Just as Diablo 3 before it, Diablo 4 not only features a compelling campaign but also includes seasonal content to keep players coming back month after month. Those looking to upgrade their experience can do so using what Blizzard has dubbed the Battle Pass. Let’s get into all the details for Diablo 4’s Battle Pass and what it provides for players.

First off, what are Seasons in Diablo 4?

If you’ve played other modern online multiplayer games then chances are you’re familiar with seasonal content and corresponding passes. In the case of Diablo 4, Seasons add new quests, features and Legendary Items among many other gameplay tweaks. A Season starts every quarter of a year, meaning that a single Season lasts for 3 months.

Each Season comes with a Season Journey. This is the list of various objectives you’ll want to check off the list in order to gain perks like Legendary Aspects via the Battle Pass before the Season ends. At the start of any new Season, you won’t be able to bring in an existing character and will need to start fresh. This encourages players to try out different classes and builds, adding to the already immense replay value of the game.

When does the first Season begin?

Although Diablo 4 launches on June 6, the first Season won’t be available immediately. This is due to the fact that players can’t even access a Season until they’ve beaten the base Campaign. Blizzard have not yet provided a specific start date for Season 1. For now, they’ve confirmed it will begin in mid to late July.

What is the Diablo 4 Battle Pass?

The Battle Pass works in conjunction with each and every Season. Completing any objective on the Season Journey yields Favor - AKA points to level up the Battle Pass. Once all objectives in a chapter are completed, you’ll receive special Seasonal rewards. These include Legendary Aspects as well as crafting materials.

Why care about leveling up the Battle Pass? Leveling up grants players access to additional rewards. The number of possible rewards available depending on if you pay money for the Battle Pass or not. In either case, they both offer character cosmetics and Smoldering Ashes. Note that if you pay for a Battle Pass, it only lasts for the Season. So you’ll need to buy it again in future Seasons if you enjoy the paid experience.

Do you need to pay money to access the Battle Pass?

No, there is a free tier of the Battle Pass. Once you own a copy of Diablo 4 and beat the campaign, you’ll be able to join any currently running Season at no additional cost. Participation with Seasons and the Battle Pass is optional, but there’s no downside. No matter whether you pay additional money or not, leveling up the Battle Pass provides access to rewards. With that said, Blizzard hopes to upsell fans with far more robust paid Battle Pass offerings.

What benefits do you get with the Free Battle Pass?

The free Diablo 4 Battle Pass includes 27 free tiers. This means 27 opportunities to earn goodies like cosmetics and Smoldering Ashes each and every Season. Note that the Battle Pass resets each Season. This means that you can opt-in to paying for a Battle Pass during one Season, then opt against it during the next Season. Or, start with the free Battle Pass and consider upgrading if you deem it worth the purchase.

What benefits do you get with Premium Battle Pass?

The paid Diablo 4 Premium Battle Pass includes the 27 free tiers and an additional 63 paid-exclusive tiers. Leveling up with these paid tiers grants players cosmetics unique to the Season currently running. Platinum currency can also be earned. This makes the cost to purchase a Premium Battle Pass a bit easier to swallow because you’re getting some paid currency back. It also enables the potential to help pay for a future Battle Pass with Platinum gained during the prior Battle Pass leveling.

What benefits do you get with Accelerated Battle Pass?

The paid Diablo 4 Accelerated Battle Pass includes the 27 free tiers and an additional 63 paid-exclusive tiers, just like the Premium Battle Pass. In addition, it comes with 20 tier skips and an exclusive cosmetic. Note that tier skipping does not in any way improve your Season character. It provides a way to quickly pass through 20 tiers of the Battle Pass. This is extremely helpful if you join a Season late or don’t have as much free time to play Diablo 4 as you’d like.

What do the three Battle Pass options cost?

• Battle Pass - Default Battle Pass is free for all Diablo 4 players - $0.
• Premium Battle Pass - Purchase with 1,000 Platinum - Equivalent to $9.99 USD / £8.39 GBP
• Accelerated Battle Pass - Purchase with 2,800 Platinum - Equivalent to $24.99 USD / £20.99 GBP

What are Smoldering Ashes and Seasons Blessings?

Smoldering Ashes in Diablo 4 are a resource earned via Battle Pass leveling that is spent on Season Blessings. There are multiple Blessings available which provide perks to your character. Some examples include bonuses to XP, Obols or gold. You’re able to have multiple Seasons Blessings equipped at the same time. You’re also able to upgrade an applied Blessing to get an even better bonus. As the name implies, these only last for the current Season. It’s important to note you can’t use Smoldering Ashes on Seasons Blessings until character level requirements have been met.

What is Platinum currency?

Platinum is a digital currency in Diablo 4 that enables players to make purchases in-game. You must first spend real money (such as USD) in order to receive Platinum. This is done either directly by buying Platinum, or by buying a paid Season Pass and receiving Platinum as a reward for leveling. Purchases made with Platinum are saved to your Battle.net account so they persist across different versions of the game.

Conclusion

Season 1 of Diablo 4 kicks off in late July. If you’re interested in jumping in right away, you’ll need to complete the base campaign first! There is no additional cost if you’d just like to try out the Free Battle Pass. If you then complete the 27 free tiers and still want more, it might be worth looking into either the Premium Battle Pass or Accelerated Battle Pass. Whichever option you go with, you’ll be sure to extend your Diablo 4 experience in exciting new ways and be rewarded with loot along the way.