Getting your weapon just right in Diablo 4 Season 10 is all about knowing what to look for and how to push it further. It starts with the base weapon – you’ll want one with max item power, ideally 925, and the right built-in stats for your class. For a lot of setups that means something with Critical Strike Damage or Vulnerable Damage baked in. Base DPS matters a lot, but those extra stats are the first step to building a monster weapon. If you’re not sure where to find solid starting gear, check out Diablo 4 Items for ideas before you dive into crafting.

Before you mess with Tempering or Masterworking, the natural affixes are make-or-break. You’ll want your main stat on there – Strength for Barbs, Dexterity for Rogues, etc. That’s a straight boost to damage and helps unlock key bonuses on your Paragon board. Stacking “All Stats” can also be a smart call because it opens up more rare nodes without having to bend your build. Then it’s about getting a conditional damage perk like “Damage to Close Enemies” or a solid roll on Critical Strike Damage. With those three lined up, your weapon is ready for the real upgrades.

Tempering is where you put your own stamp on the weapon. You can add two extra affixes from manuals that match your build goal. Most damage-heavy builds go for bonus damage to their main skill or make that skill hit bigger. Attack Speed is another killer choice – faster hits mean more resource and more damage over time. Some players chase flashy effects like extra procs or elemental bursts that trigger off attacks, which can make fights way more explosive. The point is to temper in a way that fits exactly how your build plays, not just what looks good on paper.

Once you’re happy with your tempered stats, Masterworking is your shot at perfection. You can push every stat up to 12 ranks, but the big jumps come at ranks 4, 8, and 12 with a 25% bonus to one random affix. If that bonus lands on your main damage stat – maybe Core Skill Damage or Crit Damage – the weapon’s power can spike hard. It’s an expensive process, so it’s best saved for a weapon you already love and that has near-perfect tempering. Chasing Masterwork ranks can take time, but it’s one of the best ways to get that “final form” piece.

One last thing – don’t ignore sockets. For most damage-focused builds, a Royal Emerald in the weapon slot is hands-down the best pick.

It boosts Critical Strike Damage against Vulnerable enemies, which is huge since keeping enemies Vulnerable is standard in endgame. That simple gem swap can push DPS higher than you might expect, and it’s worth locking in before you finish your build. If you’re working on your endgame setup and need extra resources, Diablo 4 gold buy can help you get there faster.