Summary
Diablo 4had a rough start, and it still has its moments where it feels a bit underwhelming, especially now thatPath of Exile 2has entered the scene as a challenger. However, whileDiablo 4has plenty of shortcomings, it does still have one major strength overPath of Exile 2— for now, at least, untilPath of Exile 2makes some more changes — its loot. There are a number of factors that ultimately contribute to the outcome of this contest, but the short of it is thatDiablo 4simply outdoesPath of Exile 2when it comes to loot drop rates and quality.
The reason this is such a big deal is thatDiablo 4andPath of Exile 2both heavily rely on loot progression, as most ARPGs do. As such, ifPath of Exile 2’s loot system just isn’t up to snuff, it can result in players feeling like the time they spend in the game is not matched by the quantity or quality of the loot they’re acquiring, thereby encouraging them to leave. That being said, at leastPath of Exile 2has plenty of other systems in place, like its extensive endgame, to encourage players to stick around for as long as possible. But that still doesn’t mean that it can carry on much longer with its current loot system.
Path of Exile 2’s Current Loot System Pales in Comparison to Diablo 4’s
Diablo 4’s Loot Reborn System Enhanced the Quality of Dropped Loot
To be fair,Diablo 4’s loot system wasn’t always that great either. When it launched in June 2023,Diablo 4’s loot progression started off really strong, but as players advanced to the game’s later stages, things tapered off, rewarding players with items that felt repetitive and lacked distinctive attributes. However, in May 2024,Diablo 4launched its fourth season, Loot Reborn, which brought significant changes to the game’s itemization and loot systems.
Most notably, the overall quantity of item drops was decreased, but the quality and relevance of the items were improved. In the end, this ensured thatplayers spent more time actually playingDiablo 4and less time sorting through useless loot, as well as acquiring loot that they actually needed. This ultimately led toDiablo 4feeling more worthwhile to play, as it balanced time spent in the game with rewards earned.
Path of Exile 2’s Loot and Drop Rates Have Been Underwhelming
Path of Exile 2, on the other hand, has had a bit of a rough go when it comes to loot. Firstly,Path of Exile 2encountered the opposite problem thatDiablo 4had in its early stages, possessing an extremely low drop rate for loot as opposed to one that was far too high. This is exacerbated by the fact that, unlike withDiablo 4’s Loot Reborn system,Path of Exile 2often provides players with loot that is not usable by their current class. When a low drop rate is combined with a weighty RNG system such as this, hours spent in the game can end up feeling pointless, especially for those who are inPath of Exile 2’s endgame.
Grinding Gear Games did listen to player feedbackand implemented an update that increased loot drop rates from rare monsters and implemented “unlucky” drop protection. Unfortunately, even after the update was applied,Path of Exile 2still just doesn’t feel rewarding enough from a loot perspective. In light of all of this,Path of Exile 2will either need to increase the drop rate of loot even more or implement a system similar toDiablo 4’s Loot Reborn system so players can start getting loot that is more relevant to their current class. Fortunately, the developer seems to be listening to player feedback and doing what it can to keep the game in a healthy state during early access.
