Engineering Diablo III's Damage Numbers

Posted by DHAdmin on January 22nd, 2016 at 2:26 pm

Blizzard Quote [source]

To work in software development, whether it's for business, entertainment, or your favorite video game company, is to know that simple problems don't always have simple solutions. Game development is, in a word, complicated. There are thousands of moving parts where the smallest iteration can cause weeks of reversions and backtracking. On the outside looking in, it's tempting to ask, Why not just fix it?” That's a bit like asking a baker why they can't just substitute sugar for sucralose. The answer is similar across the board; It's not that simple.�

Numbers - How Do They Work?

In Diablo III, there's lots of information thrown at the player. Let's talk numbers. You see them everywhere! They're on your gear, they're in your character profile, and they float around your nephalem's head while you're in combat. Behind each of those digits is a huge amount of tech that makes them behave the way that they do.

We heard a lot of player feedback that combat numbers were starting to be overwhelming or difficult to comprehend in moment-to-moment gameplay. In the past, large numbers were exciting to see because they stood out above the rest. How do you bring back that emotional appeal without making players feel like they have lost power?

Patch 2.4.0 introduced a couple of new features to address this. First, we've introduced a new in-game option to truncate numbers and display them using abbreviations. Second, we've added an entirely new feature that highlights some of your largest damage numbers in a new color. Each of these additions presented their own challenges when we went to implement them; some were design issues, others created localization concerns, and at the end of all these decisions, the result needed to look good.

Initially, we had the idea of highlighting the top 5% of numbers you've generated in the last few seconds. The first problem with this approach was that every build is different, especially when it comes to how each dishes out damage. Some pump out small bursts of floating numbers over time while others barrage your screen with a constant stream of information. In our first pass, another issue that arose was that the new system didn't accommodate expected fluctuations in damage dealt. Take a Power Pylon, for example, where your damage is temporarily augmented. After the Pylon ends, you'll still want to know when you're dealing notable damage.

We developed our algorithm over time to account for these outliers, settling on the following rules for which numbers appear in orange:

Damage numbers must be over 10,000 to be considered
If the damage number to be displayed is larger than the last that was displayed in orange, then display this new number in orange
Decay the value of the largest number by 3% every second
- This reduces the likelihood that you'll go on too long without seeing any highlighted numbers
Ignore the first 10 large numbers
- This allows for the system to calibrate itself
If no damage has been dealt for 10 seconds, reset the system

Where Are My Billions? - Challenges in Localization

If you've played the latest patch, you may have already seen our new damage abbreviations. We've seen a lot of questions, primarily from our English-speaking audiences, about why we measure in millions, but skip counting in billions.

There are a few reasons, but one of the most important is localization. Diablo III is a global game, published in 13 different languages, so when we make a design decision that affects the written word (or, in this case, written number), we have to remain cognizant of what that change will mean in every iteration of the game. While you might think numbers would be the easiest thing to translate, that couldn't be any less true.

Left: English language numbers. Right: Korean language numbers.

Here's an example where what might look like a simple translation can get complicated. Some languages, like Spanish or French, do not commonly use a unique term for billion.� They instead refer to that amount as what literally translates to "one thousand million"� rather than having their own word. In terms of etymology, this is a result of both American and British English evolving the word "billion"� to mean "one thousand million"� rather than the "one million million"� it originally represented.

It gets even more complex when looking at languages like Korean or Chinese, where large numbers are grouped on a different scale. For instance, in English, the nomenclature of a number changes with every third place, such as thousands, millions, billions and so forth. In Korean, the naming convention of a number instead changes every fourth place, using a method called myriad squared. This is because in Korean, numbers are grouped every ten-thousand fold instead of thousand fold.

This issue is compounded by punctuation use. Not every language uses commas as breaks in numbers. Some use periods instead, which is very common in Europe, and others don't use any punctuation at all.

Left: Korean gold count. Right: French gold count.

As numbers in Diablo III grew and we decided to add in numerical punctuation, we needed a way to elegantly translate� where and when this punctuation would appear for each localization. Our code uses a library called ICU, or International Components for Unicode, which provides a great amount of support for localizing software. ICU can be used in a number of ways, but for this feature, we took advantage of its ability to take a number and a locale (such as United States English, French, or Korean) as input and give back a properly formatted number for that locale as output, complete with any periods or commas. Our Localization team also keeps a table that shows what numbers each region chooses to publish and the end result.

An example of one of our localization tables, designating which language truncates at what point.

Some localizations opted to abbreviate more or less, mostly out of cultural preferences. There's a real psychology behind player satisfaction and the actual length of the numbers you're seeing, and player preference varies on both personal and cultural levels. For example, in English, we opted not to abbreviate in the low millions because seeing 1,000,000� is much more satisfying than 1M.� Skipping the billions place also helped with this, as seeing 1,000M tells a much more exciting story than 1B. Of course, number size isn't the only consideration; the visuals, colors, and movement all play a key role as well.

Making Numbers Pop - Refining Visuals

It's important to make sure that when a player sees a number, they can quickly understand the implication behind it and what it means to them at that precise instant. In Patch 2.4.0, we aimed to provide even more in-combat information than ever before. This is where those Critical Hit highlight numbers come into play.

Look at that beautiful crit!

Simply changing the color was one of many ways we could have presented this information. We asked ourselves a lot of questions about how was best to communicate these big hits. Do we make these numbers bigger? Have them path differently? Make them flash? Do they hang on the screen longer? Or do we just give them a different color? How do you decide which of these options is the right one?

We gravitated towards color because we could present this new information to our players in a drastically different way that passed other user accessibility concerns. Orange numbers stand out; they're not something you've seen before, so subconsciously you pay close attention to them.

Orange also passes the colorblindness-friendly test. When you're looking at a color wheel, orange is in a different realm than the other colors we currently use for other information. This way players that are colorblind can tell something's new, too!

