Malignant Hearts slot into amulets and rings via jewelry sockets unlocked through the Jeweler, transforming base gear into build-defining powerhouses in Diablo 4. Greater Affixes on high-item-level pieces amplify Heart effects, while socket choices like Skulls for armor or Rubies for life prioritize survival around offensive Hearts. Optimal combos layer class synergies, matching Heart types to skill trees for exponential damage, sustain, or utility in endgame pushes like Pit tier 100+.
Barbarian: Fury and Bleed Rampage
Barbarians dominate with Whirlwind or Bleed builds, socketing amulets for Wrathful Hearts like The Malignant Pact—cycling speed buffs, refunds, and barriers every 20 kills—to fuel endless spins. Pair rings with Vicious Oppressive for fury on hindered foes, socketed with Diamonds for crit chance to hit 100% breakpoints. Skull sockets in secondary rings bolster tankiness during berserk windows, letting Thorns or Ignore Pain Hearts like Resurgent Life double heals under pressure. This setup shreds Tormented Grigoire with non-stop pressure.
Druid: Spirit Surge and Werewolf Claws
Druids thrive on shapeshift hybrids, amulet-socketing Chilling Everliving Fervor for skill rank bumps on cooldowns, paired with Emerald sockets for poison synergy in Storm or Werewolf setups. Rings take Brutal Prudent Heart for clutch immunities, with Topaz for lightning pen to amplify Pulverize quakes. Wrathful Needleflare in off-ring reflects thorns massively, socketed with Sapphires for fortify gen during companion pulls. These combos turn Landslide spam into boss-melters, sustaining through Gauntlet waves.
Necromancer: Minion Horde and Corpse Explosion
Necromancer armies explode with Devious Determination in amulets, slashing resource drain while socketed Rubies pump minion life for infinite summons. Vicious Tempting Fate on rings trades non-crits for barrier and crit spikes, Diamonds enhancing Blood Mist escapes. Brutal Circle of Life Hearts heal on kills, paired with Skull sockets for army-wide armor during Bone Spear volleys. This fortifies horde pushes, clearing Helltides effortlessly with layered explosions.
Rogue: Imbue Twists and Poison Barrages
Rogues excel in mobile poison or shadow plays, amulets hosting Carnage Creeping Death for DoT ramps on CC stacks, socketed Emeralds piercing resistances for Twisting Blades bleeds. Devious Clipshot slows and knocks with shots, rings using Amethysts for shadow damage amps. Wrathful Vile Apothecary splashes all imbues at once, Diamonds pushing crits for Penetrating Shot nukes. These enable speed-farm Undercity while bursting Pit guardians.
Sorcerer: Mana Flood and Chain Lightning
Sorcerers chain infinite mana with Chilling Hearts like Rebounding in amulets, bouncing Vulnerable to foes while Diamonds socket for crit-frozen packs. Wrathful Hellmage on rings ignites frozen enemies for Firewall grids, Rubies sustaining through Deep Freeze bursts. Vicious Running on Acid pools slows while speeding casts, Topazes penetrating elements. This floods screens with lightning, dominating leaderboards.
Spiritborn: Resolve and Swarm Ferocity
Spiritborns stack Resolve with Brutal Hearts like Focus in amulet sockets for spirit gen on kills, paired Skulls for unkillable Thorns swarms. Vicious Bloodless Scream boosts crits post-ferocity, Amethysts amplifying Vulture stabs. Wrathful ones cycle utility, Rubies fueling endless Vengeance. Combos melt Astaroth adds into dust.