I hit this point in Season 11 where I stopped trusting "feel" and started writing everything down. Runs, mats, what dropped, what didn't. It's not glamorous, but it keeps you sane when you're chasing one item for a build that's almost there. Patch 2.5.2 hasn't flipped the tables, so the best use of your time is still targeted bosses, not random wandering. If you're coming back for fresh Paladin tech or just blasting content on Spiritborn, you'll notice fast that farming smart matters more than farming hard, and having a backup plan like Diablo 4 Items in mind can keep the whole grind from turning into a second job.

Early Bosses That Actually Respect Your Time

For a clean start, Echo of Varshan is still the easiest repeatable loop. Grab 12 Malignant Hearts from Whispers, run him, and you'll fill out rings and gloves quicker than most other options. When you're sick of seeing jewelry, swap to Lord Zir. You'll need 12 Exquisite Blood, and Helltide Blood Maidens make that part painless. Zir has treated me well for armor slots, and he's a solid stop if your survivability is lagging behind your damage. If you're already doing Helltides for Living Steel, Grigoire fits right into that route. He's been one of the more reliable sources for Ancestral pieces in my experience, and he's worth mixing in once your baseline uniques are covered.

Ice Runs, Big Swings, And Why It Feels Rough

Beast in the Ice is the one people delay, and I get it. Glacial Tunnels aren't exactly a party, and you're locked behind Distilled Fear from Tier 30+ Nightmare Dungeons. Still, if you're specifically after Fists of Fate, that's the lane. The annoying part is the rhythm: dungeon, dungeon, dungeon, then a boss run that may give you nothing you care about. When it hits, it's a huge relief. When it doesn't, you start questioning why you're doing this to yourself. That's basically the Beast in the Ice experience in a sentence.

Mythic Hunting: Where The Math Lives

Once you're geared enough that upgrades are rare, the conversation shifts to Mythics. Duriel and Andariel are still staples, and if you're doing a lot of runs, you'll eventually see something jaw-dropping. But this season, Belial is the real conversation. Getting Betrayer's Husks from ambushes takes effort, sure, yet the payoff can be way better if Mythics are your goal. In groups, the pace feels especially strong: more pulls, less downtime, and a noticeably better "did we actually get paid for this run." feeling. If you're chasing something build-defining like Shattered Vow, I'd put Belial at the top of the list and let Duriel/Andariel be the steady backup plan.

When RNG Stops Being Fun

There's a point where it's not "the chase" anymore, it's just you burning mats and watching the same trash hit the floor. Everyone acts like they'll grind forever, then you miss your tenth night in a row because you're still farming summon parts. If you're trying to finish a build before your interest fades, I don't blame anyone for taking a shortcut now and then, and I've seen plenty of players grab cheap Diablo 4 Items so they can spend their limited time actually playing instead of living in Helltide timers.