When people talk about “four extra slots” in Diablo 4, they are not actually talking about new gear slots on your character. What they really mean is the big shift that came with the Tempering and Masterworking systems. These new crafting tools change how you look at loot. Instead of just waiting for that perfect drop, you can now shape it yourself. With Diablo 4 Items as your base, you can add and enhance affixes that act like extra stat slots on your current gear, giving you far more control over your build than ever before.

Tempering is where the “extra slots” idea comes to life. At the Blacksmith, you can use Tempering Manuals—recipes you pick up from different activities—to add two extra affixes to Ancestral Legendary or Unique gear. Each manual focuses on a theme, like resource management, frost damage, or general offence. When you apply one, the game rolls one affix from its list, and you only get a set number of tries before the item’s Temper Durability runs out. This means you are not just gambling blindly; you are making a calculated choice. Find a piece with two or three stats you love, then fill in the missing gaps with Tempering, and suddenly that “almost perfect” drop becomes a core part of your build.

This flexibility changes how you put a build together. Players can now double down on a specific skill or mechanic in a way that was not possible before. Say you are running a Barbarian built around Upheaval—you can stack affixes that boost its range and damage on multiple items. Or if you are a Sorcerer, you can load up on cooldown reduction and buffs for your conjuration spells. It is not just about raw power; it is about making your character feel unique and tuned to your playstyle. The ceiling for what a build can do is way higher now, and you actually get to steer it there yourself.

The loot chase in the endgame feels different too. You are no longer hunting for that one mythical drop with four perfect stats. Now, the real prize is finding a strong base item—ideally with a rare Greater Affix—and then customising it. First, you get the right base.

Next, you roll the Tempered affixes you want. Finally, Masterworking takes over, upgrading every stat and giving a huge bump to one random affix every few ranks. That last step is where the thrill kicks in, because nailing the perfect upgrade can turn a great item into something truly special. This whole process makes the grind more about smart crafting than blind luck, and if you are looking to push your build to its limit, it is worth every bit of effort—especially when you have the option to Diablo 4 gold buy to speed things up.