Diablo 4 players have started calling people who didn't earn the horse cosmetic in the beta 'bare-mares'
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Loading... - Tristan Renaud
- 24 May 2023
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Have you triumphed over the formidable world boss Ashava during the "Server Slam" beta of Diablo 4? The answer holds significance as it determines your position in the forthcoming game's social hierarchy.
Defeating this level 25 monster at the beta's maximum level cap of 20 proved to be quite challenging. It necessitated the cooperation of a competent group of players, grinding for powerful legendary items to enhance your character's abilities, and, above all, investing a considerable amount of time and patience. The boss only emerged every three hours and could take up to 15 minutes to vanquish.
However, if you did manage to slay Ashava, your reward was the Cry of Ashava—a golden horn that could be attached to your horse once the full game was released. While not an extraordinary incentive on its own, it apparently carried significant online prestige. Some who acquired it now hold it over those who didn't, labeling them as "bare-mares" or "hornless," and ridiculing anyone suggesting that earning it demanded an excessive time commitment. A post on /r/Diablo4, with 2.1k upvotes, reads, "Welcome to the Ashava Trophy Club, lords and ladies. The other... individuals... may remain on the outskirts... Isn't it delightful that these... people... failed to demonstrate even a hint of skill while they roamed through the beta?"
Another person asserts, "If you put any effort into the game, you could have obtained the trophy. I believe any level 20 character could defeat Ashava on world tier 1. Those who didn't obtain it simply didn't invest enough effort."
There exists an entire subreddit called ATCLub, solely dedicated to congratulating each other on their Ashava trophies. It even has its own Discord server. One post ponders, "Should I feel sorry for the bare-mares?... or are they truly despicable individuals that I should proudly pass by as they struggle with a random chest encounter?"
Concerns regarding pretenders are raised, calling for verification once the game officially launches. One post states, "Not to sound elitist or doubting the genuineness of our fellow players who might pretend to join us to appreciate the camaraderie, fellowship, wisdom, and strength of this esteemed club." Meanwhile, various memes mock those who failed to acquire the horn, celebrate its unavailability, and proclaim themselves as "a superior breed of human."
Of course, these sentiments are not entirely serious. Prior to the release of a highly anticipated game, fans always seek ways to relieve tension, and the Cry of Ashava has become an easy inside joke to unite around while awaiting its arrival. Nevertheless, it does reveal an existing unpleasant side of the community.
Beneath the jabs at bare-mares lies a "git gud" mindset where people generally show dismissiveness toward those who struggled with any aspect of the game. Expressing frustration with the Ashava battle is consistently met with ridicule and scorn. "You're simply complaining because you failed to acquire the horn" is a commonly repeated response. Many posts on the lighthearted ATClub subreddit contain a genuine undertone of animosity towards dissenters and critics.
As ludicrous as it may sound, "bare-mare" is already becoming a universal insult. I have personally been informed that my concerns regarding the balance and combat of Diablo 4 are merely the ramblings of someone without a adorned mount. Likewise, my colleague Fraser has been accused by many of being a bare-mare for pointing out the tedium of the Ashava fight (despite his successful completion being the central point of the article). Let me emphasize this: words carry weight, and they don't only affect me; they also harm my hypothetical digital horse.
