Following the d4 items beta, one Blizzard visual effects specialist explains how skill intensity works within the upcoming fantasy RPG game, and what adopts it.

Seeing your Diablo 4 skill intensity amplify the results on your abilities while you level them up is just one of many cool touches which make the grimdark RPG game stick out as a visual showpiece in 2023. Following the Diablo 4 beta, there have been questions about if the much-touted feature still existed. Fortunately, the game’s associate art director has confirmed its presence and explained just how it works within the full game.

Responding to some fan query about if the feature was still being included, Diablo 4 VFX developer Daniel Briggs confirms, “Yes this is still within the game!” He notes that at its level 25 cap, the beta doesn’t showcase quite the entire extent of how this feature will operate. “There is a ton of additional content, especially at higher world tiers,” he explains, “Your skill intensity is based on your skill points and legendary affixes for your skill.”

Briggs details the different factors that determine the dimensions and concentration of your skill effects. He says, “it is a bit gradual while you level but comparing a maxed-out skill to level the first is noticeable. The blog examples have been in the game! Blue flames on sorcerer skills would be the most obvious [right now].”

As for which exactly increases your skills’ visual intensity, Briggs lists four different factors. Up to five points could be spent around the skill inside your skill tree directly, as much as six may come from skill point affixes, as much as three may come from skill category affixes, and four more may come from an “extremely rare -REDACTED-” source. He adds the likes of legendary items and legendary paragon nodes and glyphs may also affect its size.

It’s an incredibly cool feature, so I’m personally happy to see that it makes it into the entire product. Nothing sells your character’s progression quite as well as the skills ramping up with time from simple thwacks into screen-clearing, ground-cracking wallops.

While waiting for the d4 items' release date, ensure that you read up on all of the Diablo 4 classes to assist decide which one you’re likely to start with. You might also wish to check in around the Diablo 4 system requirements and be sure your gaming rig is ready for Lilith’s arrival – we all know we are.