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Diablo 4 Leveling Loot Filter: What to Show, Hide and Recolor

Updated 13 October 2026 · Season 14

Next step: Browse Diablo 4 loot filters with copy-ready import codes →

A good Diablo 4 leveling loot filter does the opposite of an endgame filter: it stays loose enough to catch real upgrades while hiding the low-value clutter that slows you down. Start with a few rules that hide the lowest rarities and recolor anything worth a second look, then tighten the filter in stages as your character gets stronger. When you reach the endgame, swap to a stricter filter rather than editing your leveling one into shape.

This guide covers the rules worth having while leveling, how to set them up on PC and console, and when to switch. If you would rather start from a shared code, browse the filters on /loot-filters and pick one built for leveling or for your class.

What a leveling filter should actually do

While leveling, your gear goes out of date quickly. Almost anything with higher item power than what you wear can be a short-term upgrade, and you will replace most of it within an hour. That changes what a filter is for.

An endgame filter asks "is this item good enough to keep forever?" A leveling filter asks "is this item worth stopping for right now?" That means:

• Hide the obvious junk so the ground is readable during fast clears.
• Keep showing anything that could be an upgrade for your current slot, even if it would be trash later.
• Recolor the important drops so you notice them mid-fight instead of finding them in your inventory later.
• Never hide anything you might trade. Some drops are worth gold to other players even if your build ignores them.

If your leveling filter feels like it hides almost everything, it is probably an endgame filter wearing the wrong label.

Rules to start with

Each filter holds up to 25 rules, and each rule has a mode (Show, Hide or Recolor) and a color. A leveling filter rarely needs more than a handful. Here is a simple structure that works for any of the 8 classes:

A few notes on that layout:

• Use colors that mean something to you. One color for "equip check," another for "possible trade item" makes decisions faster than a rainbow of rules.
• Keep rule names plain. Names like "Hide low rarity" or "Uniques: always look" are easier to adjust later than clever ones.
• Leave spare slots. You will want room to add rules for your build's preferred affixes once you know which ones matter.

Tighten in stages, not all at once

The biggest mistake with leveling filters is setting them to endgame strictness on a fresh character. You end up wearing gear that is far below your level because the filter hid every upgrade.

A staged approach works better:

1. Fresh character. Hide only the lowest rarity. Show everything else.
2. Once your slots are filled with Rares. Add mid rarity gear to the Hide list. Rares and above are now your upgrade pool.
3. Once your build's core aspects are in place. Consider hiding Rares that do not carry the affixes your build wants, or recolor the ones that do so they stand out.
4. Approaching the endgame. Stop editing. Save this filter as your leveling filter and switch to a dedicated endgame one.

You do not need a new filter for each stage. Edit the existing rules by changing Show to Hide as you go. Since only one filter is active at a time, keeping your leveling filter saved means it is ready for your next character or next season.

Setting it up on PC and console

On PC:

1. Go to Options > Gameplay and enable the Loot Filter shortcut.
2. Open Game Menu > Loot Filter.
3. Either build rules by hand or choose Import and paste an export code.
4. Name the filter (something like "Leveling" makes swapping easy) and set it active.

On console:

Consoles cannot paste filter codes, so you rebuild rules by hand. The easiest way is to open a filter on /loot-filters and work through its decoded rule list. Every filter page shows the rule name, whether it is Show, Hide or Recolor, and the color, which doubles as a checklist. A leveling filter is a good one to build by hand because it only needs a few rules.

For a deeper walkthrough of the menus, see our loot filter guides, including the one on how to use loot filters in Diablo 4 and the one written for console players.

Do not filter away your trade income

Leveling is when most players throw away items they could have sold. Your build may have no use for a drop, but another player might, and Diablo 4 lets you trade items for in-game gold.

A few habits keep that income intact:

• Recolor instead of hiding anything in a tradeable category you are unsure about. A recolor costs nothing; a hidden drop is gone.
• Keep Charms and Seals visible. They are tradeable, so even ones that do not fit your build can be worth listing.
• Look at Uniques before salvaging. Some are build-defining for other classes.
• Remember Mythic Uniques are account-bound. They cannot be traded, so their value is only to you. Do not plan around selling one.

If you are not sure whether something is worth keeping, check it on /prices. It is a value reference that explains what an item is, whether it trades, and what drives its value, which helps you decide what deserves a stash slot. When you are ready to sell, the trade board is gold, runes and items only, every trader is a Battle.net-verified BattleTag, and the trade itself happens in-game.

One rule that never changes: buying or selling items or gold for real money breaks Blizzard's terms of use and can get an account actioned. Trade for gold and items only.

When to swap to an endgame filter

You are ready to switch when the loose rules start working against you. Signs include:

• You are stopping for drops you never equip.
• Your inventory fills with Rares you salvage without reading.
• Your build's core pieces are in place and you are now hunting specific upgrades.

At that point, a strict filter built around your build's affixes saves more time than any amount of editing to your leveling rules. Our guide to endgame loot filter settings covers that side, and the class filter guides (barbarian, druid, necromancer, paladin, rogue, sorcerer, spiritborn and warlock) show what a class-specific setup looks like. You can grab a matching code from /loot-filters.

Keep the leveling filter saved under a clear name. The next time you start a character, switch back to it and you skip the setup entirely.

Common leveling filter mistakes

• Importing an endgame filter on a fresh character. It hides the upgrades you need and leaves you underpowered.
• Using every rule slot early. A leveling filter with too many rules is hard to adjust. Start small.
• Too many colors. If everything is recolored, nothing stands out. Pick two or three colors with clear meanings.
• Hiding tradeable categories by default. Recolor them instead until you know they are worthless.
• Never revisiting the filter. Leveling moves fast. Check your rules each time your gear jumps in quality.

A leveling filter is a temporary tool. Keep it simple, loosen it rather than tighten it when in doubt, and hand off to a proper endgame filter once your build comes together.

Next step: Browse Diablo 4 loot filters with copy-ready import codes →

Frequently asked questions

Should I hide everything below Legendary while leveling in Diablo 4?

Not at the very start. Early on, ordinary gear can still be an upgrade and salvage materials help. Hide the lowest rarities first, then tighten in stages as your gear improves. Hiding too much too early leaves gaps in your build.

Can I use the same loot filter for leveling and endgame?

You can, but it works poorly. A leveling filter keeps rules loose so you catch upgrades, and an endgame filter is strict so you only see what matters. Only one filter can be active at a time, so save both and switch between them when you finish leveling.

How do I use a leveling loot filter on console?

Consoles cannot paste filter codes. Open a filter on our loot filters page, read its decoded rule list (rule name, Show, Hide or Recolor, and color), and rebuild those rules by hand in the in-game Loot Filter menu.