Monster level

The map overlay, showing monster level

Every explorable zone has an associated monster level, which roughly describes how difficult the area is. You can see an area's monster level in the top right corner of the screen by pressing Tab.

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

The level of a monster determines its maximum life, damage output, and defense. 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 number of items dropping in areas in an area more than two levels lower than your character level. See Drop Rate.

References

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