Consumables are a pretty important part of Diablo 4, and we’re not just talking about Healing Potions. While those are indeed very important, you’ll find yourself relying on Elixirs and Incenses even more, especially during difficult boss fights where you’ll need every little bit of help you can get.
The ability to craft Incenses becomes available around the mid-game, but you won’t be able to craft most of the really good ones until later on. Unlike Elixirs, Incenses don’t drop randomly from mobs and chests, and they're not awarded for completing quests either. The only way to get your hands on some Incense is to craft it yourself.
What Is Incense?
Incenses are the best consumables in Diablo 4 and can temporarily increase everything from primary stats to resistances, and more. The effects only last for 20 minutes, but they apply to both your character and nearby players. This makes Incenses indispensable during co-op since the bonuses they grant are generally better than what individual players would gain by using Elixirs.
If you’re familiar with World of Warcraft’s Feasts and Grand Banquets, you should already have a pretty good idea of what to expect from Incenses. The main difference is that other players don’t necessarily have to be in your party to benefit from Incense. As long as they’re in the vicinity, they’ll get the bonuses as well.
How To Craft Incense
Similar to Elixirs, Incenses can be crafted by Alchemists. You can interact with Alchemists starting at level 10, but you won’t be able to craft your first Incense until you reach level 45. More Incenses will be unlocked gradually afterward, with the best one becoming available only at level 100.
In order to craft Incenses, you’ll need a variety of plants along with a healthy amount of gold. Some of them also require other crafting materials such as monster parts and Veiled Crystals. It’s important to note that every type of Incense requires Angelbreath and/or Fiend Rose, both of which are rare plants that can be difficult to acquire.
Incenses are split into three different types based on their potency. You can only have one Incense from each category active at a time, but you combine different types of Incenses. For instance, you can have the Type I Incense 'Song of the Mountain' active alongside the Type II Incense 'Spiral Morning' and the Type III Incense 'Chorus of War'. The only caveat is that you can’t benefit from multiple Incenses that provide similar benefits.