Level Scaling Explained

Level Scaling is a mechanic in Diablo 4 (D4) where the difficulty of the game scales with your level. Read on for more information about level scaling, what content scales with level and what doesn't, and how to utilize this mechanic in the game!

What is Level Scaling?

Enemy Leveling and Drop Adjustments

Level Scaling is a mechanic in the game where the fights, levels, and rewards you receive depend on your character's current level. As you level up through progression, everything else also gets progressively difficult.

Multiplayer Also Has Level Scaling

On Multiplayer, enemies will scale to each of your corresponding levels and you'll get rewards that are appropriate for your current level.

For example, if you're currently on level 37, the enemies you will face are also level 37, and you're guaranteed to get rewards appropriately for level 37 even if your party members are lower or higher than your current level. Your party members will also face enemies that's on their same level, and gain their appropriate rewards.

Multiplayer Guide: How to Play Co-Op With Friends

Content Affected by Level Scaling

Overworld Enemies

These are normal trash mobs that you encounter as you roam around the map. They scale to your level and looking at how many they are, their numbers can be treated as a sign if they're near a unique elite enemy, or enemies that spawn via a World Event.

During the Seasons of the Malignant update, level scaling for World Tiers III and IV was updated to only trail 5 levels above or behind the player at maximum.

Strongholds

There are floors here that are set to a specific level but afterwards, they will scale higher and always be +2 levels ahead of your current level. Prepare elixirs and get skill upgrades as much as you can before heading out to clear these strongholds.

Farm Renown by clearing strongholds and reaching milestones in order to get upgrades for potion charges, skill points, or even Paragon points on higher difficulty.

All Stronghold Locations and Map

World Events

World Events are quests where you must finish an objective within the given timeframe to get rewards. It is completely optional, and the difficulty also scales to your level. If you are in need of loot for selling or salvaging, gathering Murmuring Obols, or simply looting for gems and gold, these world events provide you the rewards you need.

List of World Events

Helltides

After unlocking World Tier 3, Helltides will be unlocked and you will be prompted with a timer when a Helltide Event is ongoing. Helltides also scale to +2 levels from your current level. Enemies within the event will drop Abberant Cinders, which can be used to open Tortured Gifts or Helltide chests that contain Sacred legendary items, weapons, or armor.

Helltide Timer, Time Schedule and Event Guide

World Bosses

On World Tier 4, world bosses scale to the average of the current levels of you and your instanced party members. If the average level of your instanced party is 90, then the world boss will also be level 90 despite you or the others being level 80 and lower.

You are also able to claim the rewards once the world boss is defeated, however you cannot open caches that are set for level 90 if your level is lower even if you managed to obtain one.

World Boss Timer, Time Schedule and Locations

Extremely Rare Monsters

Enemies like unique elites or extremely rare monsters scale to your level when encountered on the Overworld. world bosses so it's still worth defeating them if you need powerful equipment, grinding for loot to salvage or sell, and getting achievements.

All Rare Spawns and Drops

Content Unaffected by Level Scaling

Main Story Bosses

Main Story boss fights do not scale if you're progressing via the Main Story as they have a pre-determined level of difficulty that's set for each encounter. They will only scale once you have cleared the chapter, or if you're done with the Main Quest that involves the area.

Each act or chapter in the game has boss fights, and these boss fights will stay on their set levels regardless of your level and World Tier during that encounter, so stock up on potions, gathering materials, and remember to repair your gear at a blacksmith before heading out to face these bosses!

Campaign Walkthrough and List of Main Quests

Capstone Dungeons

These are high level difficulty dungeons that players are required to clear in order to unlock the next World Tier. They are not affected by level scaling as they are strictly set to level 50 for Cathedral of Light, and level 70 for Fallen Temple.

All Capstone Dungeons

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