Blizzard Entertainment · 2023
Diablo IV: Season of the Malignant
Session Respect Score
"A seasonal action-RPG grind with limited-time rewards that demands regular play to maximize battle pass progression."
Minimum session
15 min
Pausability
Pause anytime
Resume friendliness
Some reorientation
FOMO pressure
High FOMO
Focus required
Moderate
Session structure
Self-contained runs
Where to play
More in the Diablo series
Platforms
Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PC / Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox One
About
Corruption has befallen Sanctuary in Season of the Malignant, the first Season of Diablo IV. A deviant form of Lilith’s sinister machinations has given birth to a new threat, Malignant Monsters. These decaying abominations roam Sanctuary in a frenzy, mindlessly attacking anyone in range without hesitation. Wanderers will investigate this mysterious malady in a new Questline with the help of Cormond, a former priest of the Cathedral of Light, who also trains you to capture the Malignant Hearts fueling these foul beasts and convert them into build-altering powers. The malignancy that’s taken hold of the Burning Hells’ armies cannot remain unchecked—you must snuff it out at the source before all of Sanctuary becomes its thrall. As you hunt down Malignant Monsters for their build-enhancing Hearts and partner with Cormond to discover the source of the corruption, you’ll earn rewards from the Season Journey and Battle Pass. The Season Journey is broken into Chapters with tasks to complete. As you progress through the Journey, you’ll earn rewards befitting Sanctuary’s defender, such as new Legendary Aspects, a Mastery Title, and a Scroll of Amnesia, which provides a free Skill Tree and Paragon Board reset. The Journey also provides Favor—the resource used to climb through the Battle Pass’ Tiers—which is also earned naturally by playing the game, whether it be killing demons, completing Quests, and more. The Season of the Malignant Battle Pass begins on July 20, 10 a.m. PDT and hosts 90 Tiers, 27 Free Tiers and 63 Premium Tiers. Smoldering Ashes are earned from the Free Tiers, which can be spent on Season Blessings that provide you with a bonus to earning experience, Gold, or Obols depending on the Blessing you choose. The bonuses gained from Season Blessings only last until Season of the Malignant ends.
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Community Session Data
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Context Tags
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Platform Notes
Does it actually work well on your platform? Community tested.
Where to play
More in the Diablo series
Platforms
Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PC / Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox One
Diablo IV: Season of the Malignant — Session FAQ
- How long does a session of Diablo IV: Season of the Malignant take?
- The minimum meaningful session for Diablo IV: Season of the Malignant is approximately 15 minutes. This is the shortest play window where you can make real progress or have a satisfying experience, based on community data.
- Can you pause Diablo IV: Season of the Malignant?
- Yes — Diablo IV: Season of the Malignant supports instant pause. You can stop at any moment without penalty, making it ideal for sessions that might be interrupted.
- Does Diablo IV: Season of the Malignant pressure you to keep playing?
- Diablo IV: Season of the Malignant has high FOMO. The game may use cliffhangers, timed missions, online leaderboards, or live events that create pressure to keep playing.
- What is Diablo IV: Season of the Malignant's Session Respect Score?
- Diablo IV: Season of the Malignant has a Session Respect Score of 7.1/10. This score combines minimum session length, pausability, FOMO level, and pickup friendliness into a single metric for how well the game fits busy schedules.