Diablo 4 is set to debut its first season on July 20, and to better prepare the community, Blizzard has revealed the different Malignant Heart types and where to farm them. Despite having a tremendously successful launch, Diablo 4 has caught its fair share of criticism, and players are hoping the developers address some of its major issues as soon as possible. Season of the Malignant in Diablo 4 not only represents the first step towards that goal, but it is also an extension of the base game itself.
For Diablo 4 players, it's back to square one in Season of the Malignant. They'll start with an empty stash, no currency, with only their knowledge to guide them, as they attempt to climb the endgame in Diablo 4 yet again. Though the accompanying patch is also bringing new Legendary Aspects and Uniques, the featured stars of the season are its Malignant Hearts. Comparable to Legendary Gems from Diablo 3, Malignant Hearts will give characters powerful bonuses when slotted into a piece of jewelry (provided the socket color matches).
The official Diablo account on Twitter posted the four types of Malignant Hearts, confirming their number, as well as where to find each type. The total amount of Malignant Hearts coming in Season of the Malignant is 32, and given that there are four types, it can be presumed that there are eight Malignant Hearts per type. The first category coming to Diablo 4 is Vicious Hearts, providing potent Offensive bonuses. Conversely, Brutal Hearts provide a Defensive bonus, while Devious Hearts deal in Utility powers. The final type is called a Wrathful Heart, and the developers have previously explained them as more powerful and rarer than the other three.
Though Blizzard has stated that players will be able to target-farm Malignant Hearts in Season 1, it seems that they will need to look for specific Malignant Monsters as well. Some fans have expressed concern that the Malignant Hearts in Diablo 4 are layered in too much RNG compared to Legendary Gems, as the grind also entails looking for Infested rolls on best-in-slot jewelry while making sure that the new socket is in the correct color.
Curiously, the infographic released by Blizzard reveals that players will also be able to craft Malignant Hearts via Cormond's wagon. One of the biggest criticisms of Diablo 4 has been its lack of crafting at launch, especially coming off the heels of Diablo 3's Blacksmith. The seasonal storytelling of Diablo 4 will also kick off on July 20, and fans will either have to skip the campaign or fully complete it in order to enjoy the next chapter in the world of Sanctuary.
Diablo 4 is available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