When we look at changing colors in our interface, our artists take a look a three options for variation: Hue, Saturation, and Lightness. This is part of what's called the HSL color space, a common digital standardization for the color wheel. Each aspect is key to adjusting a different emotion or evoking a new response from the player. Do we want to change the mood? Then we adjust hue. If we're shifting an image from being juicy to more flat, then saturation becomes key. How about drawing attention or driving it away? Lightness becomes the go-to.

As an example, some of the most critical information in the game is how much healing you're receiving. Healing is literally your life force, and we want it to be very visible. That's why that information is some of the brightest in the game. We wanted critical hit information to be extremely visible as well, so we played a lot with its lightness levels to make sure you always know when your next big damage spike occurs.

Bring It All Together

When we talk about the Diablo III team, it's easy to first think of our developers who tweak the way a class or an item functions, or put cool, new features in to explore. However, there's so much more going on beyond what your hero is wearing or wielding, and our artists, engineers, localization experts, and so many more help us ensure everything comes together smoothly for all of our players around the world.

We hope you've enjoyed this in-depth peek behind the scenes of a small feature that, under the hood, is deceptively gargantuan! It's a privilege to come in every day and work on this game, even when it's on the little details. Thanks for reading!

Patch 2.4.0 Now Live

Posted by DHAdmin on January 12th, 2016 at 7:54 pm

Blizzard Quote [source]

Diablo III patch 2.4.0 is now live in the Americas for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One! Check out the full PC patch notes below to learn all about the latest changes. To view our console patch notes, click here.

Important: Please note that you will not be prompted to download patch 2.4.0 until the patch is live in your home region. If you are logging in from a European or Asian client, you will need to wait for this patch to release in that region before it can be installed. Additionally, if your home region is in the Americas, you will be unable to log into Europe or Asia using Global Play after patch 2.4.0 is live until those regions have also patched.

Diablo III Patch 2.4.0 - v2.4.0.35057

Visit our Bug Report forum for a list of known issues.

If you are experiencing technical issues with the patching process, connecting to Battle.net after installing the patch, or errors while playing a newly-patched game, please visit our support site or post in the Technical Support forum for assistance.

New Feature: Greyhollow Island
The mysterious forested locale of Greyhollow Island is now open for exploration! Inhabited by new enemies and steeped in intrigue, brave the wilds and unravel the enigma behind the isle's mysterious inhabitants. Be forewarned, however; the land itself is hungry for blood.

To learn more about Greyhollow Island, click here.

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New Feature: Expanded Zones
The Sanctuary you know grows larger. Two existing zones are receiving new, fully explorable additions, featuring new bounties and events. Survive the hunting grounds of the fierce yeti in the Eternal Woods, a new branch of The Ruins of Sescheron zone. The cultists have finally gotten around to clearing up the debris on those stairs in Leoric's Manor, opening up the Royal Quarters for curious treasure hunters.

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New Feature: Set Dungeons
Test your mettle against one of twenty-four custom designed set dungeons! Each dungeon features a pre-generated, static course designed entirely around a specific class set. Don all six pieces of your chosen set and visit Leoric's Library to obtain a clue on where these hidden trials are located. Hunt down your dungeon of choice and master it to unlock exclusive cosmetic rewards!

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New Feature: Empowered Rifts
Spend your gold to empower a Greater Rift, granting a fourth opportunity to upgrade a Legendary Gem. Gold costs vary based on the tier of Greater Rift level attempted, and bonus upgrades are granted only to those who successfully complete the rift, so spend wisely!

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New Feature: Season Rebirth
Transition seamlessly from Season to Season with the new Season Rebirth feature! This option allows you to instantly transform a non-Seasonal hero to a fresh level 1 Season hero, maintaining their name and hours played. All gear is removed and automatically mailed to you in the non-Season, providing up to thirty days to reclaim the items at a later time. Paragon level, completed achievements, and other accomplishments also remain behind with your non-Seasonal heroes.

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New Feature: Revised Buff Bar
A cleaner, clearer user interface makes its way to all platforms with our revised buff bar. Static buffs have been removed from the buff bar area, replaced by new indicators and timers that have been added to the skill bar. We've also included a collapsible buff-holder, which condenses party and group buffs and can be expanded by moving your cursor over the indicator or by assigning a hotkey via the Heads Up Display section of the Key Bindings option menu, revealing all your buffs at a moment's glance.

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New to PC: Action Combat
The popular console version of Action Combat makes its way to PC! Massacre, Destruction, and Trap Mastery bonuses are now granted to players who chain together death, destruction, and clever maneuvers. Earn bonus experience, a temporary boost to movement speed, or a buff to your resource generation through tactical play.

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GENERAL

Stash Tabs
- A sixth Stash tab is now purchasable for 500,000 gold
- One additional Stash tab per season (up to 4) will also be available to unlock by completing the Conqueror level of the Season Journey
- Cosmetic pets now pick up gold for you
At level 70, +% Bonus Experience is reduced to 10% effectiveness

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CLASSES

Taunt now causes monsters to consistently attack you
Barbarian
- Active Skills
  - Ancient Spear
    - Skill Rune - Boulder Toss
      - Should now reach its target more quickly
  - Avalanche
    - Damage increased from 1600% to 2400%
    - Skill Rune - Glacier
      - Damage increased from 1600% to 2400%
    - Skill Rune - Snow-Capped Mountain
      - Damage increased from 1800% to 2800%
    - Skill Rune - Volcano
      - Damage increased from 4400% to 6600%
  - Battle Rage
    - Skill Rune - Ferocity
      - Movement speed bonus increased from 10% to 15%
  - Earthquake
    - Damage increased from 4200% to 4800%
    - Skill Rune - Cave-In
      - Damage increased from 4200% to 4800%
    - Skill Rune - Chilling Earth
      - Damage increased from 4200% to 4800%
    - Skill Rune - Giant's Stride
      - Damage increased from 200% to 300% per tremor
    - Skill Rune - Molten Fury
      - Damage increased from 5100% to 6000%
    - Skill Rune - Mountain's Call
      - Cooldown reduced from 50 to 30 seconds
  - Furious Charge
    - Skill Rune - Dreadnought
      - Maximum number of charges increased from 2 to 3
  - Ground Stomp
    - Skill Rune - Deafening Crash
      - Now also reduces the cooldown to 8 seconds
  - Leap
    - Skill Rune - Iron Impact
      - Has been redesigned
        
