Diablo Immortal Closed Alpha Begins 4/21!
The closed alpha for Diablo: Immortal begins on 4/21, and includes a new level cap of 55, access to the Crusader, a longer test period, and a larger pool of players that will be invited! In addition, there is a new PvE system called the Helliquary, and an opt-in server wide faction based PvP system called the Cycle of Strife!
Originally Posted by Blizzard Entertainment (Official Post)
Following the Technical Alpha in December, the Diablo Immortal team continues to make significant progress in bringing the world of Sanctuary to life on iOS and Android. To the community members who played, who watched, and those who streamed countless hours of our test, we thank you. We learned so many valuable insights from your experiences beyond our goal of testing server stability and client performance. We’ve pored over the feedback you submitted in-game, across Reddit and social media, and consulted directly with several testers. Thanks to you, our first-ever heroes, we’ve learned a lot regarding progression, our first four classes, itemization, and other early gameplay systems. This process has been invaluable for our development team, and we’re excited to continue collaborating with our fantastic community.
PLEASE NOTE: Diablo Immortal is still in-development. Game content in the Closed Alpha is not final and subject to change.The Diablo Immortal Closed Alpha will begin with a limited number of Android players in Australia. Additionally, we’ll also be inviting a few members of the Diablo community to join us as we continue discussing and iterating on core Diablo Immortal systems.
In this Closed Alpha, we’ll be introducing some end-game content for testers to experience. We’ll also be raising the level cap from 45 to 55 as we continue to polish existing systems. We’ll touch on that in more detail below, but for now, let’s dive into the new stuff!
NEW CLASS
Your faith did not betray you. The Crusader is here.
Roam the battlefield as a wrathful zealot, striking with cruel flails and clad in impenetrable armor. Seek glorious purpose ridding Sanctuary of Hell’s abominations and heretics. With your shield, safeguard humanity. With your Holy magic, vanquish evil. With your life, fulfill duty.
The Crusader is a mid-range hybrid caster/melee colossus and one of five playable classes—alongside the Barbarian, Demon Hunter, Monk, and Wizard, in the Diablo Immortal Closed Alpha. Presently, we are focusing our gameplay testing in the Closed Alpha on solely these five classes, with the Necromancer to come in a future testing phase.
NEW ZONES & DUNGEON
The journey continues onwards and upwards. Deep in the heart of the Tamoe mountains, ascend into the new zone Mount Zavain, the home of the Monks, who are among Sanctuary's most deadly warriors. The Khazra, sometimes called “Goatmen” or “Goat Demons,” are on a warpath that threatens the Sentinel's Watch. Repel the savage invasion and plunge into the shrouded mists, confronting nightmares that may contain clues that lead to a shard of the Worldstone.
Trudge north across the snowy wastelands of the Frozen Tundra. Like a plague, war festers in the region around the great mountain of Arreat, where the Lord of Destruction still threatens the world. Only the barbarian tribes can keep the remnants of Baal’s army at bay, but they are scattered and isolated. As they must live united or they will surely die divided, you will rally the barbarians against your common foes or hell will break loose once more.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg. A new dungeon has been discovered in the Frozen Tundra, one that contains a relic of a long-forgotten age. In the Cavern of Echoes, adventurers will need to ward off the cold embrace of death as they seek out the Iceburn Tear.
THE CYCLE OF STRIFE – FACTION-BASED PVP
Since the shattering of the Worldstone, the eternal conflict between the High Heavens and the Burning Hells has spilled out across the world. The realm’s most elite heroes, the Immortals, are sworn to protect Sanctuary from this unending threat. Equipped with the Eternal Crown and access to the Immortals’ Vault, they have a plethora of tools to remain eternally vigilant in their watch over humanity. Such peril calls for accountability, and the Shadows lurk, watching keenly, to make sure the Immortals don’t waver from this crucial task. If they should prove unworthy of their station, the Shadows will take the Immortals down and rise upas the new protectors of Sanctuary. And they will know that as the new Immortals, the next group of Shadows will be watching, waiting to advance the cycle once more.
The Cycle of Strife
In the Cycle of Strife, three factions wage war for the Eternal Crown—an ancient source of power central to the Cycle of Strife. They are the Adventurers, the Shadows, and the Immortal(s).
