Diablo 4 Season 13 changes the gearing loop in a big way. We can no longer assume that dungeon Aspects will carry the whole leveling process, and we definitely should not ignore Rare or even Magic items too quickly. With Ancestral gear, Greater Affixes, War Plans, the Horadric Cube, Undercity Tributes, and revised boss loot tables, gearing now has more steps—but also more control.

The best approach is simple: build a stable character first, then chase perfect gear later. In practice, that means getting item power 850 gear after level 70, farming the Aspects your build needs, pushing into Torment, replacing gear with Ancestral 900 pieces, and only then focusing hard on Greater Affixes and Mythic Uniques.

• Gear Basics: What Actually Matters in Season 13
• Gear Types at a Glance
• The Best Gearing Path from Leveling to Endgame
• Recommended Progression Route
• Item Power 850 and 900 Explained
• Why 850 Gear Comes First
• Important Ancestral Gear Note
• Best Places to Farm Gear in Season 13
• Quick Farming Cheat Sheet
• How to Farm Aspects Now
• Best Aspect Farms
• War Plans: Use Them Early
• Best War Plan Priorities
• Helltides, Whispers, and Legion Events
• Helltides
• Whispers
• Legion Events
• Nightmare Dungeons and Escalating Nightmare Dungeons
• Undercity and Tributes
• How to Run Undercity Efficiently
• Horadric Cube and Loot Filters
• Useful Cube Options
• Boss Farming and Uniques
• Boss Farming Overview
• Mythic Uniques: Chase Them Later
• When to Farm Mythics Seriously
• Best Mythic Sources
• Common Gearing Mistakes
• FAQ
• What should I do first after reaching level 70?
• Where do I get Aspects in Season 13?
• Is Ancestral gear always better?
• When should I enter Torment 1?
• What is the best way to farm Uniques?
• Are Helltides still worth farming?
• Should I salvage all yellow Rare items?
• When should I start farming Mythic Uniques?
• Summary

This guide keeps the route practical. We'll focus on what to farm, when to farm it, and why each activity matters.

↖ Gear Basics: What Actually Matters in Season 13

Season 13 makes one thing very clear: item rarity alone does not tell the full story anymore. A yellow Rare item with good affixes can become valuable through crafting, while a bad Legendary may only be useful for its Aspect.

↖ Gear Types at a Glance

The key change is that we should inspect good bases before salvaging. If an item has the right stats, high item power, or an Ancestral tag, it may be worth keeping.

↖ The Best Gearing Path from Leveling to Endgame

The smoothest progression route is not complicated, but it does require patience. If we jump straight into hard Torment content with weak gear, we usually slow ourselves down.

↖ Recommended Progression Route

From our experience, the biggest mistake is pushing Torment too early. If enemies feel spongey or you keep dying, drop back, improve your 850 gear, and farm faster. Diablo rewards clear speed more than stubbornness.

↖ Item Power 850 and 900 Explained

After level 70, item power 850 becomes your first real gearing baseline. This is the point where your character starts to feel stable.

↖ Why 850 Gear Comes First

At level 70+, focus on filling every slot with item power 850 gear. This gives you:

• Better weapon damage.
• Higher armor.
• Better defensive rolls.
• A stronger base for Torment progression.
• Enough power to farm Aspects more comfortably.

Once you enter Torment, you start looking for Ancestral item power 900 gear. These are your next upgrade targets.

↖ Important Ancestral Gear Note

Ancestral gear does not always mean Greater Affix gear in Season 13.

This means your gearing chase has layers. First get 850 gear, then 900 Ancestral gear, then Greater Affixes.

↖ Best Places to Farm Gear in Season 13

The best farming activity depends on what your character is missing. If you need Aspects, farm Legendary volume. If you need a specific Unique, farm bosses. If you need materials, do not skip Legion Events.

↖ Quick Farming Cheat Sheet

If you are stuck, do not farm randomly. Identify the weakest part of your build and target that system.

↖ How to Farm Aspects Now

Aspects are one of the biggest pain points in Season 13 because the old dungeon-based routine is no longer the main answer. That means we need more Legendary drops.

↖ Best Aspect Farms

If you need a weapon Aspect, open weapon chests in Helltides. If you need a defensive Aspect, look for protection or armor-related rewards. Small targeting choices save a lot of time.

↖ War Plans: Use Them Early

If you have access to War Plans, use them as part of your gearing plan. They are not just a bonus system; they can shape your rewards and make farming much more efficient.

↖ Best War Plan Priorities

Early on, we like using War Plans to improve reliable activities like Whispers and Helltides. Later, Undercity and boss-related bonuses become more valuable.

↖ Helltides, Whispers, and Legion Events

These three activities are the backbone of smooth gearing. They are easy to access, easy to repeat, and useful at almost every stage.

↖ Helltides

Helltides are excellent because they give:

• Legendary drops.
• Targeted chests.
• Materials.
• Blood Maiden rewards.
• Whisper overlap.
• Good Aspect farming.

If you can kill the Blood Maiden quickly, contribute Baneful Hearts for better rewards. If the fight becomes slow, focus on clear speed instead.