        Gain 150% increased Armor for 4 seconds when you land
  - War Cry
    - Duration increased from 60 to 120 seconds
    - Skill Rune - Hardened Wrath
      - Has been redesigned
        
        For the first five seconds, gain an additional 60% Armor
    - Skill Rune - Invigorate
      - Life regeneration granted increased from 8315 to 13411
  - Whirlwind
    - Skill Rune - Dust Devils
      - Increased the movement speed of the tornadoes
- Passive Skills
  - Inspiring Presence
    - Group Life regeneration increased from 2% to 3%
  - Juggernaut
    - Crowd Control reduction amount increased from 30% to 50%
  - No Escape
    - Now also affects Seismic Slam
  - Pound of Flesh
    - Has been redesigned
      - When you are healed by a health globe, gain 2% of your maximum Life per second and 4% increased movement speed for 15 seconds. This bonus stacks up to 5 times.
  - Sword and Board
    - Has been redesigned
      - While wielding a shield, reduce all damage taken by 30% and all Fury costs by 20%

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Crusader
- Active Skills
  - Blessed Hammer
    - Skill Rune - Icebound Hammer
      - Has been removed
      - Replaced with
        
        Brute Force
        
        The hammer Slows enemies it passes through and has a 35% chance to explode on impact, dealing 460% weapon damage as Physical and Stunning enemies within 6 yards for 1 second
  - Bombardment
    - Skill Rune - Barrels of Tar
      - Has been removed
      - Replaced with
        
        Barrels of Spikes
        
        The damage of each barrel is increased by 200% of your Thorns
  - Consecration
    - Skill Rune - Frozen Ground
      - Has been removed
      - Replaced with
        
        Bed of Nails
        
        Enemies in the area of the Consecration also take damage equal to 100% of your Thorns every second
  - Iron Skin
    - Skill Rune - Reflective Skin
      - Has been redesigned
        
        Your Thorns damage is increased by 300%
        
        Note: This bonus is now in the same category as the Thorns of the Invoker (6) Set Bonus
  - Steed Charge
    - Skill Rune - Ramming Speed
      - Has been removed
      - Replaced with
        
        Spiked Barding
        
        Deals 500% of your Thorns damage every second as you run
  - Sweep Attack
    - Skill Rune - Frozen Sweep
      - Has been removed
      - Replaced with
        
        Inspiring Sweep
        
        Every use of Sweep Attack increases your Armor by 20% for 3 seconds
- Passive Skills
  - Hold Your Ground
    - Block chance granted increased from 15% to 30%
- Bug Fixes
  - Fixed an issue that prevented monsters from targeting players while mounted using Steed Charge
  - Fixed an issue that prevented the extra hammers created by Blessed Hammer - Limitless from benefitting from the Guard of Johanna damage bonus
  - Fixed an issue that caused enemies hit by the extra hammers created by Blessed Hammer - Limitless to be counted toward the Drakon's Lesson damage bonus
  - Fixed an issue that could sometimes prevent the increased Thorns value from Iron Maiden from updating

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Demon Hunter
- Demon Hunters may now use Quivers while wielding a melee weapon
- Active Skills
  - Bolas
    - Hatred generated increased from 3 to 4
    - Skill Rune - Thunder Ball
      - Hatred generated increased from 6 to 7
  - Chakram
    - Skill Rune - Shuriken Cloud
      - Duration increased from 2 to 10 minutes
      - Now has a 10 second cooldown
  - Cluster Arrow
    - Explosion damage increased from 550% to 650% weapon damage
    - Skill Rune - Cluster Bombs
      - Grenade damage increased from 525% to 650% weapon damage
    - Skill Rune - Dazzling Arrow
      - Explosion damage increased from 550% to 650% weapon damage
      - Grenades damage increased from 220% to 250% weapon damage
    - Skill Rune - Loaded for Bear
      - Explosion damage increased from 770% to 850% weapon damage
      - Grenades damage increased from 220% to 250% weapon damage
    - Skill Rune - Maelstrom
      - Explosion damage increased from 550% to 650% weapon damage
      - Number of rockets decreased from 5 to 3
      - Healing per rocket increased from 1% to 2%
    - Skill Rune - Shooting Stars
      - Explosion damage increased from 550% to 650% weapon damage
      - Number of rockets decreased from 3 to 2
  - Entangling Shot
    - Hatred generated increased from 3 to 4
    - Skill Rune - Justice is Served
      - Hatred generated increased from 6 to 7
  - Grenade
    - Hatred generated increased from 3 to 4
    - Skill Rune - Tinkerer
      - Hatred generated increased from 6 to 7
  - Hungering Arrow
    - Hatred generated increased from 3 to 4
    - Skill Rune - Serrated Arrow
      - Hatred generated increased from 6 to 7
  - Multishot
    - Skill Rune - Burst Fire
      - Has been removed
      - Replaced with
        
        Wind Chill
        
        Enemies hit are Chilled and have a 15% chance to be Critically Hit for 3 seconds
    - Skill Rune - Full Broadside
      - Damage increased from 460% to 500% weapon damage
    - Skill Rune - Suppression Fire
      - Number of enemies affected increased from 2 to 4
  - Preparation
    - Skill Rune - Invigoration
      - Maximum Discipline bonus increased from 15 to 20
  - Sentry
    - Skill Rune - Guardian Turret
      - Damage reduction increased from 15% to 25%
  - Shadow Power
    - Life per Hit increased from 16093 to 26821
    - Life per Hit is now increased by 25% of your Life on Kill
    - Skill Rune - Blood Moon
      - Now doubles the total Life per Hit granted by Shadow Power
    - Skill Rune - Well of Darkness
      - Discipline cost reduced from 10 to 8
  - Smoke Screen
    - Skill Rune - Special Recipe
      - Discipline cost reduced from 10 to 8
  - Vengeance
    - Duration increased from 15 to 20 seconds
    - Number of rockets reduced from 4 to 2
    - Rocket damage increased from 40% to 80% weapon damage
    - Now also increases your damage done by 40%
    - Skill Rune - Dark Heart
      - Has been redesigned
        
