Beating Normal Mode: The Basics of Stats

Did you just pick up your copy of Diablo 3 and start your first game? Normal difficulty is the first step on your way to leveling a character to level 60, and in general it’s not too difficult. However, at certain points in the game, Normal difficulty might cause you a little pause. Here are our basic tips to help any class through Diablo’s introductory difficulty.

Tristram Live Diablo 3 Podcast Episode 3 is Live!

In this episode of the Tristram Live Diablo 3 Podcast, Zulu and Mcgabe discuss launch day, error 37, the auction house's troubles, and their first impressions of Diablo 3's four difficulty levels (Normal, Nightmare, Hell, Inferno).

Toward the end of the podcast, we also provide tips on how to get started in each of the four difficulty levels. Next week, we're going to be talking about the developer update in quite a bit of detail, so be sure to check back!

An Introduction: Diablo 3 Tips for Beginners

Are you, like many people, new to the Diablo franchise? Or are you coming into the game and are utterly confused by how Diablo 3 differs from its predecessors? Either way, I’ve come across a lot of people who don’t understand a few things about how basics of the game work, and others that are unaware of key features that impact how you play the game. Here are the four things I think it would help every beginner to know.

Monk Impressions: Mcgabe

“The tales of Ivgorod’s monks are steeped in mystery and legend. It is said that these reclusive holy warriors endure grueling training for years on end at the wonderous floating Sky Monastery, forging their bodies and minds into weapons of righteousness. For the monks, there is no greater honor than to follow the will of their 1001 gods, even if it means death.”

Diablo 3’s Monk takes the usual “holy warrior” or “paladin” RPG archetype, chews it up, spits it out, stands it on its head, and turns it inside out. And those are all very, very good things.

The fresh take on the “holy warrior” is but one of the many draw-ins of the class. I’m sure many, like myself, are huge oriental martial arts fans; well, the Monk has an entire roster of flashy, jumpkick-y attacks to choose from. From Deadly Reach (my absolute favorite) to Fists of Thunder to Cyclone Strike, the Monk’s every swing feels like a nuclear explosion, and each skill is just as destructive as its name implies.

24 Hour Live Stream Details

So May 15th is finally upon us and we're ready to bite the bullet. Starting tomorrow at 3:00 AM Eastern Time, we will be broadcasting live on Twitch TV for 24 hours straight! We'll be racing to Nightmare and Hell modes as fast as we can, and who knows, maybe we'll even get a U.S. first or two.

We'll be monitoring chat, taking questions, and interacting with the community in general throughout the day. If you're one of the few unlucky enough to be at work, or you're just interested in watching some moderately funny people go balls to the wall at Diablo 3, come check us out before 3 AM on Wednesday morning. You'll be able to watch either in the Stream section of our site or over on Twitch.

See you in Hell.

Demon Hunter Impressions: Zulu

“The demon hunters. Vengeful harbingers of righteous doom who bring swift judgment and death to the hellish creatures daring enough to trespass on the mortal lands of Sanctuary. Skilled archers, assassins, and trackers, demon hunters are perfectly honed instruments set to scour demons from the world. The fact that every last one of them has a deep and personal motivation to do so only sharpens their deadly purpose.”

Diablo 3’s Demon Hunter is the spiritual offspring of Diablo 2’s Assassin and Amazon classes. Combining the ranged, weapon-based attacks of the Amazon with the Assassin’s traps and acrobatics, the Demon Hunter specializes in tactical ranged combat. In addition to spells like Spike Trap and Rapid Fire, the Demon Hunter employs shadow magic, giving the Demon Hunter a certain level of badassery archer-type classes often lack.

Barbarian Impressions: Zulu

“The barbarians. Mighty warriors whose strength and ferocity are a match for any foe, whether slavering beast or foul demon. Tall, broad, and rippling with muscle, the barbarian can bear a heavy weapon too large for a commoner to lift, or wield two full-sized armaments—one in each hand—with wickedly lethal purpose. In the wild and monstrous lands of Sanctuary, there is nothing more frightening than a barbarian with a dry blade.”

Diablo 3’s Barbarian fulfills the archetype well. Completely at home in the center of combat, the Barbarian forgoes finesse in favor of sheer brute force. While the idea of the Barbarian is straightforward, the class is anything but bland. Spells like Cleave and Whirlwind fulfill the status quo, while others like Seismic Slam and Earthquake take the Barbarian’s staggering displays of power to the next level.