Diablo 4 is introducing Malignant Hearts in its first season, and two additional examples were found by observant players during a recent developer livestream. Fans of the mechanic in Diablo 3 will notice the similarity between Malignant Hearts and Legendary Gems, and they are likely to enjoy the upcoming Season of the Malignant in Diablo 4, set to launch on July 20.
The basic concept of the new feature in Diablo 4 is straightforward: players will have a chance to acquire a Malignant Heart from Elite mobs that possess the new Malignant affix. To target specific Hearts, players can explore Malignant Tunnels that are scattered throughout the open world. However, in Diablo 4, Malignant Hearts can only be inserted into jewelry that comes with the new Infested affix. This affix grants the jewelry a unique socket of a random color, and players must match the color of the socket with the corresponding color of their Malignant Heart. Unlike regular gems, Malignant Hearts cannot be removed from an item, and this adds an extra layer of decision-making for players according to the developers' intentions.
During the Season of the Malignant livestream, the Diablo 4 team showcased a few Malignant Hearts. However, a player named Tipep- managed to spot two additional Hearts in the video. The developers confirmed that Diablo 4's first season will include 32 Malignant Hearts. While some will offer universal bonuses, others will be exclusive to a specific class. Tipep- discovered a Wrathful Heart that grants the Malignant Pact power, as well as a Vicious Heart that provides Focused Rage.
Criticism has arisen from the community regarding these powers, as they appear to be highly situational. Many believe that Diablo 4's itemization relies too heavily on situational bonuses. The Malignant Pact power, for example, cycles through various powerful bonuses every 20 seconds. These bonuses include an increase in Attack Speed, a chance to restore the Primary Resource, and a damage-absorbing Barrier. On the other hand, Focused Rage exclusively benefits Barbarians in Diablo 4, granting a 34% increase in Critical Strike Chance for the next non-Basic Skill if the character spends at least 68 Fury within two seconds.
Players who play as Barbarians and utilize the Hammer of the Ancients skill may find it beneficial to have the bonuses offered by Focused Rage. However, acquiring the ideal Infested item with a Vicious socket may prove to be time-consuming. It is worth noting that Blizzard swiftly disabled Chase Uniques in Diablo 4 after discovering their significantly high drop rate in Helltide Chests. As a result, it remains uncertain how challenging the grind for the Malignant Heart will be.
Diablo 4 can be played on PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, as well as Xbox One and Series X/S.
