How many acts does Diablo 4 have? And how most are non-linear?

The Diablo series’ story is usually told inside a multi-act structure, and Diablo 4 isn't any different. However, Diablo 4 does provide you with a lot more freedom when you jump into its version of Sanctuary, letting you run the very first three acts in order.

Freedom is excellent, it creates choice, be responsible for inefficiency — the largest enemy you’ll face in Diablo 4. In this guide, we’ll assist you to figure out the brand new non-linear structure and let you know the order you need to play the sport’s acts in.

How Many Acts Are in Diablo 4?

Diablo 4 launched with increased acts than Diablo 3 has now — despite the Reaper of Souls expansion — and it has six acts as a whole.

The first three acts are non-linear and expose you to the Fractured Peaks, Scosglen, the Dry Steppes, and Kehjistan. Each of these acts is very long, using the initial quest typically spanning out into two distinct storylines that converge after the act.

Act IV may be the convergence point for that story, also it takes place throughout Sanctuary. It’s also extremely short, and you’ll likely move ahead without realizing it. Act V will ultimately take you to Hawezar, the giant jungle zone south of Fractured Peaks. This act makes up for the length of Act IV and may be the longest of the bunch. Act VI may be the finale act and happens in multiple zones in Sanctuary (in addition to a few new locations).

With all six acts, Diablo 4’s main campaign’s length varies dramatically according to whether you mainline the storyline or do side content. If whatever you do is target the main mission, you are able to likely complete the first playthrough from the campaign in eight to 12 hours.

How Does Diablo 4’s Non-Linear Act Structure Work?

When you initially boot up Diablo 4, you’ll start inside a cave and want to complete the mandatory prologue, which will eventually land you in Kyovashad, the main city of Fractured Peaks. From here, you’ll see Lorath off and explore the Cathedral of Light (whilst getting tutorials on the few other in-game systems). By the time you’re prepared to adventure out into Sanctuary, you’ll have three quests:

“Act I: A Cold and Iron Faith”

“Act II: The Knife Twists Again”

“Act III: The Making of Monsters”

Each quest will make you a different region, with Act I happening in the Fractured Peaks, Act II happening in the swampy marshes of Scosglen, and Act III happening primarily within the aptly named Dry Steppes. These quests all start entire questlines, which eventually culminate within an act finale.

Once you’ve completed the questlines for those three acts, you’ll obtain the quest for Act IV — which will eventually lead to the first mount.

In which Order Should You Play the Diablo 4 Campaign in

The response to this question is essential, but additionally a bit boring. While the sport does allow you to experience in any order, you will find level strategies for each act. You can jump into Act I immediately, at whatever level you finished the prologue (likely around 5 or 6). But Act II includes a level recommendation of 10, and Act III includes a level recommendation of 15.

You can, obviously, ignore these recommendations (they're just recommendations in the end), but enemies will hit harder and take more time to kill. So enter at your own peril. Unfortunately, the best order to experience is numeric: Act I into Act II into Act III. But if you’re dying to experience something new after playing through Act I multiple times within the beta, you are able to go into Act II with very minor leveling issues, that ought to remedy themselves quickly while you level up. Just realize that you’ll eventually need to go back to Act I before you are able to unlock Act IV.

If you’re intending to experience out of numeric order, we recommend playing on World Tier 1 (Adventurer) because it will help nullify the amount of difference between you and the quests.

If you’re worried about getting spoiled by playing the sport out of order, rest easy knowing that the very first three acts are just their own short stories in Sanctuary and don’t converge until Act IV.