Diablo 4 has already gone through, and will likely continue to go through a steady rotation of seasonal gimmicks, borrowed powers, and experimental gear systems. With each new season, Blizzard isn’t afraid to shake things up. And now, with the Lord of Hatred expansion on the horizon and the return of legacy mechanics like the Horadric Cube, it raises an interesting question:
Could Diablo 3-style set bonuses actually work in Diablo 4?
Could Seasonal Sets Bonuses Work in Diablo 4?
Blizzard has never been shy about revisiting fan-favorite systems. We’ve seen it time and time again throughout Diablo 4’s lifecycle, and across Blizzard’s other franchises like World of Warcraft. Capstone Dungeons’ recent return is a perfect example.
It’s the same story with endgame comparisons. Many Diablo fans have already drawn clear parallels between Greater Rifts in Diablo 3 and The Pit in Diablo 4. Blizzard clearly isn’t against reworking old ideas if they fit the new framework.
But with dozens of older systems that could be reintroduced or reimagined, the real question is whether seasonal sets belong on that list, or if Diablo 4’s current complexity makes them too difficult to implement without breaking the game’s balance.
The Possible Power of the Talisman
One thing we do know is that the upcoming Lord of Hatred expansion will introduce the Talisman, which is going to bring some form of set bonuses back into Diablo 4. While details are still scarce — including how these bonuses will function or what slot the Talisman will occupy, since its existence alone opens the door to some big possibilities.
Diablo 4 is clearly designed around Aspects and Uniques, with every season adding new ones or rebalancing existing options. This constant tuning is what defines each seasonal meta. In Diablo 3, however, most builds revolved entirely around set bonuses, often enabling wildly specific playstyles — like the iconic Angry Chicken Witch Doctor.
The concern is obvious: with so many overlapping systems already in place, Tempering, Masterworking, Aspects, and even seasonal mechanics like Season 11’s Sanctification. Is there simply too much going on for traditional seasonal sets to coexist without overwhelming everything else?
Is There a Way to Make Set Bonuses Work for Diablo 4?
That said, there are a few possible ways Blizzard could make seasonal sets work — just not in their classic form.
One option would be to detach set bonuses from gear entirely. Instead of tying bonuses to armor pieces, sets could function more like Season 2’s Vampire Powers or Season 11’s Divine Gifts — powerful bonuses that exist outside of item slots.
Another possibility would involve the return of Chaos Armor. Right now, Diablo 4 locks aspects and gear to specific slots, limiting build flexibility. Season 10 temporarily removed those restrictions with Chaos Armor, and Blizzard has already confirmed that a toned-down version of the system will return in the future, though we still don’t know when.
If Chaos Armor makes a comeback, it could open the door for more flexible set-style bonuses without completely hijacking build diversity.
The Limitations of Seasonal Sets
Despite the nostalgia factor — and the demand from longtime Diablo veterans — it’s hard to imagine seasonal sets returning in a true 1:1 Diablo 3 form.
If D3-style sets were dropped into Diablo 4 unchanged, they would almost certainly dominate the meta every season, overshadowing Aspects and reducing build variety. That would run counter to one of Diablo 4’s core design philosophies.
If sets do return, they’ll likely be through systems like the Talisman and without strict class restrictions. Class-specific sets could easily push players into narrow build paths, leaving anyone without a strong set bonus at a disadvantage until future updates roll out.
So while seasonal sets aren’t impossible, they’d need to go through several changes to fit within Diablo 4’s already dense ecosystem of systems.
But what do you think? Would you like to see seasonal sets return to Diablo 4 in any form, or is the game already juggling too many systems for that to work properly?
