auction house had on <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d3/">Diablo 3</a>, leading to Blizzard even removing it.&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-reddit wp-block-embed-reddit"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="reddit-embed-bq" style="height:316px" ><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/diablo4/comments/1jjdyhi/discussion_auction_house_is_necessary/">Discussion &#8211; Auction House is necessary</a><br> by<a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/zelousfruit/">u/zelousfruit</a> in<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/diablo4/">diablo4</a></blockquote><script async src="https://embed.reddit.com/widgets.js" charset="UTF-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Case for an Auction House</h2>



<p>One of the biggest frustrations is the sheer amount of RNG required to get the perfect item for your build. With the introduction of Greater Affixes and <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/guides/tempering-guide/">Tempering</a>, the chances of getting the ideal roll became even lower.<br><br>While all these systems are giving Diablo 4 some depth to the itemization, it also makes it impossible to have the perfect gear even after months of grinding. All these items exist and are dropping for players, but they just never make it to the right player.&nbsp;</p>



<p>An auction house could solve this by allowing players to buy and sell items more easily and efficiently without the need for other websites and direct in-game trading.<br><br>So what are some of the biggest benefits of an auction house in Diablo 4?</p>



<ul>
<li><strong>Convenience</strong> &#8211; No need for external websites or adding strangers to your friend list just to trade.</li>



<li><strong>More Active Economy</strong> &#8211; More players would participate in trading.</li>



<li><strong>Safer Trading</strong> &#8211; No scams, fake listings, or trades where you are getting tricked.</li>



<li><strong>Encourages Playtime</strong> &#8211; Players would have another incentive to farm the perfect item to sell it to others.&nbsp;</li>



<li><strong>Helps Casual Players</strong> &#8211; Those who don’t have hundreds of hours to grind could still acquire better gear through trade.</li>
</ul>



<p>However, for an auction house to work, it would need safeguards to prevent abuse, such as trading restrictions, tax systems, and price caps to avoid hyperinflation and market exploitation.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Case Against an Auction House</h2>



<p>While an auction house sounds very convenient at first, Diablo 3 has shown us how many negative impacts it can have on the economy of an ARPG.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Let us take a look at some of the potential downsides:&nbsp;</p>



<ul>
<li><strong>Inflated Economy</strong> &#8211; If perfect gear becomes cheap, players could just skip the grind, removing the core concept of the game.</li>



<li><strong>“Play the Auction House” Meta</strong> &#8211; If buying items becomes the most efficient way of gearing, farming might become secondary or revolve solely around making gold.</li>



<li><strong>Exploits &amp; RMT</strong> &#8211; Let&#8217;s be honest, an auction house could open the doors for more real-money trading, item dupes, and maybe even botting.&nbsp;</li>



<li><strong>Undermining the Concept of the Game</strong> &#8211; Diablo 4 is all about slaying demons and hoping for that one perfect item. An auction house could take away the excitement.&nbsp;</li>



<li><strong>Buying Gear Too Early</strong> &#8211; Would it be good for the game if you could just buy gear while still leveling? Making the grind to Torment IV even faster.</li>
</ul>



<p>When we look at all these downsides it actually might be that Blizzard keeps trading inconvenient to prevent all these problems.&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" src="https://wp-prod.icy-veins.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Loot-Reborn-1200.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image 63256"/></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Finding a Middle Ground</h2>



<p>Given both sides of the argument, would there be a chance for a compromise?</p>



<p>Some ideas for a limited auction house could be:&nbsp;</p>



<ul>
<li>Only allowing specific item types &#8211; Aspects, crafting materials, non-uniques</li>



<li>Caps on trades per week &#8211; To prevent market manipulation</li>



<li>Gold sinks &amp; listing fees &#8211; To control inflation.</li>
</ul>



<p>The key would be to avoid the mistakes Diablo 3 did while still improving trading for players who don&#8217;t want to deal with third-party websites and adding strangers to their friends list.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Final Thoughts: Should Diablo 4 Have an Auction House?</h2>



<p>The debate over an auction house in Diablo 4 comes down to game balance versus player convenience. It would make trading easier, but it also has the potential to create many problems Blizzard might not be able to fix quickly enough.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Looking at similar ARPGs, <a href="https://www.poe-vault.com/">Path of Exile</a> and <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/last-epoch/">Last Epoch</a> have intentionally avoided implementing an auction house to prevent market inflation. Instead, both games have limited trading systems to make sure that finding loot still remains rewarding and exciting.</p>



<p>What do you think? Would an auction house improve Diablo 4, or should the game stick to its current trading system? Let us know your thoughts on <a href="https://x.com/icyveins">X</a>!</p>


Diablo 4 Season 8: Belial’s Apparition Incursions Bring Boss Powers and Spectral Ash

What Are Apparition Incursions?

How Does the New Zone Takeover Work?

Why Are Apparition Incursions Important?

Diablo IV News