What's the point of Elite difficulty and should I skip it

[Hayaku]

I'm level 58, just finished main storyline. I'd probably be around 70 but I capped myself using GDStash. I've read some threads where people suggest to either jump into Elite right away or start Malmouth for easier new faction reputation grind. I however question the existence of Elite, it's just extremely annoying to me that I'd have to replay the game just so I'll have to replay it yet again on Ultimate. Using GDStash I could skip Elite and have fun in Ultimate (Normal on Veteran was easy to me so I won't have issues with difficulty jump) and then eventually come back to Elite just for 2 or so achievements and I believe that's pretty much it? Or are there any more Elite exclusive bits? And finally should I skip Elite in general or maybe there's something I don't know and Elite is there for a reason?

[Faust Wither]

elite is place for farming before ultimate thats all. example i can just keep farming gargabol in elite without risking my hardcore character death.

[Takeda]

The point of playing the difficulties is to increase your game knowledge in stages. It's not an uncommon approach and it didn't seem to harm D2.

If that's not for you then just cheat your way to ultimate - once there you can buy the ultimate unlock tokens which will gift the skills and attribute quest rewards for Normal and Elite sparing you the need to go back and do those things. You can then use that approach for every alt you subsequently make.

[etreX]

I'm having a blast in elite. To me, its about beating the game step by step. Hero encounters and shrines etc give a decent challenge. Monster density feels higher.

I use it as a preparation for ultimate.

[anachoret]

The point of Elite is that it is more difficult than Veteran and less difficult than Ultimate.

[punchobastardo]

Agreed with everyone.

If you want to miss a big awesome part of the game and like etreX said its natural progression (factions rep, fleshing out your character step by step, items for more characters in future runs, etc) go skip it (cheat it). Different difficulty -> different items -> different skills -> more rich and divert gameplay -> more enjoyment with your character, than jumping straight to Ultimate. By your logic cheat and get all the legendary items using that tool too and be done with the game and its ARPG concept instantly. Then you can uninstall it and start playing Call of Duty.

If you 'd still insist my suggestion would be to do a full exploration run including AoM and FG on normal veteran, then do only the main quests and shrines on Elite -no exploration- (including or not AoM) and then do the full run in Ultimate again.

[Rapptture]

You're using mods/editor, doesn't really matter what you skip or do or don't do, the game is already compromised.

[Platinumb]

Originally posted by punchobastardo:

Agreed with everyone.

By your logic cheat and get all the legendary items using that tool too and be done with the game and its ARPG concept instantly. Then you can uninstall it and start playing Call of Duty.

Brutal but so well explained hahahahah

[Hayaku]

Only to cap my level, else I'd reach level 65-70 on normal and 100 elite so playing ultimate would be pointless.

[Takeda]

Originally posted by Hayaku:

Only to cap my level, else I'd reach level 65-70 on normal and 100 elite so playing ultimate would be pointless.

No - playing at 100 on Ultimate means every boss is dropping the best iterations of gear you can find.

The game isn't the grind to 100 - it's what you do and how you gear when you're at 100.

At least now I can see why you made the decision to do that tho, as previously it just felt like you were depriving yourself of some of the enjoyment that you paid for.

[Hayaku]

Ah, that makes more sense then, so I'll reach 100 in Elite and then do Ultimate fully on 100. Still I'd prefer to reach 100 in Normal and then go straight to Ultimate in this case but welp. At least now I know what I was missing. Thanks.

[anachoret]

Originally posted by Takeda:

The game isn't the grind to 100 - it's what you do and how you gear when you're at 100.

The game is also all the times you are not level 100.

[Blake]

Originally posted by anachoret:

Originally posted by Takeda:

The game isn't the grind to 100 - it's what you do and how you gear when you're at 100.

The game is also all the times you are not level 100.

Exactly. Reaching level 100 is all about the progression from level 1.

Chill, explore, build, craft, enjoy.

[anachoret]

Originally posted by Hayaku:

Still I'd prefer to reach 100 in Normal and then go straight to Ultimate in this case but welp.

You may find you hit diminishing XP returns on Normal/Veteran due to scaling that makes it difficult to get to 100 without much more tedious grinding than it would take just playing Elite or Ultimate at that point (maybe around level 80?).