        Now reduces all damage taken by 50%
    - Skill Rune - From the Shadows
      - Freeze duration increased from 2 to 3 seconds
- Passive Skills
  - Tactical Advantage
    - Now also triggers from Shadow Power
  - Thrill of the Hunt
    - Has been redesigned
      - Enemies hit by your Hatred spenders are slowed by 80% for 2 seconds
- Bug Fixes
  - Fixed an issue that prevented Cold attacks from applying Numbing Traps the first time they damaged an enemy with Iceblink equipped
  - Fixed an issue that prevented special attacks made by Sentries with the Embodiment of the Marauder (4) Set Bonus from applying Numbing Traps
  - Fixed an issue that prevented Numbing Traps visual effect from being displayed on monsters
  - Fixed an issue that prevented Shadow Power from applying the lockout period before the cooldown begins when cast by Lianna's Wings

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Monk
- Active Skills
  - Blinding Flash
    - Skill Rune - Soothing Light
      - Has been removed
      - Replaced with
        
        Crippling Light
        
        Enemies that are Blinded deal 40% reduced damage for 5 seconds after the Blind wears off
  - Ephiphany
    - Skill Rune - Soothing Mist
      - Health Globe healing bonus contribution reduced from 25% to 10%
  - Fists of Thunder
    - Skill Rune - Static Charge
      - Damage reduced from 180% to 40% weapon damage
      - Now only has a chance to proc when the Monk that applied the effect hits an affected enemy
  - Inner Sanctuary
    - Skill Rune - Safe Haven
      - The Life per Second contribution has been reduced from 30% to 7%
  - Mantra of Healing
    - Skill Rune - Sustenance
      - The passive Life per Second contributed to your group has been reduced from 30% to 7%
  - Mystic Ally
    - Should now more consistently attack targets closer to you
    - Skill Rune - Enduring Ally
      - The passive Life per Second contributed to your group has been reduced from 30% to 7%
    - Skill Rune - Fire Ally
      - Explosion damage increased from 290% to 480% weapon damage
      - Number of allies reduced from 10 to 5
- Bug Fixes
  - Fixed an issue that caused Exploding Palm to sometimes retain bonuses to its damage for longer than intended
  - Fixed an issue that could sometimes prevent Sweeping Wind - Master of Wind from Freezing enemies
  - Fixed an issue that caused Exploding Palm - Impending Doom to overwrite other players' Exploding Palms
  - Fixed an issue that prevented the Exploding Palms applied by the Uliana's Stragegem (2) Set Bonus from benefitting from Way of the Hundred Fists - Assimilation's damage bonus
  - Fixed an issue that caused the Life per Second contribution from Inner Sanctuary - Safe Haven, and Mystic Ally - Enduring Ally to be increased by the Life per Second from other skills

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Witch Doctor
- Active Skills
  - Firebats
    - Skill Rune - Cloud of Bats
      - Radius increased from 12 to 15 yards
  - Gargantuan
    - Damage increased from 100% to 450% weapon damage
    - Skill Rune - Big Stinker
      - Poison cloud damage increased from 45% to 135% weapon damage
    - Skill Rune - Restless Giant
      - Enrage cooldown reduced from 120 to 45 seconds
  - Grasp of the Dead
    - Skill Rune - Rain of Corpses
      - Duration in which the total damage is dealt reduced from 8 to 3 seconds
      - The effects of this rune can now stack
  - Haunt
    - Skill Rune - Draining Spirits
      - Damage type changed from Cold to Physical
  - Hex
    - Skill Rune - Toad of Hugeness
      - Will now lick and slow enemies, rather than swallow them, while you have the Spirit of Arachyr (4) Set Bonus equipped
  - Horrify
    - Cooldown reduced from 12 to 10 seconds
    - Skill Rune - Frightening Aspect
      - Armor bonus increased from 35% to 50%
  - Locust Swarm
    - Skill Rune - Diseased Swarm
      - Increased from 75% to 750% weapon damage
  - Mass Confusion
    - Skill Rune - Paranoia
      - Damage amplification increased from 20% to 30%
  - Soul Harvest
    - Cooldown reduced from 15 to 12 seconds
    - Skill Rune - Languish
      - Now grants 10% Armor per stack, up to a maximum of 5 stacks
  - Spirit Barrage
    - Weapon damage increased from 425% to 600%
    - Skill Rune - Phlebotomize
      - Has been redesigned
        
        Now grants 6437 Life each time Spirit Barrage hits
    - Skill Rune - Manitou
      - Damage increased from 2900 to 6000% weapon damage over 20 seconds
  - Spirit Walk
    - Cooldown reduced from 12 to 10 seconds
    - Skill Rune - Severance
      - Has been redesigned
        
        Now increases movement speed by an additional 100%
  - Summon Zombie Dogs
    - Damage increased from 30% to 120% weapon damage
    - Skill Rune - Burning Dogs
      - Fire damage deal to nearby enemies increased from 20% to 80% weapon damage
    - Skill Rune - Rabid Dogs
      - Bite DoT damage increased from 30% to 120% weapon damage
  - Wall of Death
    - Damage increased from 1000% to 1200% weapon damage
    - Skill Rune - Surrounded by Death
      - Duration increased from 4 to 5 seconds
      - Damage increased from 1000% to 1250% weapon damage
- Passive Skills
  - Creeping Death
    - DoT duration increased from 300 to 3600 seconds
  - Spirit Vessel
    - No longer reduces the cooldown of Spirit Walk, Horrify, and Soul Harvest by 2 seconds
      - Note: The cooldowns of these skills have been reduced to compensate

