Diablo 4 Season 7’s Decision to Drop The Gauntlet Could Be a Strategic Move

Diablo 4’s seventh season definitely has its work cut out for it following the buzz generated by the previous season’s Vessel of Hatred expansion and the wave of fresh content that it brought along. But, it seems like the Season of Witchcraft is managing to captivate players once again, largely thanks to the introduction of Witch Powers, which have quickly become a fan-favorite feature. That said, a shadow of disappointment hangs over some die-hard Diablo 4 players, who are missing a particular element that has been absent since its removal in Season 6—the Gauntlet, a staple since the third season.

Although the Gauntlet and the Leaderboards were a relatively recent addition, they quickly transformed into the ultimate litmus test for players to pit their skills against others. This highly challenging endgame dungeon demanded players to obliterate as many foes as possible in an intense eight-minute rush, with a dynamic layout changing the battlefield every week. Mastering the art of scoring big and carving the perfect path through these weekly challenges became a key endgame pursuit. However, its removal in Season 6—and the possibility that it might be gone for good—could potentially be a silver lining.

When the Gauntlet was pulled in Season 6, coinciding with Vessel of Hatred’s launch, the developers attributed the change to updates in the leveling and paragon system, as well as the introduction of the Spiritborn class. Initially, there was hope that after players adjusted and a new meta was established, the Gauntlet would make a return. Unfortunately, Diablo 4 Community Manager Adam Fletcher has dashed these hopes by confirming that the Gauntlet, along with the Leaderboards, would not be making a comeback in Season 7. Even more daunting is the notion that the Gauntlet might never reappear, as developers explore fresh ways to integrate Leaderboards into future updates.

The decision to bid goodbye to the Gauntlet and Leaderboards, tough as it may be, seems almost necessary due to the vulnerabilities players have exploited to reach the top ranks. Right from the get-go, the Gauntlet stirred up a storm of controversy, thanks to a bug that allowed users to carry forward buffs from the overworld into the dungeon. Even after fixing this issue, seasoned players still found ways to game the system—optimizing dungeon routes, shrine placements, and enemy strategies to dominate weekly Leaderboards. While these tactics brought immense satisfaction to the elite player base, they largely alienated the average gamer.

Despite the disappointment felt by those aiming for Leaderboard supremacy, the absence of the Gauntlet opens a new chapter for Blizzard. There’s an opportunity here to bring Leaderboards back in a fresh format that dodges the pitfalls of the Gauntlet while keeping the competitive endgame spirit alive. Looking at the successful execution of Diablo 3’s Leaderboards offers a sensible path forward.

In Diablo 3, Leaderboards were linked to Greater Rifts—an ever-evolving test of skill with randomly generated layouts and escalating challenges that needed Rift Keys for entry. This concept mirrors Diablo 4’s Nightmare Dungeons, providing a potential successor to the Gauntlet. The randomness of Nightmare Dungeons could eliminate the predictability issues faced with the Gauntlet, while still serving as a true test of mettle and a farm for Obducite—an appealing proposition for players seeking thrilling endgame challenges.

So while the legacy of the Gauntlet may recede into the annals of Diablo history, its spirit might just find new life in a form better suited for everyone in the current landscape of Sanctuary.