↖ Whispers

Whispers are great because they are simple and consistent. Boss Whispers and Blood Maiden objectives are especially efficient because they can be completed quickly.

Look for caches that match your current goal:

↖ Legion Events

Legion Events are easy to underestimate. The loot is useful, but the materials are the real reason to run them. Once enchanting costs start rising, skipping Legion Events can slow down your upgrades.

↖ Nightmare Dungeons and Escalating Nightmare Dungeons

Nightmare Dungeons are still useful, especially when they offer good gear rewards or fast layouts.

Prioritize dungeons with:

• Fast objectives.
• Elite density.
• Equipment rewards.
• Strongroom access.
• Whisper overlap.
• Useful Sigil modifiers.

Escalating Nightmare Dungeons are even better because they lead into Astaroth, who now fits into the boss loot system. That makes these runs strong for both gear and boss-style rewards.

If you have spare Nightmare Sigils, the Horadric Cube can turn them into Escalating Nightmare Dungeon Sigils. That is often better than simply salvaging everything.

↖ Undercity and Tributes

Undercity is one of the best expansion farming activities because Tributes let us influence rewards.

↖ How to Run Undercity Efficiently

If you are farming regular Legendary gear for Aspects, do not always upgrade every Tribute. If you are hunting Ancestral gear, upgraded Tributes become much more attractive.

↖ Horadric Cube and Loot Filters

The Horadric Cube changes how we treat loot. A Rare item with the right affixes can become a serious upgrade, so blind salvaging is risky.

↖ Useful Cube Options

Loot filters are also important. Once you enter Torment, your screen fills with drops fast. A good filter helps you focus on Ancestral items, Greater Affixes, build-specific affixes, and useful crafting bases.

If your inventory is full every five minutes, your loot filter is too loose.

↖ Boss Farming and Uniques

Bosses are the best way to target farm specific Uniques. Season 13 uses fewer key types, which makes the system easier to follow.

↖ Boss Farming Overview

Bosses are worth farming when you know what you want. If you just need general upgrades, Helltides, Undercity, or Nightmare Dungeons may be faster.

For specific Unique hunting, check the updated boss loot table in-game or through reliable community resources. Boss pools can change between patches, so using current data matters.

↖ Mythic Uniques: Chase Them Later

Mythic Uniques are exciting, but they should not be your first gearing priority. A build with missing Aspects and weak defenses will still feel bad, even with one lucky Mythic.

↖ When to Farm Mythics Seriously

Start focusing on Mythics when:

• Your core Aspects are active.
• Most gear is 850 or better.
• You are farming Ancestral 900 gear.
• You can clear higher Torment tiers efficiently.
• You have boss keys, Mythic Tributes, or crafting materials ready.

↖ Best Mythic Sources

In our runs, Mythic Tribute farming feels much better when done in a group. It improves clear speed, helps secure bonus objectives, and lowers the chance of wasting a rare Tribute.

↖ Common Gearing Mistakes

Avoiding a few mistakes will save hours of farming.

A strong gearing loop is not about doing the hardest content possible. It is about doing the most rewarding content your build can clear quickly.

↖ FAQ

↖ What should I do first after reaching level 70?

Farm item power 850 gear. This is your first real endgame baseline and will make Torment progression much smoother.

↖ Where do I get Aspects in Season 13?

Farm Legendary-heavy activities such as Helltides, Whispers, Undercity, and Nightmare Dungeons. Targeted Helltide chests are especially useful if you need a specific gear slot.

↖ Is Ancestral gear always better?

Usually, yes as a base, because it can reach item power 900. However, Ancestral gear does not always come with a Greater Affix, so you still need to check the rolls.

↖ When should I enter Torment 1?

Enter Torment 1 after you have solid 850 gear and can clear Pit 10. If Torment 1 feels painfully slow, improve your gear and Aspects first.

↖ What is the best way to farm Uniques?

Farm the boss tied to the Unique you need. Boss loot pools are more focused, so targeted boss farming is better than random world farming.

↖ Are Helltides still worth farming?

Yes. Helltides are one of the best all-purpose farms for Legendary drops, Aspects, materials, targeted chests, and Blood Maiden loot.

↖ Should I salvage all yellow Rare items?

No. In Season 13, good Rare bases can become valuable through the Horadric Cube. Check affixes and item power before salvaging.

↖ When should I start farming Mythic Uniques?

Start after your build is stable. You should already have core Aspects, strong 850 or Ancestral gear, and enough power to farm higher Torment tiers efficiently.

↖ Summary

Diablo 4 Season 13 gearing works best when we follow a clean order: level with a functional build, farm item power 850 gear, collect core Aspects, unlock Torment, replace gear with Ancestral 900 items, then chase Greater Affixes, Uniques, and Mythics.

The biggest mindset shift is that more item types matter now. Rare gear can be useful, War Plans can shape your rewards, Undercity Tributes can target better loot, and bosses are the main path for specific Uniques. If your character feels stuck, go back to the basics: fix your Aspects, improve your item power, farm the highest tier you can clear quickly, and use crafting systems instead of waiting for perfect drops.