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Wizard
- Active Skills
  - Diamond Skin
    - Damage absorbed changed from 93337 to 40% of your Life
    - Skill Rune - Crystal Shell
      - Damage absorbed changed from 186675 to 80% of your Life
  - Magic Weapon
    - Skill Rune - Deflection
      - Damage absorbed changed from 10728 to 4% of your Life
  - Spectral Blade
    - Skill Rune - Barrier Blades
      - Damage absorbed changed from 10728 to 4% of your Life
    - Skill Rune - Flame Blades
      - Duration reduced from 10 to 5 seconds
      - Now has a maximum stack count of 30
  - Slow Time
    - Skill Rune - Point of No Return
      - Stun duration increased from 3 to 5 seconds
- Passive Skills
  - Dominance
    - Damage absorbed changed from 16093 to 2% of your Life
  - Galvanizing Ward
    - Damage absorbed changed from 81536 to 60% of your Life
- Bug Fixes
  - Fixed and issue that prevented the internal cooldown on Magic Weapon - Deflection from updating with changes to Attack Speed
  - Fixed an issue that caused the effect of Wave of Force - Debilitating Force to stack from multiple sources
  - Fixed an issue that prevented Arcane Torrent, Disintegrate, and Ray of Frost's damage from updating if your attack speed changed while channeling
  - Fixed an issue that caused Meteor - Star Pact to gain the damage bonus for spending Arcane Power when automatically cast by Tal Rasha's (2) Set Bonus, or Etched Sigil

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Bug Fixes
- Fixed an issue that could prevent you from clicking on some portals while you had certain skills bound to Left Mouse Button

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ITEMS

Thorns damage granted by socketing a Marquise rank or higher Topaz gem in a weapon has been greatly increased
The damage range of the Thorns affix on items has been increased
- Note: This change is retroactive for existing gear
Life per Hit granted by socketing an Amethyst into a weapon has been greatly increased for all ranks
Band of Hollow Whispers
- The duration of the Haunt cast by this item has been increased
- This item will now cast Haunt more often
- The cast range of this item has been increased
- Note: These changes will apply retroactively to existing items
Born's Defiance
- (2) Set Bonus
  - Has been changed from Monster Kills grant +20 Experience to Increases bonus Experience by 20%
Boyarsky's Chip
- New Legendary Gem
  - Adds 16000 Thorns damage
  - Thorns damage increased by 800 per rank
  - At rank 25 your Primary skills Taunt the first enemy hit or 2 seconds
Cain's Fate
- (2) Set Bonus
  - The Experience bonus has been increased from 30% to 50%
Corruption
- Now rolls with guaranteed Increased Gold and Health Globe Pickup Radius, and Increased Health Globe and Potion Healing
Depth Diggers
- Can now drop for Wizards
Endless Walk
- Has been redesigned
  - (2) Set Bonus
    - While moving, damage taken is reduced by up to 50%
    - While standing still, damage dealt is increased by up to 100%
Halcyon's Ascent
- Replaced the guaranteed Cooldown Reduction roll with a socket
Istvan's Paired Blades
- Each stack now also increases your damage and Armor
Legacy of Nightmares
- These rings now roll with a guaranteed socket rather than guaranteed Critical Hit Chance or Attack Speed
- Has been redesigned
  - (2) Set Bonus
    - While this is your only item Set Bonus your damage dealt is increased by 100% and damage taken is reduced by 4% for every Ancient item you have equipped
Mantle of Channeling
- New Legendary Shoulders
  - While channeling Whirlwind, Rapid Fire, Strafe, Tempest Rush, Firebats, Arcane Torrent, Disintegrate, or Ray of Frost, you deal 20-25% increased damage and take 25% reduced damage
Moratorium
- Damage staggered increased from 25% to 35%
Mutilation Guard
- Life threshold required to activate the secondary effect increased from 30% to 50%
Nagelring
- Level required for this to drop has been raised from 11 to 40
Oculus Ring
- No longer rolls with guaranteed Attack Speed, Reduced Damage from Elites, or Resistance to All Elements
- Now rolls with a guaranteed socket
- Bonus damage increased from 30-40% to 70-85%
- The damage bonus provided by this item is now multiplicative with other sources of damage
- The damage bonus provided by this item no longer stacks with overlapping zones
- Damage zone now spawns at a random location near the monster that was killed
- The chance to summon a zone is now 100%
Profane Pauldrons
- No longer drop
Steady Strikers
- No longer drop
Several existing Legendary items have been updated to include a unique Legendary power
- Note: Existing items will not be affected by the following changes. Only new versions of the items will roll with the added Legendary power.
- Aquila Cuirass
  - Legendary Power added
    - While above 90-95% primary resource, all damage taken is reduced by 50%
- Justice Lantern
  - Legendary Power added
    - Gain damage reduction equal to 45-55% of your Block chance
      - Note: This power can now benefit from the Block chance provided by Punish
- String of Ears
  - Legendary Power added
    - The melee damage reduction is now a Legendary Power and has been increased from 20-25% to 25-30%
Class-Specific Items
- Barbarian
  - Band of Might
    - New Legendary Ring
      - After using Furious Charge, Ground Stomp, or Leap, gain 50-60% damage reduction for 8 seconds
  - Blade of the Tribes
    - New Legendary Mighty Weapon
      - War Cry and Threatening Shout cause an Avalanche and Earthquake
      - Rolls with +150-200% Earthquake damage
  - Blade of the Warlord
    - New Legendary Mighty Weapon
      - Bash consumes up to 40 Fury to deal up to 400-500% increased damage
  - Dread Iron
    - Now rolls with +150-200% Avalanche damage
  - Fury of the Vanished Peak
    - Now rolls with 100-125% Seismic Slam damage
  - The Gavel of Judgment
    - Now rolls with 75-100% Hammer of the Ancients damage
  - The Legacy of Raekor
    - Has been redesigned
      - (2) Set Bonus
        
