After years of players asking for classic Diablo mechanics to return, Diablo 4 is finally answering with a fresh take on one of the franchise’s most iconic features: set bonuses. But instead of returning in the old form of bulky equipment sets, Blizzard is introducing a Diablo IV Items Talisman system that brings set‑style bonuses into the game in a more flexible and innovative way.

For many players, set items defined Diablo 2’s late game: wearing multiple pieces of the same set granted powerful bonuses that could dramatically shift how a build functioned. Diablo 3 expanded on that idea with six‑piece bonus thresholds, but the result was often rigid builds where sets were mandatory for high‑end play. With Diablo 4, Blizzard aims to keep the excitement of set bonuses while avoiding the pitfalls of past systems.

The core of this return is the Talisman system, which unlocks during the Lord of Hatred expansion’s endgame. Once players unlock access to the Talisman slot on their character, they can equip one central Talisman with multiple charm sockets. Into these sockets, players insert Charms — items similar in concept to Diablo’s old charms or runes — that provide individual affixes and build support.

While individual Charms offer useful stats, resistances, or skill improvements, the real appeal lies in the set bonuses that activate when multiple Charms from the same set are equipped. These bonuses can grant powerful effects — from enhanced damage and movement speed to unique combat perks that change how skills behave. In a preview of the system, one set bonus called “Vengeance” boosts both movement speed and multiplicative damage, showing how creative these effects can be.

Crucially, this system doesn’t compete with your main gear slots. Unlike traditional set items that require players to sacrifice armor or weapon slots to achieve bonuses, Talismans act as an additional layer of customization. This means players can keep their favorite mythic, unique, or crafted items in the core equipment slots and still benefit from set bonuses elsewhere.

Developers have also acknowledged concerns from longtime fans who remember Diablo 3’s runaway damage multipliers. To address this, Blizzard’s design appears to focus on interactions and playstyle changes rather than only stacking huge numbers. Sets will be more about how they influence build identity — altering skills, enhancing mechanics, or adding synergies — rather than simply inflating damage.

This direction could help Diablo 4 avoid the backlash that rigid, mandatory sets created in previous games, where players felt forced into a narrow range of viable builds. By separating set bonuses from core equipment and making them more modular, the Talisman system offers the choice and flexibility many players have been asking for since launch.

Still, some questions remain — such as how easy it will be to acquire high‑tier Charms, how many sets will be available at launch, and whether these bonuses will rotate or expand with future seasons. Early reactions from the community suggest excitement, but also caution: a system that impacts build diversity must balance power with creativity.

Regardless, the return of set bonuses through Talismans marks a major shift in Diablo 4’s itemization philosophy. It blends nostalgia with modern design sensibilities, offering players a fresh way to cheap d4 mats define and refine their characters without sacrificing the gear freedom that makes the game’s endgame so appealing.