Diablo 4: The Gold Enchanting Cost System Explained

With the recent launch of Diablo 4, the gaming community has been buzzing with questions, opinions, and speculations. One area that's been the center of much debate is how the gold costs for enchanting are calculated. So, let's debunk some myths and clear the air.

How Enchanting Gold Costs Are Determined

Enchanting gold costs in Diablo 4 are straightforward: they are based on the item's sell value and the number of previous enchant attempts. Contrary to some misinformation:

The type of options chosen for enchanting doesn't affect the gold cost. The nature of the item being Sacred or Ancestral matters only for materials, not the gold. Rare and legendary items follow the same gold cost pattern, though legendary items have a higher sell value.

For clarity, here's a breakdown of the gold cost pattern:

• 1st Enchant: 3x the selling price.
• 2nd Enchant: 15x the sell price (3x + 12x).
• 3rd to 6th Enchant: The price increases by 3x the selling price with each attempt.
• 37th Enchant: A whopping 8,325x times the item's price.

For players curious about verifying this pattern, roughly 10 million gold is required, and one can experiment with a low item price rare. This pattern has also been confirmed in the game files available on GitHub.

Comparing Diablo 3 and Diablo 4

In Diablo 3, players had access to a wealth of gold, and enchanting was significantly cheaper. The system in D3 was tweaked to be more functional and user-friendly. In contrast, the Diablo 4 system feels designed to elongate in-game play time, which some argue is to hit certain player engagement metrics for stakeholders. 

The consensus in the community is that the current system in D4 has potential but needs balancing. Some recommendations are:

• Reducing the huge cost jumps is enchanting.
• Introducing 3 possible affixes instead of two.
• Making enchanting and challenging but not punitive.

Community Reactions

The sentiment in the gaming community varies:

1. Enchantment Costs: Many players feel the enchantment cost is prohibitive, and those who didn't exploit the system suffer more.
2. Item Rerolling: Some players feel there should be a standard reroll cost for ancestral items, regardless of them being rare or legendary.
3. Enchant Cost Cap: Many suggest introducing a cap on enchant costs, possibly at 1 million per reroll.
4. Prioritizing Enchants: There's a call for reintroducing priority stat rerolling, which allowed players to target a specific affix on items.

Concluding Thoughts

The Diablo 4 enchanting system has been a topic of hot debate. While some players appreciate the challenge, many feel the system is skewed, leading to unnecessary grind and frustration. A more balanced and player-friendly approach, which still maintains the game's challenge, is keenly awaited. As always, the community's feedback is vital for developers to create an enchanting experience that meets the expectations of Diablo enthusiasts.