Best time to Imprint and Extract in Diablo 4

Any new Diablo 4 player may not realize what they should be doing with their Aspects. There are some Aspects you earn from completing Dungeons that you can Imprint onto good gear. There is also some gear that already has Aspects on them that you can Extract. Deciding the best time to Imprint and Extract Aspects in Diablo 4 can be tricky, so we’ll try to help you out.

When to Imprint and Extract Aspects in Diablo 4

In Blizzard’s latest Diablo title, knowing how to use Aspects on your gear can highly improve your build. They will provide a buff, and certain Aspects are only allowed for certain classes. Once you meet the Occultist for the first time, you’ll notice that they can help you Imprint and Extract them.

Imprinting will add an Aspect to your item. They can either come from the Codex of Power or from your inventory. To get one in your inventory, you’ll need to Extract Aspects from items that already have them. This is good for when you want to wear a better item, but want to carry over your favorite Aspect. Simply Extract that Aspect, and Imprint it onto your new item.

Screenshot by PC Invasion

There are some downfalls to doing this that you should take note of. When you Extract an Aspect, it destroys the item. This is why you should know the best time to Imprint and Extract your Aspects in Diablo 4.

This is tricky to answer. Another downfall is that once you Imprint an Aspect that was Extracted, you can’t Extract it a second time. If you found an Aspect that sounds really good, but you don’t have high-level gear yet, you can decide to save it for a better item.

But honestly, is there really a best time to Extract and Imprint? To some players, living in the moment works best for them. As soon as I find a better item, I’ll usually Extract an old Aspect and Imprint it onto my new item. Sadly, I didn’t know that I couldn’t do this a second time, so I started to worry that I would lose a really good Aspect.

Screenshot by PC Invasion

On the other hand, you’ll constantly come across many great Aspects, so don’t worry too much about wasting them. Also, when you create a new character, the Aspects from your Codex of Power carry over. You can also share your Stash between characters, so if you find a Legendary item with an Aspect that doesn’t fit your class, keep it for a future character. Overall, you should Imprint Extracted Aspects only when you feel you need it, but remember that you can Imprint Aspects from your Codex of Power numerous times.

Diablo 4 is available on Battle.net.