The Horadric Cube in Season 15 of Diablo 4 lets you build items with the stats you need almost from scratch. You can remove unwanted affixes, add stats from specific categories, and reroll them until you get the desired result.
The most interesting mechanic, however, involves locking in an affix that has already rolled well. By using the Occultist, you can protect a stat from being removed later and gradually build an almost perfect item around it. In this guide, we'll explain how this method works, what Tuning Prisms are used for, and how to get an Amulet with +Ranks to All Skills.
How to Add Affixes
The Horadric Cube can add new stats even to relatively basic gear.
Early on, you don't necessarily need to use a Tuning Prism. The Cube will simply add a random affix, making this method especially useful while leveling.
Later in the game, it's better to use specific Prisms. Each one targets a particular affix category and significantly narrows down the possible outcomes.
Image unavailableFor example, the Aggressive Tuning Prism targets offensive affixes. However, some categories overlap. It can roll not only the damage stat you want, but also your character's main stat. When crafting serious endgame gear, you therefore need to consider not only the specific affix you're looking for, but the entire pool affected by the chosen Prism.
How Focused Reroll Works
Focused Reroll changes an affix within a selected category. For example, if an item has an unwanted defensive stat, you can use the appropriate Tuning Prism and try to roll Maximum Life or another useful bonus instead. The problem appears when the item already has two good affixes from the same category. A reroll may affect the wrong stat and destroy a result you wanted to keep. This is where locking an affix through the Occultist becomes useful.Image unavailable
How to Lock a Good Affix
Let's say you have a pair of Gloves with high Critical Strike Damage and want to keep that affix permanently. Go to the Occultist and select that specific affix for Enchanting. Open the replacement options, but choose to keep the existing stat unchanged. The affix will now count as Enchanted. Once you return to the Horadric Cube, normal Cube recipes will no longer be able to remove it. You can now safely remove and replace the remaining stats without risking your best affix.There is a downside: once you lock a stat this way, you can no longer freely use the Occultist to modify that particular affix slot. Because of this, only lock an affix you are certain you want to keep on the final version of the item.
How to Craft Perfect Gloves
It's best to start with an item that already has one genuinely strong offensive affix. First, lock it through the Occultist. Then remove the remaining unwanted affixes with the Horadric Cube. After that, use the appropriate Tuning Prism to add another offensive stat. If you get a low roll or the wrong affix entirely, use Focused Reroll until you get the result you want.Once the second strong affix is in place, add the next one. This allows you to gradually build a combination such as:
Critical Strike Damage;
Critical Strike Chance;
Vulnerable Damage;
your main stat.
The final slot is particularly convenient for your main stat because it's relatively easy to roll a high value, while the stat itself increases your character's overall damage.
How Affix Value Reroll Works
Season 15 introduced a separate recipe called Affix Value Reroll, which changes only the numerical values of affixes rather than replacing the affixes themselves. For example, if an item already has Critical Strike Chance, Fire Damage, and Willpower but two of the rolls are too low, you can use Affix Value Reroll to try to increase them. The actual affixes themselves will remain the same.Most importantly, Affix Value Reroll does not affect Greater Affixes, Tempered affixes, Enchanted affixes, Transfigured affixes, Legendary Aspects, or Unique Powers. This makes it especially useful on an almost finished item where all the desired stats are already in place but some of their values rolled below the maximum.
How to Craft an Amulet with +Ranks to All Skills
Amulets have a particularly interesting crafting combination. First, use an Adept's Tuning Prism to add +Ranks to Core Skills. Then add your character's main stat. After that, in the crafting method shown in the source, the next affix consistently rolls as +Ranks to All Skills.If you only get +1 to All Skills instead of the maximum roll, you can still finish the item properly. Go to the Occultist and lock the strong +Ranks to Core Skills affix by selecting it for Enchanting and choosing to leave it unchanged.Return to the Cube and remove one of the remaining affixes. You can then use Focused Reroll and add the stat again until +Ranks to All Skills appears with the maximum value.Image unavailableThis makes it possible to create an Amulet with all of the following:
your main stat;
Critical Strike Damage;
+Ranks to Core Skills;
+Ranks to All Skills.
This combination is particularly powerful for builds where several active and passive skills benefit from additional ranks at the same time.
In What Order Should You Finish an Item?
Don't rush into the final upgrade systems as soon as you get the affixes you want. First, completely finish all work involving the Horadric Cube and the Occultist. Then apply the Tempers you need, add Sockets, and imprint the correct Legendary Aspect. After that, complete Masterworking and only move on to Transfiguration at the very end.
The reason is simple:
some final modifications can make an item permanently Unmodifiable. If you forget to add a Socket or imprint the Aspect you need beforehand, you may no longer be able to fix the mistake.
