Spend a couple nights pushing Torment and you'll notice Season 11 isn't doing you any favors. The loot still drops, sure, but it doesn't shower you. And that changes your whole mindset. You stop grabbing every shiny thing and start asking, "Is this a keeper?" I've caught myself hovering over stats way longer than I used to, comparing rolls, thinking about my build, even browsing Diablo 4 Items just to sanity-check what's actually worth chasing before I burn more hours.
Finding a base that won't betray you
The awkward part is the beginning of the endgame. You're strong enough to clear content, but not geared enough to feel comfy. A decent drop isn't "nice," it's a plan. You're hunting for a piece with the right power and a couple affixes that don't fight your build. Extra affix slots raise the standard, too. So a lot of gear looks close, then falls apart on inspection. That's when you either salvage it and move on, or you keep it in your stash and tell yourself you'll "fix it later," even though you know it might never happen.
Tempering and Masterworking eat your week
Once you've got that base, the real work starts. Tempering is basically homework with a reward at the end. You're running the content you can handle, not always the content you want, because you need the right recipes. Then Masterworking shows up and starts draining everything. Mats disappear fast. And it's not just "upgrade it to max." It's upgrade it, pray the right bonus hits, upgrade it again, and try not to get annoyed when it buffs the stat you care about least. When it lands right, though, you feel it immediately. Your clear speeds jump. Boss phases get shorter. It's one of the few times the grind turns into a real power spike.
Sanctification is where you stop guessing
Sanctification feels like the line between "pretty geared" and "I'm serious about this." Heavenly Sigils don't come easy, so every use has weight. And because it's permanent, you don't slap it on some halfway item just because you're impatient. Most players I know end up doing a loop: farm bosses, count mats, double-check the piece, then commit. Mess it up and you'll be mad at yourself, not the game, which is kind of the point. It's pressure, but it's also clarity.
Why it's divisive, and why it still works
Some folks love that their character finally tells a story. Not "I got lucky," but "I built this." Others are tired of the planning, the spreadsheets, the feeling that every upgrade is paid for in time. I get both. Still, when your build clicks and your gear is dialed in, Season 11 can feel great in that old-school way, and if you're trying to shortcut the scavenger hunt, it's hard not to hear people talk about the best place to buy diablo 4 runes while they're mapping out the next upgrade instead of gambling on another dozen bad drops.