A Legendary Aspect stores the power of a Legendary affix, which is multiple times more powerful than a regular affix. They can be imprinted on Rare or other Legendary items to improve them.
Legendary Aspects are:
Always account-bound
Often class-based
Eligible for usage only on certain equipment slots
A Legendary Aspect for the Barbarian Class
Obtaining Legendary Aspects
Aspects from completing Dungeons (Codex of Power system)
Each Dungeon in Diablo 4 unlocks a specific Legendary Aspect in Diablo 4's Codex of Power, meaning players can target certain Dungeons to get the Legendary powers they want for their items. Codex of Power Aspects can be imprinted on items unlimited times.
While this approach provides certainty around which Aspect will be acquired, the drawback is that Codex of Power Aspects are less powerful than those extracted from Legendary items that are dropped by monsters.
Extracting Aspects from Legendary item drops
Any Legendary item can be taken to the Occultist NPC to extract its Legendary affix and store it in a Legendary Aspect. This solves the problem from past Diablo games where a player might find a Legendary item with a Legendary affix they like, but don't like the other affixes and/or item slot. Players can keep Aspects in their Inventories (there's a dedicated tab) or Stash to use at a future time. Note that the original Legendary item that the Aspect is extracted from is destroyed.
Imprinting a Legendary Aspect on an item
One of the main services that the Occultist offers is imprinting a Rare or Legendary item with a Legendary Aspect (assuming it hasn't been imprinted before).
Rare item: upgraded to Legendary quality and is imprinted with the Legendary affix
Legendary item: existing Legendary affix is overwritten by the Aspect's Legendary affix
The Occultist's interface for imprinting Aspects on items allows the player to choose an Aspect from the Codex of Power or their Inventory.
Player imprinting a Legendary item with an Aspect from their inventoryTOP
Cyclone Armor also produces Physical Damage Reduction. In addition, Cyclone Armor will also be applied to all Nearby Allies.
Collapsed Vault (Dungeon)
Aspect of Mending Stone
The duration of Earthen Bulwark is increased by 6 seconds. In addition, killing an enemy with Earth Skills replenishes 8 of your active Earthen Bulwark's Barrier.
Sealed Archives (Dungeon)
Skinwalker's Aspect
When you use a Shapeshifting Skill that changes your form, gain 8 Life. If you are not at full Life, gain the same amount as Fortify.
Reach Kehjistan (Story)
Vigorous Aspect
Gain 10.0% Damage reduction while Shapeshifted into a Werewolf.
Damaging a Vulnerable enemy with a Core Skill has up to a 10% chance to drop a Healing Potion.
Leviathan's Maw (Dungeon)
Aspect of Uncanny Treachery
Dealing direct damage to a Dazed Enemy with an Ability Skill grants Stealth for 4 seconds. Breaking Stealth with an attack grants you a 15%Control Impaired Duration Reduction for 4 seconds.
Reach Scosglen (Story)
Cheat's Aspect
You can take 15% less damage from Crowded Controlled enemies. Whenever a Crowd Controlled enemy deals direct damage to you, gain 15% Movement Speed for 2 seconds.
Luban's Rest (Dungeon)
Enshrouding Aspect
Gain a free Dark Shroud shadow every 3 seconds when standing still. Each Dark Shroud shadow grants 2.0% increased Damage Reduction.
Deal 3% increased damage for each second you stand still, up to 30%.
Reach Scosglen (Story)
Aspect of Plunging Darkness
Bone Prison spawns a pool of Blight that deals 50% bonus damage over 6 seconds.
Rimescar Cavern (Dungeon)
Aspect of Retribution
Distant enemies have a 15% chance to be Stunned for 2 seconds when they hit you. You deal 30% increased damage to Stunned enemies.
Reach Kehjistan (Story)
Aspect of the Expectant
Attacking enemies with a Basic Skill increases the damage of your next Core Skill cast by 5% up to 50%.
