What is Primary Resource in Diablo 4?

Primary Resource is one of several terms that Diablo 4 likes to use liberally without actually ever spelling out what it means. Along with Resource Generation and Primary Resource Cost Reduction, you’ll see it in the descriptions of abilities, skills, and items.

When you see these references to Resource, you might be left scratching your head. At first, I thought it must be something to do with gathering materials for upgrading weapons. Because, you know, “resource” is another word for “material.” But it’s not in this case. It’s actually pretty simple: The confusing thing is just that Resource is a general term for something the game more often refers to by other, more specific names.

Here’s everything there is to know about each class’s Primary Resource in Diablo 4 and how to generate them.

What does Primary Resource mean in Diablo 4?

Primary Resource refers to whatever it is your character spends to use Core Skills. In previous Diablo games, it was called Mana, regardless of class. But in Diablo 4, only the Sorcerer uses Mana. Each of the other classes has a different name for its Primary Resource.

The Barbarian uses Fury, the Rogue uses Energy, the Druid uses Spirit, the Spiritborn uses Vigor, and the Necromancer uses Essence as their respective Primary Resources. The reason the general term is Primary Resource and not just Resource is that classes can have a Secondary Resource, such as the Necromancer’s Corpses.

What is Resource Generation in Diablo 4?

Resource Generation, which is sometimes also referred to as Resource Regeneration or even Passive Resource Regeneration, is the restoration of your character’s Primary Resource. Check the Utility section of your Stats tab, and you’ll see your character’s Passive Resource Generation rate listed—except it’ll be listed under its class-specific name.

For instance, it is called Passive Energy Regeneration for a Rogue, and it’s measured in units per second. So, if your Passive Resource Regeneration is eight, then you generate eight Resource per second.

If you find an item that has a Resource Generation Affix, then equipping that item will increase your character’s Resource Generation by the amount specified in the item description, and it means your Resource Generation from all sources will increase by that specific amount. This is a useful kind of item to have if you like using lots of Core Skills.

Several Core Skills use up your Primary Resource, so it’s important to know how to regenerate them as much as possible while you’re exploring Sanctuary or grinding Dungeons.

Diablo 4 resource generation guide 2024

Primary Resource is generated in different ways by each class. Here’s how to generate your Primary Resource in Diablo 4, depending on your class:

The key is to know the name of your class’ Primary Resource so that you know what abilities are being describing when talking about, for example, needing Vigor, generating Vigor, and the like. It’s also important for utilizing Aspects and Affixes, such as Aspect of the Umbral, which restores your Primary Resource.

Keep your class’ Primary Resource in mind when building your character, remembering what you need to use to both generate your resources and what items to equip to help you regenerate them, if possible.

Oftentimes, you will need to use your abilities in a certain order to keep your Primary Resource stocked up. For example, begin a battle with a Resource-spending ability, then follow it up with one that will regenerate what you’ve lost, rinse, and repeat.

Additionally, Helms can roll with a Maximum Resource buff, which will increase the total amount of Resource you can have at any time.