Death's Breath (DB) is a crafting material that may be dropped by Elites, Treasure Goblins, and Resplendent Chests above level 61 in Reaper of Souls. DBs are not found in Diablo 3. This material is the higher tier version of the Demonic Essence crafting material, which has the same drop rates from the same sources, though only from enemies and targets below level 61.
Deaths Breaths are not a legendary material, though they are required in virtually all level 60+ and end game crafting recipes in Reaper of Souls. These include training Artisans, enchanting, upgrading gems (Royal and Flawless Royal quality), and crafting.
Since Death's Breath are account bound (BoA), drop primarily from Elites, and drop at higher rates on higher difficulties, they may function as a bottleneck on crafting and other item upgrading functions in Reaper of Souls, forcing players to spend a fair amount of time playing the game and harvesting Death's Breaths (and other materials/gems) rather than simply buying or trading for them. (The bottleneck effect is strongest for new players to Reaper of Souls. After some weeks of play time most players accumulate a surplus.)
Death's Breath Drop Rates
Blizzard provided the drop rates for Deaths Breaths when complaints about their infrequency were voiced shortly after the launch of Reaper of Souls.
- Normal – 15%
- Hard – 18%
- Expert – 21%
- Master – 25%
- Torment 1 – 31%
- Torment 2 – 37%
- Torment 3 – 44%
- Torment 4 – 53%
- Torment 5 – 64%
- Torment 6 – 77%
These items can drop from Elites (Yellows or Blue Champions), Purple Uniques, as well as from Treasure Goblins and Resplendent Chests. Many players insist their drop rates from sources other than Blue or Yellow Elites are much lower than the officially listed figures, but Blizzard disputes that.
Death's Breath drops in the Westmarch Commons.