Underroot (Dungeon)
Edgemaster's Aspect
Skills deal up to 24% increased damage based on your available Primary Resource when cast, receiving the maximum benefit while you have full Primary Resource.
Oldstones (Dungeon)
Needleflare Aspect
Thorns damage dealt has a 20% chance to deal damage to all enemies around you.
Progress in Kehjistan (Story)
Rapid Aspect
Basic Skills gain 23% Attack Speed
Progress in Dry Steppes (Story)
Shadowslicer Aspect
When you cast Dash, a Shadow Clone is spawned at your location that also casts Dash, dealing 25% of the Base damage.
Damaging enemies with Leap, Upheaval, or Whirlwind has up to a 40% chance to summon an Ancient to perform the same Skill. Can only happen once every 5 seconds.
Progress in Hawezar (Story)
Aspect of Ancestral Force
Hammer of the Ancients quakes outwards, dealing 32% of its damage to enemies.
Sunken Ruins (Dungeon)
Aspect of Berserk Ripping
Whenever you deal direct damage while Berserking, inflict 22% of the Base damage dealt as additional Bleeding damage over 5 seconds.
Mournfield (Dungeon)
Aspect of the Dire Whirlwind
Whirlwind's Critical Strike Chance is increased by 5% for each second it is channeled, up to 20%.
Garan Hold (Dungeon)
Brawler's Aspect
Enemies damaged by Kick or Charge will explode if they are killed within the next 2 seconds, dealing 158 damage to surrounding enemies.
The duration of Grizzly Rage is increased by 1 second. In addition, Critical Strikes while Grizzly Rage is active increase your critical strike damage by 10% for the duration.
Endless Gates (Dungeon)
Aspect of Retaliation
Your Core Skills deal up to 20% increased damage based on your amount of Fortify.
Seaside Descent (Dungeon)
Aspect of the Tempest
Hurricane damage is increased by 7% each second while active
Blind Burrows (Dungeon)
Aspect of the Ursine Horror
Pulverize is now also an Earth Skill. After casting Pulverize, tectonic spikes continue to deal 55 damage over 2 seconds.
Reach Hawezar (Story)
Crashstone Aspect
Earth Skills deal 40% more Critical Strike Damage to Crowd Controlled enemies.
Progress in Scosglen (Story)
Nighthowler's Aspect
Blood Howl increases Critical Strike Chance by 5%. In addition, Blood Howl also affects Companions and players for 3 seconds.
Forbidden City (Dungeon)
Overcharged Aspect
Up to a 10% chance when dealing Lightning damage to overload the target for 3 seconds, causing any direct damage you deal to them to pulse 111 additional damage to surrounding enemies.
Mariner's Refuge (Dungeon)
Shepherd's Aspect
Core Skills deal an additional 6% damage for each active Companion.
Bloodsoaked Crag (Dungeon)
Stormclaw's Aspect
Critical Strikes with Shred deal 20% of the damage dealt as Lightning damage to the target and surrounding enemies.
When a segment of Bone Prison is destroyed or expires, it deals 3 damage in an area around itself.
Path of the Blind (Dungeon)
Aspect of Grasping Veins
Gain 10% increased Critical Strike Chance for 6 seconds when you cast Corpse Tendrils. You deal 30% bonus Critical Strike Damage to enemies damaged by Corpse Tendrils.
Corrupted Grotto (Dungeon)
Aspect of Reanimation
Your Skeletons gain increased damage while alive, up to 20% after 10 seconds.
Progress in Kehjistan (Story)
Aspect of Swelling Curse
Bone Spirit deals increased damage based on distance traveled, up to 15%.
Hive (Dungeon)
Aspect of the Damned
You deal 30% increased Shadow Damage to enemies afflicted by both Decrepify and Iron Maiden
Uldur's Cave (Dungeon)
Aspect of the Empowering Reaper
Critical Strikes from Sever have a 10% chance to spawn a pool of Blight under the target that heals 20% bonus damage. This effect can only happen once every 3 seconds.