Prepare for War: Getting started as an Adventurer
In Diablo Immortal, only those with a razor-sharp sense of survival live long enough to decide their own fates. Among them are the thrill-seekers and treasure hunters known as Adventurers.
All Heroes will start as Adventurers, and can take on daily missions to quell the churning evil and journey the world. Once ready, Adventurers may make the decision to challenge the throne as a Shadow or seek out an invitation to join the ranks of the Immortals.
Become what the light fears: Embrace the Shadows
Beyond their sacred halls, there are those who watch the Immortals with great scrutiny. They are known as the Shadows, and their singular purpose is to make sure the Immortals uphold their duties in defending Sanctuary from the Burning Hells. If the Immortals should fail in their righteous duty, or prove too weak to protect Sanctuary, the Shadows will take their place. Only the most elite defenders are worthy of the Eternal Crown and the noble burden behind it.
What you’ll do as a Shadow:
Ultimately, all Shadows’ tasks advance their goal of initiating the Rite of Exile (explained further below), their hard-earned chance to take down the seated Immortals. However, even from within there is competition. The Shadows fight amongst themselves to discover the strongest candidates to take on the Immortals before this important rite. Shadows who have rallied under a single banner to form a Dark House (explained further below) will challenge Shadows in other Dark Houses to qualify for the final showdown with the Immortals. Only the top Dark Houses will qualify to participate in the Rite of Exile.
Contracts
Shadows will pursue themed quests, Contracts, to increase their standing and rank in the Dark Houses they represent. Like other Shadow activities, Contracts will contribute to the chance to contest the reigning Immortals in the Rite of Exile.
Here’s what you can do as a member of the Shadows, and what you’ll earn from participating:
Raid the Vault
Shadows can sneak into the Immortals’ Vault and try to escape with as much loot as they can carry. Of course, the longer you stay in the Vault, the more likely you’ll alert the guardians and summon Immortal players.
Shadows beware, if alerted, Immortals can teleport into your Vault raid and fight you in direct PvP combat.
NOTE: If you’re defeated, everything you’ve earned from raiding the Vault is lost. To initiate a Raid the Vault event, a Hero or party member will need to have a Shard of Living Night.
Path of Blood
To test their mettle and see if they’re worthy of the Immortal throne, Shadows can plunge into short but challenging solo encounters against groups of demons and monsters in Path of Blood. As the event level increases, so too does the difficulty of enemies.
NOTE: Defeating a floor in the Path of Blood progresses your rank within the Shadows, as you get closer on your journey to claiming the Eternal Crown.
Assemblies
The congregation of war against the standing Immortals begins here. At specific times and days of the week (Wednesdays & Saturdays from 2:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Pacific), Shadows who are rank Apprentice I or higher may create a Dark House and begin Akeba’s Challenge. Here, heroes will face off against 3 powerful summoned Ancient Warriors.
Shown below are the times Akeba’s Challenge can commence:
Region
Day & Time
United States (local server time)
Wednesdays & Saturdays from 2:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Australia (local server time)
Wednesdays & Saturdays from 2:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
France (local server time)
Wednesdays & Saturdays from 2:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
While all Shadows work together to upset the balance of power and replace the Immortals, the throne can’t seat everyone. The top 10 Dark Houses will have a chance to send in their champions to attempt to take down the Immortals when the Rite of Exile begins. And, if the dust settles and the Immortals are defeated, only one Dark House can take up the Eternal Crown.
NOTE: A Dark House is a group of likeminded Shadows rallied under a single banner.
Rite of Exile
If victorious in the Rite of Exile, the top Dark House will become the new Immortals during Closed Alpha. When the Rite of Exile commences, Shadows of the strongest Dark Houses will be pitted against the Immortals in PvP combat. Should the Shadows win, a new Immortal will be crowned and a new Cycle will begin. If the Shadows fail, the victorious Immortals will continue their reign.
This version of the Rite of Exile is still in-development and more details on how this mode will evolve will be shared in the future.