        Furious Charge refunds a charge if it hits only 1 enemy
      - (4) Set Bonus
        
        Furious Charge gains the effect of every rune and deals 300% increased damage
      - (6) Set Bonus
        
        Every use of Furious Charge grants a stacking effect that increases the damage of your next Fury-spending attack by 300%
        
        Every use of a Fury-spending attack consumes up to 5 stacks
  - Might of the Earth
    - (2) Set Bonus
      - Reduce the cooldown of Earthquake, Avalanche, Leap, and Ground Stomp by 1 second for every 30 Fury you spend
    - (4) Set Bonus
      - Leap causes an Earthquake when you land
      - Leap gains the effect of the Iron Impact rune and the duration and Armor bonus is increased by 150%
    - (6) Set Bonus
      - Increases the damage of Earthquake, Avalanche, Leap, Ground Stomp, Ancient Spear, and Seismic Slam by 800%
  - Oathkeeper
    - New Legendary Mighty Weapon
      - Your primary skills attack 50% faster and deal 150-200% increased damage
  - Skular's Salvation
    - New Legendary Bracers
      - Increases the damage of Ancient Spear - Boulder Toss by 100%
      - When your Boulder Toss hits 5 or fewer enemies the damage is increased by 120-150%
  - Vambraces of Sescheron
    - New Legendary Bracers
      - Primary skills heal you for 5-6% of your missing Life
- Crusader
  - Akkhan's Addendum
    - Akarat's Champion gains the effects of the Prophet, and Embodiment of Power runes
  - Armor of Akkhan
    - (2) Set Bonus
      - Reduce the cost of all abilities by 50% while Akarat's Champion is active
    - (4) Set Bonus
      - Reduce the cooldown of Akarat's Champion by 50%
    - (6) Set Bonus
      - While Akarat's Champion is active, you deal 450% increased damage
  - Akkhan's Manacles
    - New Legendary Bracers
      - Blessed Shield damage is increased by 400-500% for the first enemy it hits
  - Akkhan's Leniency
    - New Legendary Two-Handed Flail
      - Each enemy hit by your Blessed Shield increases the damage of your Blessed Shield by 15-20% for 3 seconds
  - Blade of Prophecy
    - Now rolls with +75-100% Condemn damage
  - Bracers of Fury
    - New Legendary Bracers
      - Heaven's Fury deals 150-200% increased damage to enemies that are Blinded, Immobilized, or Stunned
  - Drakon's Lesson
    - Shield Bash damage bonus increased from 150-200% to 300-400%
  - Frydehr's Wrath
    - Now rolls with +150-200% Condemn damage
  - Golden Flense
    - Now rolls with +150-200% Sweep Attack damage
  - Jace's Hammer of Vigilance
    - Now rolls with guaranteed primary attribute
  - Jekangbord
    - Now rolls with +150-200% Blessed Shield damage
  - Norvald's Fervor
    - New Set
      - (2) Set bonus
        
        Increases the duration of Steed Charge by 2 seconds
        
        Every enemy killed while Steed Charge is active reduces the cooldown by 1 second
        
        Gain 100% increased damage while Steed Charge is active and for 5 seconds after Steed Charge ends
  - Pride of the Invoker
    - No longer roll with guaranteed Critical Hit Chance
  - Renewal of the Invoker
    - Now roll with guaranteed sockets
  - Roland's Legacy
    - (6) Set Bonus
      - Attack speed bonus increased from 30% to 50%
      - Each stack now also reduces damage taken by 10%
      - Duration increased from 3 to 5 seconds
  - Seeker of the Light
    - (6) Set Bonus
      - Blessed Hammer damage bonus increased from 750% to 1250%
  - Shield of Fury
    - New Legendary Crusader Shield
      - Each time and enemy takes damage from your Heaven's Fury, it increases the damage they take from your Heaven's Fury by 15-20%
  - Thorns of the Invoker
    - Has been redesigned
      - (2) Set Bonus
        
        Your Thorns damage now hits all enemies within a 15 yard radius around you
        
        Each time you hit an enemy with Punish, or Slash, or block an attack your Thorns damage is increased by 25% for 2 seconds
      - (4) Set Bonus
        
        You take 50% less damage for 20 seconds after casting Bombardment
      - (6) Set Bonus
        
        Attack speed of Punish, and Slash increased by 50% and deal 600% of your Thorns damage to the first enemy hit
  - Unrelenting Phalanx
    - Now rolls with +45-60% Phalanx damage
  - Warhelm of Kassar
    - New Legendary Helm
      - Reduce the cooldown and increase the damage of Phalanx by 45-60%
- Demon Hunter
  - Bombardier's Rucksack
    - Now rolls with +75-100% Sentry damage
  - Chain of Shadows
    - New Legendary Belt
      - After using Impale, your Vault costs no resource for 2 seconds
  - Danetta's Hatred
    - (2) Set Bonus
      - Now also increases the damage of Vault by 800%
  - Dead Man's Legacy
    - Now rolls with +75-100% Multishot damage
  - Elusive Ring
    - New Legendary Ring
      - After using Vault, Shadow Power, or Smoke Screen, take 50-60% reduced damage for 8 seconds
  - Embodiment of the Marauder
    - (4) Set Bonus
      - Now also increases the damage of Sentries by 300%
    - (6) Set Bonus
      - Damage bonus per active Sentry increased from 100% to 600%
      - Damage bonus now also applies to Companion and Vengeance
  - Fortress Ballista
    - New Legendary Hand Crossbow
      - Attacks grant you an absorb shield for 2-3% of your maximum Life, stacking up to 10 times
  - Hellrack
    - Now rolls with guaranteed primary attribute
  - K'mar Tenclip
    - Now rolls with +75-100% Strafe damage
  - Karlei's Point
    - New Legendary Dagger
      - Impale returns 15-20 Hatred if it hits an enemy that has already been Impaled
  - Lianna's Wings
    - New Legendary Hand Crossbow
      - Shadow Power also triggers Smoke Screen
        
