The launch of Diablo 4’s Season 12, Season of Slaughter, has drawn heavy criticism from the community due to severe material shortages. Players report that essential crafting and boss materials such as Obducite, Forgotten Souls, Bloodied components, and Slaughterhouse keys now feel rarer than ever, creating frustration in a season shortened to only seven weeks.
Materials are central to Season 12’s systems—masterworking, Slaughterhouse runs, and seasonal cosmetics all depend on them—but drop rates have not increased to match the new costs. Many fans view this as a step backward from Season 11’s generous loot economy, particularly with the Lord of Hatred expansion approaching. Community discussions and bug reports suggest that Infernal Hordes material chests and Nightmare Dungeons provide only a fraction of expected rewards, effectively stalling progression for players who cannot grind endlessly. For casual and mid-core players, that scarcity can make it nearly impossible to complete their builds within the limited season window.
Adding to the problem are confirmed bugs that further reduce material availability. Obducite drops from Infernal Hordes and Nightmare Dungeons were reportedly under-tuned after an internal rebalance meant for the upcoming expansion was mistakenly applied. Some seasonal goals and reputation tracks, which require extensive gear upgrades, amplify the strain by demanding far more materials than players can realistically earn. While Blizzard has issued early hotfixes to address launch issues, the material drop imbalance remains on the game’s official list of known issues. If you want to buy Diablo 4 Gold at a reliable D4 Gold currency shop in S12, U4GM is a popular choice due to its dependable transactions and quick delivery.
Among the hardest-to-find materials, Obducite is the most painful bottleneck, as it is essential for high-end masterworking and appears in far smaller quantities than intended. Forgotten Souls, another key resource for tempering and rerolling gear, are also scarcer due to fewer Treasure Breach sigils and rarer heroic stronghold events. Boss summoning materials and Slaughterhouse keys compound the problem by heavily gating access to unique farming and seasonal content, turning core gameplay loops into exhausting grinds.
Despite the shortages, some veteran players have identified limited ways to farm materials more effectively. Running targeted Nightmare Dungeons with sigils featuring affixes like Material Reserve or Hidden Armory can yield slightly higher returns of Obducite and Souls. Treasure Breach sigils offer the best overall haul but are too rare to rely on consistently. Heroic strongholds and Infernal Hordes have become the preferred compromise, providing steady—if modest—gains across key resources. Helltides also remain valuable for collecting Aberrant Cinders and Smoldering Ashes, accelerating gear acquisition even if material drops stay low. Meanwhile, engaging with Requary or mercenary systems can help fill in gaps through bartering and cached rewards.
Given the current economy, many in the community advise avoiding activities with poor time-to-reward ratios. Deep masterworking on non-best-in-slot items wastes irreplaceable Obducite, while grinding high-cost boss loops for minor upgrades offers little return. Seasonal challenges that require fully masterworked Bloodied gear are similarly discouraged, as the short 48-day duration of Season 12 leaves little room for inefficient progression.
As frustration grows, player sentiment has shifted from disappointment to near resignation. Forum discussions overwhelmingly label Season 12 as one of the weakest to date, blaming both design missteps and unresolved bugs. Many players have chosen to step back after completing the Season Journey, while others hold onto their materials in anticipation of balancing patches. For now, the community largely treats Season 12 as a brief intermission before the Lord of Hatred expansion rather than a full-fledged experience.
Until Blizzard adjusts the drop rates or issues a fix, the most practical approach for anyone still participating in Season of Slaughter is to focus on enjoyable, efficient activities—moderate-tier Nightmare Dungeons, Infernal Hordes, and Helltides—while avoiding unnecessary material sinks. In a season defined by scarcity, survival means playing smart, not just grinding harder.