Prove that the Eternal Crown is rightfully yours as an Immortal
While only one Hero, the Immortal leader, can wear the Eternal Crown, those counted among their closest allies form the Immortals faction. Once you have successfully claimed the throne and become the Immortals, your goals will be to grow your Dominance as an Immortal and defend your reign against Shadows and their Dark Houses that see you as no longer worthy.
Crowns of the Immortals & Essentia
The Immortal leader who bears the Eternal Crown will honor four Lieutenants with crowns of their own. Each crown grants an extraordinary power once it has reached a certain level of progression thanks to the reign's Dominance. A mixture of offensive and defensive buffs will emanate from these Legendary items, amplifying the wearer’s might as well as that of other Immortals in close proximity.
As Immortals complete tasks (I.e., Daily Goals) the Immortals will accumulate Essentia, a resource to spend which enables attempts on raids like Kion’s Ordeal.
Kion's Ordeal
Kion's Ordeal is a unique raid that is only available to the Immortal faction. Whenever the Immortals are ready, they may spend Essentia to attempt the raid. Up to 48 players can participate simultaneously with the goal of taking down four bosses within 30 minutes.
Successfully completing Kion's Ordeal will not only bestow powerful loot, but it will also grant the Blessing of Daedessa to Immortals and Adventurers – this buff provides a bonus to Elder Rifts and fills the Immortals’ Vault.
NOTE: Failing Kion's Ordeal costs resources and if not refreshed successfully before it expires, the Blessing of Daedessa instead is bestowed upon the Shadows
Defend the Vault
The Shadows may attempt to raid the Immortal Vault. When this happens, the Immortals must rally a defense to defend the Vault from the incursion. If alerted to this raid, Immortals can show up to help their Vault Guardians and try to stop the Shadows from making off with any of their riches or equipment.
NOTE: Immortals will be temporarily invulnerable when they enter the Vault.Cycles in Diablo Immortal: Welcoming the new Rulers
Cycles in Diablo: Immortal are dictated by the overthrow of the currently seated Immortal. If a Dark House ascends by defeating the Immortals in the Rite of Exile, the current Cycle ends, and a new Cycle begins. At that time, everything connected to the current Cycle resets. This includes all ranks, Eternal Crown levels, Path of Blood progress, and so on. Additionally, when a Cycle ends, participating heroes earn Deeds of Valor, special titles connected to their performance that Cycle. The former Immortal and their Lieutenants will be engraved on the Wall of Honor, as a permanent place of remembrance to reflect on that group’s reign.
NOTE: If the Immortals successfully defend the Crown during the battle, the Cycle will continue as normal.
BATTLEGROUND
Before they attempt the Cycle of Strife, the Battleground is where player character heroes will first test their mettle. By visiting the Immortal Overlook in the bustling city of Westmarch, heroes may opt into an 8 vs. 8 player vs. player contest by speaking with the Battleground Captain. Heroes may choose to attack or defend, or they can permit the game to choose for them in exchange for better rewards.
Heroes on the attack need to slay Guardians and escort Zealous Idols to destroy the Ancient Heart, the source of their enemy's power. Defenders need to prevent the attacking team from destroying their objective before the time expires or eliminate enough of the attackers to thwart the assault.
HELLIQUARY
After finishing the Main Quest in Bilefen, heroes will reunite with Deckard Cain in his Workshop. Deckard Cain will introduce you to his new Barbarian friend, Rayoc, a young man from Arreat. Rayoc, alongside Charsi, an old acquaintance from the past (and blacksmith), has been developing a device called a Helliquary. This machination allows heroes to locate powerful demons and trap them! Once the demons are defeated, the Helliquary can turn their Demonic Remains into power the Hero can take advantage of.
The Helliquary needs to level up to handle additional Demonic Remains as the Hero progresses. To level-up a Helliquary, heroes need to earn Scoria, a special material that can only be refined by Charsi. Charsi will refine Scoria into Hellfire Scoria, the material used to ascend this device. As the Helliquary ranks up, the Hero becomes imbued with more power. At specific intervals in the Helliquary’s progression, opportunities to confront powerful demons will arise. Muster your courage, sharpen your weapons, prepare your potions, and ready your arsenal. The demon targets get more and more powerful as the Helliquary advances. This end-game system pits heroes against dangerous bosses, requiring that they prepare accordingly, and even work together, to surmount these challenges. Only those who succeed will earn the greatest rewards!
