Diablo 2: Resurrected: Everything to Know About Ladder Season 5

It's great that even if Diablo 2: Resurrected is just a remake, we're still getting lots of content coming from Blizzard. If you're competitive and you're in the endgame of D2R, then you're probably well aware of what ladder seasons are. This is the game's flesh-out endgame content that's going to give you more reason to enjoy the game.

There have currently been 4 ladder seasons in D2R. The next one is coming soon. There's still enough time to prepare but as with other transitional phases for the ladder season, everyone starts on a clean slate. So, when's the next D2R ladder season, and what can we expect from it when it arrives?

D2R: Ladder Season 5: Start Date And Details Revealed

It's been confirmed by Blizzard that D2R ladder season 5 is going to launch on Sept. 28, 2023. If you want to be more precise, it's slated to launch on Sept. 28, 2PM PST/11PM CEST. You still have a few days to prepare. Once the season starts, you should be ready to race up the leaderboards, while saving Sanctuary, one demon at a time.

We've yet to know when the new season will last. The D2R season started last May and it's only ending now. Each end of a season is the start of another. Ladder seasons much longer compared to the 3-month seasonal rotation of Diablo 4.  Here's how long the previous seasons lasted.

• Ladder Season 1 - April 28, 2022
• Ladder Season 2 - Oct. 6, 2022
• Ladder Season 3 - Feb. 16, 2023
• Ladder Season 4 - May 4, 2023
• Ladder Season 5 - Sept. 28, 2023

If you aren't familiar with how ladder seasons work, then let's talk about what to expect just in case you're about to dive into it for the first time.

D2R Ladder Seasons Explained

To put it simply, ladder seasons are the competitive aspect of D2R. It's also going to take up the brunt of the game's endgame content just in case you're looking for more things to do after you finish off Baal and Diablo from the campaign. Since ladder seasons also include a competitive leaderboard system, you can also see this as Diablo 2's ranked game mode.

While entirely different, D2R and Diablo 4's seasonal content are similar in a few ways. In both games, you're going to have to make a new character and start all over again at the start of each season. Your current character in the ladder season will then be put in the non-ladder version of the game, allowing you to play as you please.

Any item and upgrades you keep during the ladder season will retain the character you used. This means that your character will be a force to be reckoned with in the non-ladder version of the game. You can even do more things as you're allowed to upgrade and grind that character as you please.

There are different ladder versions in the game. While all have the general purpose of being a ranked competitive mode, there are a few differences between each of them still.

If you're a Diablo 2: Resurrected veteran already, then you might want to jump into the high levels of the ladder season. Keep in mind though that Hardcore ladders are very difficult. Aside from stronger enemies, you have to deal with the fact that you only have one life throughout your entire playthrough.

You also need to be mindful of the fact that you can't move characters from one ladder season version type to the other. You'll be using that character you create for the ladder until the season ends. Or as is the case with Hardcore Ladder - until your character dies.

D2R Ladder Season Rewards

D2R ladder seasons give you access to unique gear and runewords. Unfortunately, you can't carry these over to your other characters. In essence, there really is no reward to ladder seasons other than the fact that it's a competitive aspect of the game. If you want to earn bragging rights and finishing the ladder season isn't enough, then your goal should be to reach the top of the leaderboards.

Seeing your name on top of Blizzard's rankings for ladder seasons might just be more than enough rewards for some players. How are points for ladder seasons calculated?

D2R Ladder Seasons Ranking System Explained

The ranking system for ladder seasons is simple, the first to level 99 sits at the top of the leaderboards and other players that follow suit are next. While this might seem like a pretty simple thing to do, the journey there is going to be tough and perilous. Getting to 99 fast is challenging enough already but doing so while competing with others is a lot harder.

What Happens To Shared Stashes During Ladder Seasons?

This is one of the first questions that come to mind whenever players enter a ladder season. The good news is that Blizzard has long detailed what happens to shared stashes in your account during and after a season ends.

For starters, keep in mind that your ladder season character's stashes are different from your non-ladder characters. If you're hoping to get a bit of a boost using items from your other characters, tough luck. Everyone's going to start on a clean slate at the start of the ladder season.
Once the ladder season ends, all of your ladder characters will be transferred into their own non-ladder group. That group of characters will have a new Withdraw Only tab on their set of Shared Stash tabs. This special tab is distinguished with a check marked Past box.