Flooded Depths (Dungeon)
Blighted Aspect
You deal 50% increased damage for 6 seconds after the Shadowblight Key Passive damages enemies 10 times.
Progress in Hawezar (Story)
Blood-bathed Aspect
Blood Surge's nova echoes again after a short delay, dealing 70% less damage.
Hoarfrost's Demise
Blood Seeker's Aspect
Blood Lance deals x15% increased damage to its primary target per lanced enemy.
Mercy's Reach (Dungeon)
Sacrificial Aspect
Your Sacrifice bonuses are increased by 15%.
Ruins of Eridu (Dungeon)
Splintering Aspect
Bone Spear's primary attack makes enemies hit beyond the first Vulnerable for 1.5 seconds. Bone Shards from Bone Speak deal 50% bonus damage to Vulnerable enemies and pierce them.
Progress in Dry Steppes (Story)
Unyielding Commander's Aspect
While your Army of the Dead is active, your Minions gain 70% Attack Speed and take 90% reduced damage.
Your Marksman skills have up to a 10% chance to create an arrow storm at the enemy's location, dealing 171 Physical damage over 3 seconds. You can have up to 4 active arrow storms.
Howling Warren (Dungeon)
Aspect of Branching Volleys
Barrage's arrows have a 15% chance to split into 2 arrows whenever they ricochet.
Shadowed Plunge (Dungeon)
Aspect of Encircling Blades
Flurry damages enemies in a circle around you and deals 8% increased damage.
Forsaken Quarry (Dungeon)
Aspect of Corruption
Your Imbuement Skill effects have 20% increased potency against Vulnerable enemies.
Reach Kehjistan (Story)
Aspect of Unstable Imbuements
When casting an Imbuement Skill you can trigger an Imbued explosion around yourself, applying the Imbuement effects and dealing 44 damage of the same type.
Progress in Dry Steppes (Story)
Aspect of Volatile Shadows
When a Dark Shroud Shadow is removed, you trigger an explosion around yourself that deals 17 Shadow damage.
Ancient's Lament (Dungeon)
Blade Dancer's Aspect
Twisting Blades orbit for a short time after they return to you, dealing 10% of Twisting Blades' return damage per hit. Based on the distance the blades return, the orbit damage increases up to 20% of the return damage.
Progress in Scosglen (Story)
Blast Trapper's Aspect
Dealing direct damage to enemies affected by your Trap Skills, you have up to a 30% chance to make them Vulnerable for 3 seconds.
Progress in Fractured Peaks (Story)
Opportunist's Aspect
When you break Stealth with an attack, you drop a cluster of exploding Stun Grenades around your location that deals 114 total Physical damage and Stun enemies for 0.50 seconds.
Progress in Kehjistan (Story)
Trickshot Aspect
Whenever Penetrating Shot damages an enemy, 2 additional arrows split off to either side. These side arrows deal 30% of Penetrating Shot's Base damage and do not Split.
Bastion of Faith (Dungeon)
Vengeful Aspect
Making an enemy Vulnerable has up to a 30% chance to grant 3% increased Critical Strike Chance for 3 seconds, up to 9%.
Your Golem has a 10% chance to reduce its active Cooldown by 2 seconds and a 5% chance to spawn a Corpse each time it damages an enemy with its normal attack.
Direct damage against Bleeding enemies has up to a 31% chance to Stun them for 2 seconds.
Kor Dragan Barracks (Dungeon)
Relentless Berserker's Aspect
Damaging an enemy with a Core Skill up to a 22% chance to extend the duration of Berserking by 1 second. Double this duration if it was a Critical Strike.
Xiphoid has been playing Diablo since the original's release in 1997. He made one of the largest Age of Empires sites in the late-'90s and early-'00s. Now, he runs MythicDrop.com, a premier Diablo 4 fansite.
