Diablo 4 is set in the dark and foreboding world of Sanctuary, a realm forged in secret by the union of the angel Inarius and the demon Lilith. This union produced the Nephalem, powerful beings that could surpass both angels and demons. Fearing their strength, Inarius and Lilith concealed Sanctuary from the Eternal Conflict between Heaven and Hell. However, this peace was temporary.
The game’s timeline occurs decades after the events of Diablo 3. The world of Sanctuary is recovering from the horrific events of that game, where both the Prime Evil (Diablo) and the archangel Malthael wrought devastation across the land. Humanity is on the brink of collapse, dealing with the aftermath of these cataclysms. Cities lie in ruins, and the forces of Hell are once again gaining strength.
The primary antagonist in Diablo 4 is Lilith, daughter of Mephisto and the mother of the Nephalem. She returns to Sanctuary, not as a simple villain but as a complex character driven by her vision of freedom from Heaven and Hell’s influence. She seeks to empower humanity against both celestial and infernal forces but at a steep cost. The world is plunged into chaos as Lilith's influence spreads, leaving the player to navigate a bleak, morally ambiguous landscape where survival is paramount.
Close and Distant Explained in Diablo 4
In Diablo 4, Close and Distant are terms used to describe the proximity of enemies to the player character. These terms influence combat mechanics and affect certain affixes and abilities, making them crucial in both building and executing strategies.
Close: This term refers to enemies that are in the melee range of the player character. These are the enemies that are typically within striking distance with swords, axes, hammers, or any melee attack. Skills and abilities that rely on the Close range are focused on direct, personal combat where you’re face-to-face with the opponent.
Distant: This describes enemies that are at a range from the player character, typically those that are not within immediate melee distance. Ranged attacks, spells, and abilities that work over a larger area or from a distance fall under this category. Skills that benefit from attacking Distant enemies allow for strategies where the player can avoid being in the midst of danger, instead dealing damage from afar.
Which Affix to Choose?
Affixes in Diablo 4 provide bonuses to characters, and understanding when to choose Close or Distant affixes depends largely on your playstyle, build, and character class.
For Melee Classes (e.g., Barbarian, Druid in Werewolf/Werebear form):
Close Affixes are ideal because you’ll be engaging enemies in close quarters. These affixes increase your damage against enemies within melee range, enhancing the potency of your skills and attacks. Examples of Close affixes include additional melee damage, bonuses to life when striking close enemies or increased critical strike chances for enemies nearby.
For Ranged or Caster Classes (e.g., Sorcerer, Rogue):
Distant Affixes would be preferable as these builds typically focus on attacking from a safer range. Distant affixes improve your ability to deal damage to enemies that are farther away, giving you an edge in keeping yourself out of harm’s way while still maintaining high damage output. Distant affixes can include increased damage against far-away enemies, bonuses to critical strike damage at range, or buffs to skills that allow for kiting (staying mobile while dealing damage).
Choosing the Right Affix
The choice between Close and Distant affixes hinges on your character’s primary mode of combat:
Barbarian: Focusing on Close affixes is ideal, as Barbarians thrive in the melee range. Bonuses to Close combat will boost their ability to engage and destroy enemies while maintaining survivability through life leech or damage mitigation affixes.
Rogue: This class can alternate between Close and Distant builds. For melee Rogues (Daggers), Close affixes are preferable, but for bow builds, Distant affixes will maximize ranged efficiency.
Sorcerer: As a ranged caster, Distant affixes should be prioritized, focusing on maximizing damage from far distances. Affixes that improve ranged spell effects will enhance the Sorcerer's ability to eliminate threats before they reach close range.
Understanding how to build around Close and Distant affixes requires players to align their affix choices with the core gameplay mechanics of their class, ensuring that the chosen affixes enhance their primary combat strategy.
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