Season of Divine Intervention throws you into Sanctification pretty fast, and you can feel the trap the moment you open the menu. It looks like one more upgrade step, but it isn't. It's a lock-in. Once you Sanctify a piece, that item's story is basically finished, so before I even think about it I treat it like I'm shopping for Diablo 4 Items—slow down, check the rolls, and make sure it's actually the version I want to live with.

What "Locked" Really Means.

The game doesn't sugarcoat it, but it's still easy to underestimate. Sanctification shuts the door on all the usual tinkering: no more Tempering, no more Masterworking pushes, no "maybe I'll reroll that annoying affix later." You can still swap sockets and gems, sure, but that's like changing shoes after you've already poured concrete. So the practical rule is simple: only Sanctify gear that's already polished, tested, and feels good in real fights, not just in your head.

Early Teases Versus Real Endgame.

While leveling, the system gives you a soft introduction. You knock out seasonal threats in Helltides or a big world event, and you get a little taste—enough to see the power spike without risking your whole build. Then Torment opens up and it becomes a different mood. That's when Heavenly Sigils start to matter, because they're the real "go" button. You earn them by repeatedly farming the seasonal bosses—Astaroth, Belial, Bartok—and suddenly you're deciding when to spend them, not just whether you can.

Why Players Keep a Backup Copy.

The upside is huge, and that's what keeps people pulling the lever. You might land an extra Legendary power that changes your rotation, or watch a normal affix jump into Greater Affix territory with a ceiling you can actually feel. Sometimes you hit a Sanctification-only affix that doesn't exist anywhere else, or you just get a clean Quality boost that quietly bumps the whole item's baseline. But the downside is real too: if the roll doesn't match your build, you've basically "bricked" a near-perfect piece. A lot of players handle that stress the same way I do—stash a second pair of gloves, keep a spare weapon, and only Sanctify the one that's already winning in your current setup.

How I Decide When to Pull the Trigger.

I do it in a boring order on purpose: first I lock my build idea, then I finish Tempering, then I push Masterworking until the item feels "done," and only after that do I spend a Sigil. If I'm hesitating, I wait. The game's not going anywhere, and neither is that forge. And if you're trying to round out a setup while you're farming, knowing the best place to buy diablo 4 runes can help smooth out those annoying gaps so you're not Sanctifying gear just because you're impatient.