Monster level

The map overlay, showing monster level

Every explorable area has an associated monster level. You can see the monster level of an area in the area map overlay, at the top right of the game screen.

Each area has a predetermined monster level, the value is not random. The monster level progresses fairly steadily as the player advances through the game. Areas in higher difficulties have higher monster levels than previous difficulties.

What it affects

An area's monster level determines the level of all of the monsters in that area.

The level and rarity of a monster determines its various statistics, such as its maximum life, how much damage it deals, and so on. A monster's level also limits which affixes it can receive if it is magic or rare. For instance, the affixes that give a rare monster one of the damage reflection auras can only appear on high level monsters.

Monster level determines the item level of items found in chests in the area and items dropped by monsters :

• Normal monsters drop items of the same same level as the area's monster level.
• Magic monsters drop items of monster level +1.
• Rare monsters and unique monsters drop items of monster level +2.

There is a penalty to the chance of currency items dropping in areas with a level more than two levels lower than your character level. See drop rate.

References

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