        Note: This item adds a 2.5 second cooldown to Shadow Power
  - Lord Greenstone's Fan
    - New Legendary Dagger
      - Every second gain 80-100% increased damage for your next Fan of Knives
        
        This effect can stack up to 30 times
  - Natalya's Vengeance
    - (2) Set Bonus
      - Rain of Vengeance cooldown reduction increased from 2 to 4 seconds
    - (6) Set Bonus
      - Damage reduction increased from 30% to 60%
      - Duration increased from 6 to 10 seconds
  - The Shadow's Mantle
    - Helm and Shoulder pieces have been added to this set
    - Has been redesigned
      - (2) Set Bonus
        
        Your damage is increased by 600% while you have a melee weapon equipped
      - (4) Set Bonus
        
        Shadow Power gains the effect of all runes and lasts forever
      - (6) Set Bonus
        
        Impale deals an additional 40,000% weapon damage to the first enemy hit
  - Sword of Ill Will
    - New Legendary Sword
      - Chakram deals 1.0-1.4% increased damage for each point of Hatred you have
  - Unhallowed Essence
    - (2) Set Bonus
      - Generators now also generate 2 additional Hatred
    - (4) Set Bonus
      - Damage bonus and damage reduction increased from 20% to 60%
      - Duration increased from 4 to 8 seconds
    - (6) Set Bonus
      - Damage bonus increased from 15% to 20% per point of Discipline
      - Damage bonus now also applies to Vengeance
  - Valla's Bequest
    - Now rolls with +75-100% Strafe damage
  - Visage of Gunes
    - New Legendary Helm
      - Vengeance gains the effect of the Dark Heart rune
  - Wojahnni Assaulter
    - Now rolls with guaranteed primary attribute
  - Zoey's Secret
    - New Legendary Belt
      - You take 8-9% less damage for each Companion you have active
- Monk
  - Bindings of the Lesser Gods
    - New Legendary Bracers
      - Enemies hit by your Cyclone Strike take 150-200% more damage from your Mystic Ally for 5 seconds
  - Cesar's Memento
    - New Legendary Bracers
      - Enemies take +300-400% increased damage from your Tempest Rush for 5 seconds after you hit them with a Blind, Freeze, or Stun
  - The Fist of Az'Turrasq
    - Exploding Palm's on-death explosion bonus damage has been increased from 75-100% to 250-300%
  - Gyana Na Kashu
    - Now rolls with +75-100% Lashing Tail Kick damage
  - Inna's Mantra
    - (6) Set Bonus
      - Has been redesigned
        
        Gain the effects of every Mystic Ally rune at all times and your damage is increased by 50% for each Mystic Ally you have
  - Inna's Reach
    - Bonus Mystic Ally damage increased from 20-25% to 90-120%
  - Kyoshiro's Blade
    - New Legendary Fist Weapon
      - When the initial impact of your Wave of Light hits 3 or fewer enemies, the damage is increased by 200-250%
      - Increases the damage of your Wave of Light by 150%
  - Kyoshiro's Soul
    - New Legendary Belt
      - Sweeping Wind gains 2 stacks every second it does not deal damage to any enemies
      - Rolls with 100-125% Sweeping Wind damage
  - Lefebvre's Soliloquy
    - New Legendary Shoulders
      - Cyclone Strike reduces your damage taken by 40-50% for 5 seconds
  - Monkey King's Garb
    - Has been redesigned
      - (2) Set Bonus
        
        Your damage taken is reduced by 50% while Sweeping Wind is active
      - (4) Set Bonus
        
        Every Second Sweeping Wind spawns a decoy next to the last enemy you hit that taunts nearby enemies and then explodes for 500% weapon damage for each stack of Sweeping Wind you have
      - (6) Set Bonus
        
        Lashing Tail Kick, Tempest Rush, and Wave of Light consume a stack of Sweeping Wind to deal 1500% increased damage
  - Pinto's Pride
    - New Legendary Bracers
      - Wave of Light also Slows enemies by 80% for 3 seconds and deals 125-150% increased damage
  - Raiment of a Thousand Storms
    - (2) Set Bonus
      - Spirit generator damage bonus reduced from 300% to 100%
  - Rivera Dancers
    - New Legendary Boots
      - Lashing Tail Kick attacks 50% faster and deals 250-300% increased damage
  - Tzo Krin's Gaze
    - Wave of Light bonus damage increased from 20-25% to 125-150%
  - Vengeful Wind
    - Number of Sweeping Wind stacks increased from 3 to 6-7
- Witch Doctor
  - Lakumbra's Ornament
    - New Legendary Bracers
      - Reduces all damage taken by 6% for each stack of Soul Harvest you have
  - Manajuma's Way
    - (2) Set Bonus
      - Hex - Angry Chicken bonus damage increased from 200% to 400%
  - Mordullu's Promise
    - New Legendary Axe
      - Firebomb generates 100-125 Mana
  - Raiment of the Jade Harvester
    - (2) Set Bonus
      - Instant Haunt damage dealt increased from 10 to 60 seconds worth
    - (4) Set Bonus
      - Now also reduces the cooldown of Soul Harvest by 1 second when you cast Haunt or Locust Swarm
    - (6) Set Bonus
      - Increased the amount of DoT damage detonated by Soul Harvest to 150 seconds worth
  - Ring of Emptiness
    - New Legendary Ring
      - You deal 75-100% increased damage to enemies affected by both your Haunt and Locust Swarm
  - The Short Man's Finger
    - The damage bonus granted to each Gargantuan has been tripled
      - This change will apply retroactively to existing items
  - Staff of Chiroptera
    - New Legendary Staff
      - Firebats attacks 100% faster and costs 70-75% less Mana
      - Now rolls with +45-60% Firebats damage
  - Spirit of Arachyr
    - (4) Set Bonus
      - Bonuses are now applied immediately after summoning the Toad
      - Damage reduction increased from 40-50%
      - Duration increased from 10 to 15 seconds
    - (6) Set Bonus
      - Damage bonus increased from 800% to 1200%
  - The Tall Man's Finger
    - The damage bonus granted to the single Zombie Dog has been doubled
      - This change will apply retroactively to existing items
  - Vile Hive
    - New Legendary Mojo
      - Locust Swarm gains the effect of the Pestilence rune and deals 45-60% increased damage
  - Voo's Juicer
    - New Legendary Dagger
      - Spirit Barrage gains the effects of the Phlebotomize and The Spirit is Willing runes
      - Rolls with +45-60% Spirit Barrage damage
  - Wilken's Reach
    - New Legendary Mojo
      - Removes the cooldown of Grasp of the Dead
      - Rolls with +45-60% Grasp of the Dead
  - Zunimassa's Haunt
    - (6) Set Bonus
      - Damage bonus increased from 275% to 800%
      - Duration increased from 4 to 8 seconds
- Wizard
  - Ashnagarr's Blood Bracers
    - New Legendary Bracers
      - Increase the potency of your shields by 75-100%
  - Deathwish
    - New Legendary Sword
      - While channeling Arcane Torrent, Disintegrate, or Ray of Frost, all damage is increased by 30-35%
  - Delsere's Magnum Opus
    - Explosive Blast, Spectral Blade, and Wave of Force are now affected by this set
    - (4) Set Bonus
      - Has been redesigned
        
