Once again, Diablo 4 players are circling back to the same question: why do pets still pick up so few items?
A recent Reddit discussion has pushed the topic back into the spotlight as fast builds and new loot types make the current system feel more outdated than ever. With more items being added each season and players moving even faster through content, many feel that pets are becoming less helpful instead of more useful.
The thread focuses on a familiar pain point: missed runes, missed Animus orbs, and small drops that vanish the moment you sprint offscreen. And since pets only grab a handful of items (and only within visible range), frustration is growing.
The Animus Orb Issue That Will Not Go Away
Animus orbs require you to walk right over them, which does not mix well with speed-clearing. The drop delay after killing elites makes it even easier to miss them while rushing ahead. Players continue having to backtrack or repeat sections of dungeons simply because an orb spawned half a second too late.
This should be handled automatically by pets or mirrored after auto-collection systems in older Diablo titles.
Runes Are Disappearing Too Easily
Runes get lost in the chaos even faster. Fast or ranged builds often kill enemies offscreen, leaving runes behind without any indication. The community’s suggestion is straightforward: if a player misses runes, they should appear in the final chest just like other missed loot.
A Pet System That Cannot Keep Up
The bigger discussion is about pet functionality in general. Sure, pets are cute, but players feel they struggle to keep pace with modern Diablo 4 builds. They only pick up certain drops, only inside the player’s visual range, and only after their animation completes.
When you outrun them, which is almost always, items stay behind.
This has led to calls for a full pet overhaul, with ideas such as:
- Pickup for runes, Animus orbs, gems, and all small drops
- Offscreen collection when players move too fast
- Vacuum-style collection during fast clearing
- Custom loot filters linked to pets
- Pets auto-salvaging or stashing items
- Sending pets to sell marked junk
- More interactive or combat-supporting pets
Players often compare it to Torchlight or Diablo 3‘s updated pet system, saying Diablo 4‘s current pets feel mostly cosmetic.
With the two big farming events currently active and players grinding more than ever, this conversation is returning at the perfect time. It is unclear if Blizzard plans to expand the pet system, but the community would certainly love to see pets become more than decorative companions.
