Alright, listen up, fellow Nephalem! As we're cruising through 2026, I've been thinking a lot about my Diablo 4 journey. You know the drill: you finish the campaign, get your main character to a decent level, and then the real fun begins—trying out all those crazy new builds! But man, there's one part of this grind that's become a real buzzkill for me and, from what I see on the forums, for a ton of other players too. I'm talking about Strongholds. Don't get me wrong, they were a blast the first time around, super chaotic and challenging—classic Diablo vibes. But having to re-conquer them on every single new alt? That's a whole different story. It's like being asked to do the dishes after every meal, even when you've already cleaned the whole kitchen. It's just not it, chief.
The Core of the Problem: The Alt-Character Grind
Let's break it down. The heart of Diablo has always been about two things: loot and experimentation. Finding that perfect piece of gear and creating a unique, powerful build is what keeps us coming back for more. In 2026, with the game being more complex than ever, the desire to try new things is stronger than ever. But the current Stronghold system feels like it's actively working against that creative spirit.
Here’s what happens every time I roll a new character:
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Level up and get to World Tier 3 or 4.
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Remember I need those sweet Renown points from Strongholds for paragon points and skill points.
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Sigh heavily as I prepare for the same battles I've done a dozen times before.
It's a total momentum killer. The community has been vocal about this for a while now. A while back, a player on Reddit, YerBoyAlex, really hit the nail on the head. They said what we were all thinking: Strongholds should be unlocked account-wide. The post blew up with support! People were calling the current system "tedious," a "chore," and honestly, some just straight-up skip them now. That's a problem when a core piece of content is being ignored because it's not respecting our time.
Strongholds: High Risk, Questionable Reward
So, what's the big deal with Strongholds anyway? For the uninitiated, they are these overtaken settlements scattered across Sanctuary. You gotta go in, clear out a massive horde of enemies, and defeat a boss to reclaim the area. Sounds cool, right? And it is... once.
The issue is the effort-to-reward ratio. Check out this comparison:
| What You Put In (The Effort) | What You Get Out (The Reward) |
|---|---|
| A chaotic battle against enemies 2+ levels above you 🥊 | A chunk of Renown Points 📈 |
| Requires serious skill and attention ⚡ | Unlocks a waypoint and maybe a side quest or two 🗺️ |
| Can be time-consuming, especially solo ⏳ | Progress towards your region-wide Renown rewards 🏆 |
The Renown system itself is fantastic—it gives us permanent account-wide bonuses like Paragon Points, Potion Charges, and Skill Points. But locking a significant portion of that progress behind repeatable, challenging content on every character feels off. It's like the game is saying, "Yeah, we know you already proved you can do this, but do it again. And again. And again." Not cool, Blizzard. Not cool.
The 2026 Perspective: Building on Past Seasons
We're in a new era for Diablo 4. Looking back, we had the Season of Witchcraft (S7) and the Season of Hatred (S6) with its major DLC. Each season brought awesome new mechanics and quality-of-life fixes. The devs have shown they're listening! But as we look ahead, this Stronghold issue remains a persistent pain point in an otherwise stellar game.
Making Strongholds account-wide wouldn't just be a convenience fix; it would be a game-changer for player engagement. Here’s why:
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Encourages Build Diversity: Players would be more likely to try that weird, off-meta Necromancer build if they didn't have to re-grind all the Renown.
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Respects Player Time: We're all busy. This change would say, "We value the time you've already invested."
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Focus on Fun: Instead of forcing players to re-do content, they can focus on the new seasonal mechanics, Helltides, and endgame bosses that are actually fresh and exciting.
Imagine logging into a new alt and having the entire map's waypoints and Strongholds already unlocked because your main character conquered them. You'd jump straight into the fun part: gearing up and testing your new powers. That's the Diablo dream!
A Proposal for a Better System
So, what could this look like? It's pretty straightforward, honestly.
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First Character Clear: You defeat a Stronghold on any character on your account. This unlocks it permanently for your entire account on that game mode (Eternal or Seasonal).
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Alt-Character Benefits: Any new character automatically has that Stronghold marked as completed. They receive the Renown reward instantly upon entering the zone or through a simple quest claim.
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Optional Replayability: Want to run the Stronghold again for fun or with friends? Go for it! The option is still there, but it's no longer a mandatory checkbox.
This system keeps the initial challenge and satisfaction of conquering a Stronghold intact while removing the monotonous repetition. It's a win-win.
Final Thoughts: It's Time for a Change
In the end, Diablo 4 is an incredible game about power fantasy and loot. The current Stronghold system for alts is a speed bump on that highway to fun. As dedicated players in 2026, we've put in the work. We've proven our skill. Let our alts benefit from that legacy. An account-wide Stronghold unlock isn't just a quality-of-life request; it's a necessary evolution to keep the game feeling fresh and respectful of its community's time. Here's hoping the devs make this change soon—it would be an absolute game-changer. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a new Sorceress build to theory-craft... without dreading those Strongholds! 😉