In Diablo 4, mastering the endgame content requires more than just raw power and skill; it demands the finest gear with optimized affixes. The Masterworking system, introduced in Season 4, allows players to enhance the affixes of their gear, providing crucial boosts needed to conquer the game's most challenging content. This guide delves into the essentials of Masterworking, including its mechanics, how to unlock it, the materials needed, and strategies for maximizing your gear.

What is Masterworking?

Masterworking is a crafting system that enables players to upgrade the affixes on Ancestral Legendary items and Uniques. It builds on the concept of Tempering, offering the ability to improve an item a total of 12 times. Each Masterworking rank enhances the item's affixes, with significant boosts at specific milestones:

    Ranks 1-3, 5-7, 9-11: All affixes increased by 5%.

    Ranks 4, 8, 12: One random affix increased by 25%.

This system allows for potentially massive improvements, with the chance to increase a single affix by up to 75% over multiple upgrades. The incremental increases ensure that players continuously gain power as they invest in their gear.

How to Unlock Masterworking

To unlock Masterworking, players must first clear a Tier 46 Nightmare Dungeon, thereby gaining access to The Pit of the Artificers. Upon completing a run in The Pit and obtaining the base materials required for Masterworking, the system becomes available at the Blacksmith.

How to Masterwork

Materials Required

To Masterwork an item, you will need various materials:

    Gold

    Common materials: Veiled Crystal, Rawhide or Iron Chunk, Coiling Ward, Abstruse Sigil, Baleful Fragment, Forgotten Soul

    Unique materials from The Pit: Obducite, Ingolith, Neathrion

Steps to Masterwork

    Collect materials: Gather the necessary materials from The Pit and other sources.

    Visit the Blacksmith: Open the Masterworking tab.

    Insert the item: Place the gear you wish to upgrade into the slot.

    Confirm the upgrade: Ensure you have the required Diablo 4 materials and Diablo 4 gold, then confirm the upgrade.

Each upgrade will progressively increase the item's power, with significant boosts at the 4th, 8th, and 12th ranks.

Obtaining Masterworking Materials

The unique materials required for Masterworking—Obducite, Ingolith, and Neathrion—are exclusive to The Pit of the Artificers. Each run in The Pit rewards players with a chest containing one of these materials, depending on the tier completed:

    Tier 1-29: Obducite

    Tier 30-59: Ingolith

    Tier 60-200: Neathrion

Higher tiers yield rarer materials, reflecting the increased difficulty. Additionally, Obducite and Ingolith can be crafted at the Alchemist, and lower-tier materials can be transmuted from higher-tier materials at the Occultist.

Masterworking Ranks and Costs

Here is a breakdown of the costs and effects for each Masterworking rank:

Rank Upgrade Cost

1 All affixes increased by 5% 10 Obducite, 10 Rawhide/Iron Chunk, 3 Veiled Crystal, 100,000 Gold

2 All affixes increased by 5% Obducite, Rawhide/Iron Chunk, Veiled Crystal, Gold

3 All affixes increased by 5% Obducite, Rawhide/Iron Chunk, Veiled Crystal, Gold

4 One random affix increased by 25% Obducite, Rawhide/Iron Chunk, Veiled Crystal, Gold

5 All affixes increased by 5% 20 Ingolith, 25 Rawhide/Iron Chunk, 6 Veiled Crystal, 450,000 Gold

6 All affixes increased by 5% Ingolith, Rawhide/Iron Chunk, Veiled Crystal, Gold

7 All affixes increased by 5% Ingolith, Rawhide/Iron Chunk, Veiled Crystal, Gold

8 One random affix increased by 25% Ingolith, Rawhide/Iron Chunk, Veiled Crystal, Gold

9 All affixes increased by 5% 50 Neathiron, 20 Veiled Crystal, 10 Abstruse Sigil/Coiling Ward/Baleful Fragment, 3 Forgotten Soul, 2,000,000 Gold

10 All affixes increased by 5% Neathiron, Veiled Crystal, Abstruse Sigil/Coiling Ward/Baleful Fragment, Forgotten Soul, Gold

11 All affixes increased by 5% Neathiron, Veiled Crystal, Abstruse Sigil/Coiling Ward/Baleful Fragment, Forgotten Soul, Gold

12 One random affix increased by 25% 250 Neathiron, 50 Veiled Crystal, 20 Abstruse Sigil/Coiling Ward/Baleful Fragment, 10 Forgotten Soul, 10,000,000 Gold

Strategies for Masterworking

    Farm Materials: Spend time in The Pit to gather a substantial amount of materials before starting the Masterworking process.

    Choose Wisely: Only invest in Masterworking for Diablo IV items that are near-perfect or have ideal affixes to maximize the benefits.

    Optimize Builds: Use skills and gear that complement the affix upgrades you aim to achieve.

    Minimize Costs: Transmute higher-tier materials into lower-tier ones if needed to manage resources efficiently.

    Reset as Needed: If an upgrade does not yield the desired affix boosts, reset the item and try again, keeping in mind the material costs.

Conclusion

Masterworking is a powerful system that significantly enhances gear in Diablo 4, making it essential for tackling the game's toughest challenges. By understanding the mechanics, gathering the right materials, and strategically upgrading your items, you can achieve unprecedented power and efficiency. Embrace the intricacies of Masterworking to fully prepare for the rigorous demands of Diablo 4's endgame. Welcome to MMOexp.com, more about Diablo IV news and service here.