All items from the previous ladder seasons will be gone from this tab and will then be replaced by the currently ending season's items. For this D2R season 5, all of your shared stash items from ladder season 3 are going to be deleted permanently. Make sure to take out any items from your new Shared Stash tab before the season ends.

Ladder Season Tips For Better Runs

D2R ladder seasons are just really Diablo 2 with a touch of competitiveness and more challenge. However, that doesn't mean that there are certain steps that you can take to make your race to level 99 a lot easier.

1. Play With Who You've Mastered

If you want to take on ladder seasons competitively, then the last thing you'd want to do is to use a character class that you're not comfortable with. Remember, this is a race to 99. That means you should use a character that you already know how to use. Ladder seasons aren't the time to learn new characters.

By playing with characters that you're already familiar with, you greatly reduce the risk of going blindly as you progress through the game. If you're comfortable with a certain build, stick to it. Try not to be swayed by other guides that tell you which is the best way to play your class.

Metas are obviously important but you're not going to rush through all those levels if you're going blindly with a character and a build that you haven't mastered yet.

2. Make Every Moment Count

If you're like many who can't dedicate most of the day to playing the game, there are still a few ways you can support your ladder season run without opening the game. While you're not playing, you can look for guides to better plan your next progression through the campaign.

Better yet, you should use character builders and online guides to plan how you're going to allocate your skills once you proceed with the game. Doing simple things like this can help you save a lot of time and let you focus more on your next plan of attack the next time you hop into D2R.

3. Use Build Guides

We've just said to use whichever character and build you're most comfortable with. Of course, you might not be comfortable with the builds you're using for the game just yet. If that's the case, don't be afraid to check out guides on the most optimized builds for Diablo 2 ladder season runs. 

There are lots of seasoned veterans making guides for ladder season aspirants out there. These guides have been fool-proofed and checked to make sure that they work for the current meta. Try to find a build that better suits your playstyle.

4. Go Solo For Loot Grinding

Majority of your time in your D2R ladder season run will be spent on getting better and better gear as you progress throughout the campaign and the story. If you're out there grinding for better gear, it's best to do it alone so that you don't have others to share your loot with. It can be intimidating at first but this is going to be your way towards better gear.

Just make sure that you don't grind for gear in areas with enemies you can't handle. The rewards might be plenty but the risk and the setback is going to be very costly on your end.

5. Team Up For XP Grinding

On the other hand, you should team up with others if you want to grind for XP. The goal of ladder seasons is to reach level 99 as fast as you can. You can do high-level dungeons if you're going to be at a party. 

The D2R community is very open and friendly to cooperation. Don't be afraid to reach out for help. There are lots of people with the same goal as you so they're going to be willing to work towards that common goal.

6. Buy Items Online If You Can

D2R's online economy leaves a lot of opportunities to gain a huge advantage if you're struggling with your gear. There are lots of online stores where you can buy gold and even equipment to give your character the boost he needs. Buying gear with real money isn't really a bad thing so if you want to stay competitive, go ahead and do it!
In our opinion, it's best to buy gear online when you're already at higher levels. Buying gear early on is just going to be a waste since you're bound to get better equipment eventually. That said, focus on looking for excellent runewords that complement your build as these can really give you the edge you need to succeed.

7. Do The Expansion Ladder

Not a lot of people try the pre-expansion ladder because they're locked behind a sizeable amount of content without the Lord of Destruction DLC. We highly recommend doing the expansion ladder instead as it gives you access to more gear and XP grinding opportunities.

Of course, that also means there'll be more challenges ahead for you.

8. Have Fun!

Last but not least, don't forget to have fun. It might be a competitive way to play Diablo 2: Resurrected but that doesn't mean ladder seasons should suck the fun out of the game. Just enjoy your journey. Even if you fail, you can still look forward to the next season with your new lessons in tow.

The Next Diablo 2: Resurrected Season Draws Nigh!

We only have a few more days left before the next ladder season begins. Whether it's your first time or your fifth, there are bound to be plenty of challenges waiting for you in D2R ladder season 5. May your race to the top be bountiful and may demons from Hell fall under your wrath.