Season 15 brings Diablo 4 back to its roots, and the opening hours lean hard into that feeling. Deckard Cain sends you from a tavern to the Imperial Library, where the search for the Black Soulstone splinters begins. It is a good time to sort out your build and D4 items before the tougher Waking Nightmare fights start, because the road quickly turns into a tour through some of the series' most memorable threats. Baal comes first, but the real pull is the sense that each victory is building toward a much bigger choice.

The Road to Diablo

The Diablo branch, The Brother's Keeper, feels like the most dramatic part of the introduction. Cain points you toward Corbach, then south to Aidan and the Cathedral entrance. From there, the route drops through familiar territory: the Butcher waits in the Cathedral, Blood Raven appears in the Catacombs, and the Summoner stands in the Caves. It is not just a boss rush. Each stop gives the descent some weight. At the bottom, Diablo cannot be hurt while Portals of Darkness remain active, so players need to clear those targets first and then finish the fight. The reward is the last splinter, plus a shot at the Stone of Jordan. Its resistance effect can make gearing far less awkward, especially when one resistance is already well ahead of the others.

What the Splinters Unlock

Once all three splinters are placed on Cain's table, the seasonal system opens up. You can only carry one Prime Evil alignment at a time, so this is where a lot of players will pause and think about what they actually enjoy running. The three paths are easy to separate.

Diablo's Flames of Metus suits Helltides and Infernal Hordes, adding fire lines, extra Aberrant Cinders, and more Aether.
Baal's Ice of Excidium fits dungeon and boss-focused runs, with benefits for the Undercity and Lair Boss rewards.
Mephisto's Ghosts of Odium is aimed at Pit pushes and Nightmare Dungeons, where progression gains matter more.

Earlier Quests Still Matter

Baal and Mephisto are not side stops. The Horadrim's Fate sends you through Tal Rasha, the Ancients, and Baal's forces before the Echo of Baal appears. That fight can also drop Leoric's Crown, a Legacy Unique helm with an unusual role in Season 15. It counts as jewelry, can take jewelry-style affixes, and accepts Soul Splinters. Better still, a gem placed inside gets a major boost to its effect. Mephisto's quest has a different rhythm. You collect Khalim's Brain, Eye, Heart, and Flail in Travincal, form Khalim's Will, break the Compelling Orb, and push through the Durance of Hate. It is a slower sequence, but the runes, experience, and second splinter make it worth doing.

Building Reputation Through Play

After picking a power, the simple part begins: keep playing the activities tied to that alignment and earn reputation. The full track needs 20,000 reputation, with six upgrades waiting along the way. Some improve resource flow, while others turn the power into a serious source of percentage-based damage. There is no single right choice, though players chasing different goals will feel the difference fast. If you are preparing for deeper endgame runs, looking at diablo 4 gear for sale alongside your chosen splinter can help round out the gaps in your setup before the harder content starts.