Users on Reddit have, once again, stirred up an old but ongoing debate: why does loot in Diablo 2 still feel more exciting than in Diablo 4? After jumping back into D2, one player shared their experience – and it caused a wave of agreement. Loot in D2 might be simple, but it still feels rewarding. So what is going on, and what can D4 take from it?
What Makes Diablo 2 Loot Feel Special?
According to the post, loot in Diablo 2 stands out for a few specific reasons:
- Good items are rare – When something drops, it actually means something.
- Runewords are exciting – Building Spirit, Enigma, or Infinity feels like an achievement.
- Loot inspires alts – Finding Tal Rasha’s armor on your Necro makes you want to start a Sorc.
- You chase gear – High runes, SoJs, and Uniques give you a goal to grind toward.
- Progression feels clean – You know what you need, and every drop might help get you there.
Even basic farming, like Normal Cows for a 4-socket sword, feels good. There is a clear path, and it never gets buried under a dozen systems.
What Diablo 4 Struggles With (According to Players)
To be fair, Diablo 4 is doing its own thing. But a lot of players agree that loot just feels kind of… bland. Here is what they are saying:
- Legendaries are everywhere – By the end of new season campaigns, most players are already full orange.
- Upgrading gear is a chore – Aspect imprints/transfers, tempering, rerolling; it is all a bit much.
- Too much feels the same – Loot usually means a small stat bump, not a change in how you play.
- No identity – There is no real reason to care about most drops.
- Crafting fatigue is real – You finally get a decent base, only to reroll or adjust it many times.
Basically, Diablo 4’s loot is functional, but it is missing the heart. Players do not feel excited to equip new gear, and that is kind of the whole point of an ARPG.
Is There a Middle Ground?
Nobody is saying Diablo 2 was perfect. Some runewords are used in every build, drop rates can be brutal, and farming the same boss 500 times is definitely not for everyone.
But even with all that, D2 still feels rewarding in a way Diablo 4 often does not. And it is not about nostalgia, but rather about clear goals, meaningful drops, and gear that actually makes you want to play more.
That is the part players want to see return…
For more updates, check out our main Diablo 4 hub or take a look at what players think Blizzard is teasing for the next expansion.
