Diablo 4 boasts a classic RPG element with a myriad of NPCs that players can interact with. Throughout their journey, players will come across various NPCs in cities and the open world. While some NPCs offer quests, players will also need to rely on vendors to progress through the game. Among them, blacksmiths are a crucial part of Diablo 4's gameplay, responsible for salvaging, upgrading, and repairing equipment. Despite the in-game map stating that blacksmiths can craft new gear, this feature currently seems to be missing, leaving players wondering if it was a cut feature or something that will be added in the future.
Diablo 4's Blacksmiths Seem to Have Forgotten Something
The world map in Diablo 4 serves as a valuable aid for players to navigate the intricate pathways of Sanctuary. It guides players towards their intended destination and provides map markers for important NPCs and locations. These markers offer a brief description of the available services and items. However, the blacksmith's map marker can be misleading. While the map indicates that blacksmiths can craft armor and weapons, players soon realize that this is not entirely accurate. Instead, blacksmiths can only upgrade existing weapons and armor. If Blizzard intends to maintain this distinction, it may need to update the text to avoid confusion.
Crafting unique items using materials and blueprints was a feature in previous Diablo titles, but it is currently not available in Diablo 4. Despite what the blacksmith may suggest, players are unable to create any unique gear even in the endgame. It is possible that this is a hint at a future feature, but it may also be leftover text from earlier in development. In a recent interview with Diablo 4 Lead Class Designer Adam Jackson, he explained that the team decided to focus on upgrading gear rather than crafting new pieces. This approach allows players to fine-tune their preferred items and avoid random stats, while still obtaining gear from monsters. According to Jackson, the upgradable gear system aligns with the core of Diablo and reduces the impact of RNG factors.
It appears that Blizzard has no intentions of incorporating any armor or weapon crafting into Diablo 4, although this may change in the future. The blacksmith's map marker description is peculiar as it references a feature that the studio may have intentionally moved away from. It's possible that this text slipped by the developers, or perhaps crafting has been reintroduced since the game's development. Players may find this confusing, but Blizzard will hopefully clarify the situation soon. Diablo 4 is currently available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
