Gamers have enjoyed Diablo 3 on PC for quite some time, as well as its supplementary additions and expansions. However, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One owners get their shot at looting and glory this week with the arrival of the Reaper of Souls Ultimate Edition, which is available for either retail or digital download; you can also buy it for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
There’s a lot of hacking and slashing to be done in this game, along with finding new weapons, scoring some loot to level up your warrior of choice and maybe playing with friends in an all-out beast bashing session.
Before you get started, though, we have a few tips that will help you fight the good fight – and live to collect a bit more loot. Let’s get started!
Choosing the Right Class for the Job
The first thing you’ll want to realize with Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls’ six classes is that each one has its own strengths within their active and passive skills. You’ll want to play around with each one and see what they can provide. Let’s take a brief look at all six.
Barbarian: Best used with melee attacks, and you can mix up what kind of weapons they carry, whether it’s two single-handed ones or a large item that requires the use of both hands. This character provides strong, brute force that’s worth checking out.
Crusader: This new addition to the series is excellent with mid-range melee attacks, and can also provide additional strength to cohorts should they join the Crusader in battle. A worthwhile character, especially if you’re a devoted fan of the series looking for something new.
Demon Hunter: If you prefer range, the Demon Hunter has a lot to offer with swift attacks that can hit from a distance. They aren’t very effective with up-close techniques, but they’re perfect when a group of enemies is on the approach.
Monk: If you’re looking for a character with a balance of good mid-range attacks and defensive maneuvers, the Monk is an ideal choice, able to chain together combos and unleash special skills while improving dexterity that allows for better dodging of certain attacks.
Witch doctor: Forget about shrunken heads. This witch doctor is devastating when it comes to spellcasting, as they can summon all sorts of attacks to hurt enemies, including undead minions, elemental spirits and poison darts. They’re better from a distance and quite effective.
Wizard: Like the Witch Doctor, the Wizard can summon its own class of spells that deal devastating damage to enemies, ideal if you’re fighting alongside a group. You’ll want to master their defensive skills as well, including teleportation and time control.
When it comes to deciding the right character, the best thing you can do is find one that suits your style, then enter and see what skills you can improve upon. Sometimes you may even develop a favorite outside of your usual comfort zone, especially with the Witch Doctor and the Wizard. They’re surprisingly more fun than they first appear.
Know Your Weapon Upgrades
Over the course of the journey, you’ll come across a series of weapons that you can switch to. Sometimes you’ll end up with a quality item, like a two-handed axe, that helps you pummel enemies. However, before you switch, pay attention to the red and green arrows next to each one, as they’ll tell you whether or not it’s an improvement from your current weapon.
Even if it isn’t, give it a try anyway. You can switch back later if something doesn’t work right for you, but sometimes a one-handed axe approach is better than two, with increased strength in attacking foes.
Another aspect to certain weapons comes in the form of perks. With these, you’ll earn bonuses that benefit your soldiers in other ways, like providing extra experience points or the ability to regenerate life – something crucial when fighting large groups. This is why trying out said weapon never hurts, as you can see the lasting effects and strengthen your hero do some real damage, especially to larger foes.
Finally, Bring Friends
While Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls Ultimate Evil Edition is fun solo, this is a game built on the principle of the more the merrier. Up to four players can join in your quest either locally or online, and yes, the sessions get chaotic, but the payoff is superb.
With a concentrated effort between brute force (one to two Barbarians and Crusaders), one good distance attacker (like the Demon Hunter) and one spellcaster (Wizard or Witch Hunter, take your pick), you can really mix up your techniques and bring down tougher enemies with little effort. On your own, you’ll have to act more defensively, which results in fights taking longer.
Try out multiplayer the first chance you get, even if it’s with random strangers online. You just might form a cool battle party.
Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls Ultimate Evil Edition is available now for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
Published: Aug 21, 2014 05:14 pm