The Diablo 4 Battle Pass is set to be released at the end of July, launching alongside the start of Season 1. This information was officially confirmed by Blizzard. The Battle Pass will have both a free track and a paid track, consisting of 27 and 63 tiers, respectively. The Premium Battle Pass, available for $10 (£8), will grant access to the paid track. Players will have approximately three months to complete the Battle Pass before each season ends.
The Battle Pass rewards in Diablo 4 will include emblems, emotes, cosmetic items, titles, and the currency called Smoldering Ash. To earn these rewards, players will need to accumulate Favor, which can be obtained by completing quests, killing enemies, participating in events, and achieving seasonal objectives.
Blizzard emphasized that players cannot pay for power in Diablo 4. The Battle Pass system is designed to provide cosmetic rewards and paid progression, but it will not give players an advantage in terms of character power. The progression system of the Battle Pass is divided into tiers, with the free tier available to all players who own the game. The paid tier contains only cosmetics, such as armor sets and mounts.
To accelerate seasonal progress, players can purchase Season Blessings using the currency Smoldering Ash. These Blessings include XP boosts, gold, and other benefits. Smoldering Ash can only be obtained through actual progression in the game and is not transferrable between seasons. The use of Smoldering Ash and Season Blessings is not tied to the Battle Pass, and players can earn Smoldering Ash through the free tier. However, certain character level requirements must be met to claim Smoldering Ash and apply Blessings.
The Diablo 4 Battle Pass will follow a seasonal format, similar to Diablo 2 and Diablo 3. Each season will be based on a theme and will feature new storylines and quests separate from the main campaign content. Seasonal content will be account-bound, allowing players to apply it to future characters. The first Battle Pass will be available at the launch of the seasonal content, and players who complete the campaign with one character will have the option to skip it on any additional characters.
In summary, the Diablo 4 Battle Pass is expected to be released at the end of July alongside Season 1. It will feature free and paid tracks with different tiers of rewards, including cosmetics. The Battle Pass will not provide any power advantage, and players can earn rewards by accumulating Favor through gameplay activities. The use of Smoldering Ash and Season Blessings will enhance seasonal progression but will not grant any power advantages.