With the Goblin event getting closer, a lot of folks are "training" by cranking difficulty and hoping it pays off. It usually doesn't. The grind that wins is the one that stays fast, repeatable, and boring in the best way. If you're aiming to stockpile Sigils and Mythic Pranksters, think in runs-per-hour, not hero moments, and keep your economy in mind too—whether that's drops, upgrades, or even
Diablo 4 gold decisions that save you time when you're tuning gear and rerolling stats.
Reputation First, Not Later
Most players skip the unglamorous part: getting their Essence of Sin reputation sorted. Then they wonder why the payout feels thin. You'll notice it fast—below Rank 5, you're basically farming on a discount rate. Hit Rank 5 and suddenly the same loop feels like it "works" again. That's the point. Treat the rep cap like your baseline, then build your route around it. Once you're there, the best Sigils sources tend to spill extra Mythic Pranksters along the way, and that overlap is what makes the whole plan worth doing.
Asmodan: Pick the Difficulty That Lets You Sprint
Here's where people get stubborn. Torment IV looks great on paper, but paper doesn't show the part where you die twice, run back, and spend ages chasing mechanics. If your Asmodan kill is slow, drop the difficulty—Normal is fine. Seriously. The goal is to melt, loot, grab the rep progress, reset, and go again. If you can do ten clean runs in the time it takes to do three sweaty ones, the math is already done. Save the high-torment flex for when your build's actually online and you're not trading minutes for pride.
Don't Let Your Bag Be the Boss Fight
Inventory friction is what quietly wrecks "efficient" farming. People start strong, then spend half the session sorting, portaling, second-guessing salvage, and losing their rhythm. Go in with a clean bag. Make a habit of locking anything valuable the moment it drops, especially Mythic Pranksters, because yeah, everyone's trashed something important once. Also, set a simple rule: you're either farming or you're sorting—never both at the same time. That mental switch keeps you moving and keeps your hourly yield from falling off a cliff.
Open-World Routes: Hunt Clusters, Skip the Noise
When you're not boss rushing, the open world can be insanely good, but only if you stop fighting lonely trash mobs out of habit. Chase red elite clusters, chain them, and keep your movement speed high so you're always landing on the next pack. Hoard your tributes, keep your stash tidy, and lock in a loop you can run on autopilot. When the event hits and rates spike, you want your setup ready, your route memorised, and your upgrade plan clear—because that's when having
Diablo 4 materials buy options in mind can help you pivot faster without burning the whole night on cleanup.
