Summary
The return of unique quality items inDiablo 4has been an exciting feature for avid players looking to collect the rarest gear in the game. Uniques were originally present as special one-of-a-kind in-game drops introduced inDiablo 2, but were subsequently removed fromDiablo 3and replaced with the legendary quality.Diablo 4features the best of both worlds with both legendaries and uniques available to players, and with severalDiablo 2uniques returning in this latest entry,Diablo 2’s unique Crown of Ages deserves to be added in a future season.
The Grandfather, Andariel’s Visage, and the iconicHarlequin Crest, also known as the Shako, are already some of the uniques fromDiablo 2that have made their way toDiablo 4. The Season of the Malignant also added a variety of uniques fromDiablo 2as well, including Ahavarion Spear of Lycander, Azurewrath, and The Oculus. Some of these additions are more controversial than others, but the Crown of Ages deserves to be added as it is one of the best all-around uniquesDiablo 2had to offer, and it could find itself in a similar position inDiablo 4.
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Diablo 2’s Crown of Ages Would be a Great Addition to Diablo 4
InDiablo 2, the Crown of Ages bills itself as one of the best defense-oriented pieces of gear in the game, offering fantastic affixes across the board for increasing a player’s survivability. It is Indestructible, meaning it has no durability and cannot break or be repaired, already putting it at a huge advantage over other potential headgear options. Additionally, it comes with two sockets for gems to be inserted into, which allow it to be augmented further defensively, or include a boost to offense depending on which type ofDiablo 2gemsare socketed into it.
Although this unique can be equipped by anyDiablo 2class, it is best suited for Barbarians, Paladins, and Assassins as it requires a high strength stat to equip. The Crown of Ages comes with affixes that grant 30% faster Hit Recovery, 50% Enhanced Defense, +150 Defense, 30% All Resistance increase, 15% Damage Reduction, and +1 to all skills. The combination of these bonuses make the Crown of Ages the optimal helmet for most ofDiablo 2’s builds, and make it a prime candidate for areturn inDiablo 4.
If the Crown of Ages were to return in afutureDiablo 4season, it would likely need to be reworked a bit to fit more in line withDiablo 4’s mechanics, much like other returningDiablo 2uniques have been. While the +1 to all skills could stay the same, +150 Defense would likely need to be changed to +150 Total Armor, and 30% faster Hit Recovery would likely need to change to something like Barrier Generation or Life on Kill. The Crown of Ages is useable by all classes inDiablo 2, but it could be made specifically for Barbarians inDiablo 4and add an affix like Maximum Fury and offer a unique affix that is beneficial to the Barbarian’s skill set.
With many players dissatisfied with the recentnerf to allDiablo 4classesand buff to all enemies, adding a piece of gear like the Crown of Ages toDiablo 4could be a great way to provide players with a much-needed defensive buff. It’s clear Blizzard is committed to bringing many popular uniques from past entries back inDiablo 4, so it’s likely future seasons will continue to bring more to the game. If this trend does continue, there is a good chance thatDiablo 2’s Crown of Ages makes its way toDiablo 4given its potential to become one of the best utility items in the game.
Diablo 4is available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
