As Season 2, aptly named the Season of Blood, descends upon the world of Diablo 4, a host of thrilling and exclusive features awaits players, ready to unleash havoc upon their enemies. Among these enticing additions lies the enigmatic Vampiric Curse ability, which, at first glance, might leave you scratching your head as its effects are initially shrouded in mystery.
For those eager to dive deep into this arcane power and discover how it operates within the Season of Blood, you are in the right place. In this guide, we’ll unveil the secrets of the Vampiric Curse in Diablo 4, including its in-game mechanics, and equip you with the knowledge to wield this dark magic to your advantage as you confront the legions of darkness in Season 2.
How Does the Vampiric Curse Work in Diablo 4
First and foremost, the Vampiric Curse ability is an exclusive mechanic that only comes into play during the Season of Blood. It offers a specific effect that players can utilize once they’ve been bitten by a vampire and granted this curse to bestow upon others. The Vampiric curse operates through two stages, so let’s break down each of them:
Stage 1: Infection and Soul Extraction
- As you use your newly acquired Vampiric Powers or Abilities, some of them have a chance to inflict the Vampiric Curse on your enemies. This curse won’t have an apparent effect during battle, but when you defeat enemies afflicted with it, you’ll be able to store their souls.
Stage 2: Releasing the Souls
- To release the stored souls, cast an Agility, Defensive, or Macabre skill, and the souls will be unleashed to attack the enemy you are targeting. You can carry a total of 8 souls with the Vampiric Curse mechanic, which allows you to deal substantial damage.
As previously mentioned, the first step is to afflict enemies with the Vampiric Curse, which initiates the cycle of this mechanic. This will only occur when using specific Vampiric Powers. Here’s a list of those powers for your convenience, helping you choose the best Vampiric Powers for your build to take full advantage of the Vampiric Curse:
Coven’s Fangs:
- Effect: Your Conjuration, Companion, Minion, and Bat Familiar attacks deal 52% increased damage to Crowd-Controlled enemies. Lucky Hit: Your Conjuration, Companion, Minion, and Bat Familiar have up to a 30% chance to inflict Vampiric Curse when hitting enemies.
Prey on the Weak:
- Effect: You deal 16% increased damage to Vulnerable enemies. Enemies are Vulnerable while affected by a Vampiric Curse from your other Vampiric Powers.
Accursed Touch:
- Effect: Lucky Hit: Up to a 44% chance to inflict Vampiric Curse on enemies. Enemies with the Vampiric Curse have a 15% chance to spread it to other surrounding enemies. Accursed Souls deal 200% increased damage.
Flowing Veins:
- Effect: You deal 60% increased Damage Over Time to enemies that are moving or affected by a Vampiric Curse.
Metamorphosis:
- Effect: When you Evade, you turn into a cloud of bats, becoming Unstoppable for 4 seconds. Enemies along your path take 160% Physical damage and are inflicted with Vampiric Curse.
So there you have it, a comprehensive breakdown of how the Vampiric Curse operates in Season 2 of Diablo 4. Now that you understand its mechanics and know which Vampiric Powers can inflict this curse, you’ll be well-prepared to use the souls of your enemies to conquer the challenges that await you in the Season of Blood.