NOTE: Scoria is a material that can be found on the Honor Merchant, as well as in Bounty Chests.
NOTE: Heroes become more powerful and gain a Challenge Rift buff upon adding Demonic Remains to the Helliquary. This buff improves power level within a Challenge Rift.
ESSENCE TRANSFER VENDOR
Adventurers visiting the city of Westmarch will find Zamina standing at the base of a withering tree. Players will seek her out to customize their Legendary gear with the Essence Transfer system, a system inspired by the Kanai’s Cube feature from Diablo III: Reaper of Souls. Players can extract the Essence of a Legendary item, permanently adding that Legendary item to their collection. Then, players can use the Inherit option to transfer that Essence onto another Legendary item, causing it to replace the Legendary property, name, icon, 3D model, and flavor text with those from the collected Essence.
Furthermore, it will keep all its other traits, including current attributes, Magic and other properties, rank, gems, and sockets. Don’t worry, this process is reversible, so you’ll be able to use it to customize your gear without losing anything.
In this way, Zamina’s craftsmanship empowers heroes to customize the Legendary items they have collected, increasing their Rank and perfect attributes to craft something truly Legendary.
LET THE TEST BEGIN
Be vigilant. Starting today, this new journey commences at 5:00 PM (Pacific Time) on April 21 | 10:00 AM (Australian Eastern Time) on April 22. With the Crusader class, new zones to explore, a challenging dungeon, and the Cycle of Strife, there's so much to see—but that's not all for the Closed Alpha. Heroes will discover new Legendary items and Legendary gems, an additional Paragon Tree, two extra skills per class, a test experience teeming with new quests, bounties, and more!
We’d love to hear from you! We welcome you to share your impressions and feedback on the r/DiabloImmortal subreddit or across our other channels. As we progress through the Closed Alpha, we’ll be listening to your feedback as we aim to craft an awesome Diablo experience.
If you want to learn more about Diablo Immortal, check out our website here, or for real-time updates, follow our official Twitter @DiabloImmortal!
Heroes of Sanctuary, thank you once again and best of luck on your new crusade!
FAQ
Q. How do I take part in the Closed Alpha?
A. Currently, the Closed Alpha is primarily limited to Android users in Australia.
Q. How many players will take part in the Closed Alpha? Why Australia?
A. We anticipate a couple of thousand players will be able to take part in the Closed Alpha. Mobile game development can often benefit from multiple rounds of public testing. By holding this limited Closed Alpha in a smaller region, we’ll be able to take in valuable server stability and client performance data, as well as critical gameplay feedback, to ensure that Diablo Immortal feels like a great experience before going wider in the future.
Q. How long will the Closed Alpha last?
A. We are aiming to keep the Closed Alpha running for longer than the Technical Alpha back in December. We’ll be testing more late game systems this time, so we’re keeping it up longer to make sure players have enough time to play through all of them.
Q. What devices does Diablo Immortal support?
A. We are aiming to bring epic Diablo gameplay to as many devices and players as possible. The Diablo Immortal Technical Alpha will be playable on Apple devices and Android devices and have the following minimum requirements:
- Android Minimum Requirements
- CPU - Snapdragon 670 / Exynos 8895 and higher
- GPU - Adreno 615 / Mali-G71 MP20 and higher
- RAM - 2GB of RAM and higher
- Version: Android OS 5.0 (Lollipop) and higher
- Apple Minimum Requirements
- iPhone 8 and higher
- Version: iOS 12 and higher
Q. Why only five classes?
A. Diablo Immortal will launch with six playable classes—the Barbarian, Demon Hunter, Monk, and Wizard, as well as the Crusader and Necromancer. We also plan to add even more new classes to the game in the future. We are focusing our gameplay testing in the Technical Alpha on the initial five classes as the Necromancer class still undergoes iteration.
Q. When will Diablo Immortal be released?
A. We do not have a release date to share at this time.
Technical Alpha for Diablo II: Resurrected has begun!
Season 23 Mega-Post!
