Itemization is the backbone of Diablo IV’s endgame. Once the campaign is complete and your character begins pushing into higher World Tiers, progression stops being about raw experience levels and becomes almost entirely about gear quality, Diablo IV Gold, and efficient farming strategies. Understanding how items scale, when progression plateaus, and what truly defines a “best-in-slot” piece is essential for anyone looking to push Nightmare Dungeons, tackle endgame bosses, or compete on seasonal ladders.

One of the most important milestones in Diablo IV’s gearing journey occurs around level 60, when the rules of item scaling fundamentally change. This is where Ancestral gear enters the picture, and where Greater Affixes transform good items into exceptional ones. In this guide, we’ll break down how endgame itemization works, why Ancestral gear matters so much, and how to maximize your chances of finding the most powerful loot in the game.

What Happens to Items at Level 60?

Before level 60, Diablo IV follows a familiar ARPG structure: as your character levels up, the power of dropped items steadily increases. Higher character level means higher item level, stronger affixes, and more impactful stats. This creates a smooth sense of progression throughout the early and midgame.

However, once you reach level 60, this linear scaling comes to an end.

At this point:

Items stop scaling directly with your character level

The maximum item power cap is 750

Progression shifts from item level to item quality

This change is intentional. Instead of endlessly chasing higher item power numbers, Diablo IV’s endgame asks players to hunt for better versions of the same items—pieces with superior affix rolls, rare modifiers, and enhanced stat potential.

This is where Ancestral gear becomes the true focus of endgame farming.

Understanding Ancestral Gear

Ancestral items represent the highest tier of loot currently available in Diablo IV’s endgame. These items can drop as either Legendary or Unique, but they are fundamentally different from their non-Ancestral counterparts.

When an Ancestral item drops, it’s immediately recognizable:

A star icon appears next to the item’s name

The item is labeled as an Ancestral Legendary or Ancestral Unique

One or more affixes may appear as Greater Affixes

These visual indicators are crucial because they signal that the item has the potential to roll far higher stats than standard endgame gear.

Greater Affixes: The Real Endgame Chase

The defining feature of Ancestral gear is the presence of Greater Affixes. These are enhanced versions of standard affixes that receive a massive statistical boost.

Here’s how Greater Affixes work:

A Greater Affix is marked with a star icon next to the affix itself

That affix is automatically boosted to 50% of its maximum possible roll

This boost applies before any additional scaling, upgrades, or modifiers

In practical terms, this is enormous.

For example:

If a normal affix can roll up to 20% Critical Strike Chance, a Greater Affix version might immediately start at 30%

Defensive stats like Damage Reduction or Maximum Life gain disproportionately large benefits

Build-defining stats become significantly stronger with just one Greater Affix

Because Diablo IV builds often rely heavily on a small number of key affixes, even a single Greater Affix on the right stat can turn a good item into a best-in-slot contender.

Why Greater Affixes Matter More Than Item Power

Once item level caps at 750, raw item power becomes far less important than how that power is distributed. Two items with identical item levels can be worlds apart in effectiveness depending on their affix quality.

Greater Affixes matter because:

They drastically increase build efficiency

They reduce reliance on perfect rolls across all affixes

They allow for higher damage ceilings and survivability thresholds

They define the difference between “clearing content” and “dominating content.”

In the deepest layers of Nightmare Dungeons or against the hardest endgame bosses, these differences are not optional—they’re mandatory.

Legendary vs Unique Ancestral Items

Ancestral gear can appear as either Legendary or Unique, and both play important roles in endgame builds.

Ancestral Legendary Items

Flexible and customizable

Can be imprinted with powerful Aspects

Ideal for min-maxing specific stat combinations

Best for filling gaps in your build

Ancestral Unique Items

Fixed, build-defining effects

Often essential for certain playstyles

Can also roll Greater Affixes

Harder to replace, but harder to optimize

The strongest builds in Diablo IV usually rely on a mix of both: Uniques that define the core mechanic of the build, and Ancestral Legendaries with Greater Affixes that maximize damage, defense, or utility.

There Is No Guaranteed Way to Get Perfect Gear

One of Diablo IV’s defining design philosophies is that perfect items are never guaranteed. There is currently no system that ensures you’ll receive an item with multiple Greater Affixes, or even the specific affix you’re hunting for.

An Ancestral item can roll:

Zero Greater Affixes

One Greater Affix

Or, in extremely rare cases, multiple Greater Affixes

Getting two to four Greater Affixes on a single item is possible—but it is exceptionally rare. These items represent the absolute pinnacle of endgame loot and are intended to be long-term chase goals rather than guaranteed progression steps.

How to Improve Your Chances of Finding Ancestral Gear

While there’s no guaranteed method to force perfect drops, there are ways to significantly improve your odds.

1. Play in a Full Group

Running content in a maximum-size group increases the total quantity of loot that drops. More monsters killed and more loot rolls mean more chances at Ancestral items with Greater Affixes.

Even if you don’t personally need every drop, group play dramatically increases overall efficiency.

2. Play on the Highest Difficulty You Can Handle

Higher World Tiers and higher difficulty content increase loot quantity and quality. This includes:

Higher Nightmare Dungeon tiers

Endgame boss encounters

Seasonal endgame activities

The key is efficiency. It’s better to farm content slightly below your maximum capability quickly than to struggle through content that slows your clear speed.

3. Focus on Endgame Content Loops

Activities that consistently produce large amounts of loot are ideal for Ancestral farming, including:

Nightmare Dungeons

Boss ladder encounters

Seasonal events and mechanics

High-density farming zones

The more drops you see per hour, the better your odds.

The Endgame Gear Mindset

Diablo IV’s itemization system rewards patience and long-term planning. Endgame gearing is not about replacing items every few levels—it’s about gradually refining your build until every slot contributes meaningfully.

A realistic endgame progression looks like this:

Reach item power cap

Equip functional Ancestral gear

Replace weak affixes with stronger rolls

Upgrade to items with key Greater Affixes

Slowly chase multi-Greater Affix pieces

This process can take dozens—or even hundreds—of hours, depending on luck and efficiency.

Final Thoughts: Ancestral Gear Is the True Endgame

Once you hit level 60 in Diablo IV, the game’s itemization enters its most important phase. The chase for Ancestral gear, Greater Affixes, and near-perfect rolls defines the endgame experience and separates casual builds from optimized powerhouses cheap Diablo IV Gold.

While there’s no guaranteed path to perfect items, understanding how the system works allows you to farm smarter, prioritize the right content, and recognize truly valuable drops when they appear. That star icon next to an item’s name isn’t just cosmetic—it’s a signal that you may be holding the next major upgrade for your build.

In Diablo IV’s endgame, power isn’t just earned. It’s hunted.

Jan-23-2026 PST