        You take 50% reduced damage while inside your Slow Time. Allies gain half this benefit
    - (6) Set Bonus
      - Damage bonus increased from 750% to 2000%
  - Etched Sigil
    - New Legendary Source
      - Your Arcane Torrent, Disintegrate, and Ray of Frost also cast your other damaging Arcane Power Spenders every second
  - Fazula's Improbable Chain
    - Number of Archon stacks you automatically start with increased from 15-20 to 40-50
  - Firebird's Finery
    - (2) Set Bonus
      - Cooldown reduced from 300 to 60 seconds
    - (4) Set Bonus
      - Dealing Fire damage causes the enemy to take the same amount of damage over 3 seconds, stacking up to 3000% weapon damage as Fire per second. After reaching 3000% damage per second, the enemy will burn until they die.
    - (6) Set Bonus
      - Your damage is increased by 25% for each enemy that is burning. Elites that are burning increase your damage by 600%. You can only have one Elite damage bonus active at a time.
  - Firebird's Talons
    - Replaced the guaranteed Attack Speed roll with Critical Hit Chance
  - Hergbrash's Bindings
    - New Legendary Belt
      - Reduces the Arcane Power cost of Arcane Torrent, Disintegrate, and Ray of Frost by 50-65%
  - Orb of Infinite Depth
    - New Legendary Source
      - Each time you hit an enemy with Explosive Blast your damage is increased by 4-5% and your damage reduction is increased by 15% for 6 seconds. This effect can stack up to 4 times.
  - Primordial Soul
    - New Legendary Source
      - Elemental Exposure's damage bonus per stack is increased to 10%
  - The Shame of Delsere
    - New Legendary Belt
      - Your Signature Spells attack 50% faster and restore 9-12 Arcane Power
  - Tal Rasha's Allegiance
    - No longer rolls with guaranteed Vitality
  - Tal Rasha's Elements
    - (4) Set Bonus
      - Has been redesigned
        
        Arcane, Cold, Fire, and Lightning attacks each increase all of your resistances by 25% for 8 seconds
    - (6) Set Bonus
      - Increased duration from 6 to 8 seconds
      - Has been redesigned
        
        Attacks increase your damage by 500% for 8 seconds. Arcane, Cold, Fire, and Lightning attacks each add one stack. At 4 stacks, each different elemental attack extends the duration by 2 seconds, up to a maximum of 8 seconds.
  - Triumvirate
    - Arcane Orb damage bonus increased from 75-100% to 150-200%
  - The Twisted Sword
    - New Legendary Sword
      - Energy Twister damage is increased by 125-150% for each Energy Twister you have out
  - Unstable Scepter
    - New Legendary Wand
      - Arcane Orb's explosion triggers an additional time
      - Rolls with 50-65% Arcane Orb damage
  - Wand of Woh
    - Now rolls with +75-100% Explosive Blast damage
- Several existing class-specific Legendary items have been updated to include a unique Legendary power
  - Note: Existing items will not be affected by the following changes. Only new versions of the items will roll with the added Legendary power.
  - Barbarian
    - Standoff
      - Legendary Power added
        
        Furious Charge gains increased damage equal to 200-250% of your bonus movement speed
    - The Three Hundredth Spear
      - Legendary Power added
        
        Increase the damage of Weapon Throw and Ancient Spear by 45-60%
  - Crusader
    - Heart of Iron
      - Legendary Power added
        
        Gain Thorns equal to 250-300% of your Vitality
    - Hammer Jammers
      - Legendary Power added
        
        Enemies take 300-400% increased damage from your Blessed Hammers for 10 seconds after you hit them with a Blind, Immobilize, or Stun
  - Demon Hunter
    - Dawn
      - Legendary Power added
        
        Reduces the cooldown of Vengeance by 50-65%
    - Manticore
      - Legendary Power added
        
        Reduces the cost of Cluster Arrow by 40-50%
      - Now rolls with 60-80% Cluster Arrow damage
    - Sin Seekers
      - Legendary Power added
        
        Rapid Fire no longer has a channel cost
      - Now rolls with +45-60% Rapid Fire damage
  - Monk
    - Balance
      - Legendary Power added
        
        When your Tempest Rush hits 3 or fewer enemies, it gains 100% Critical Hit Chance
        
        Now rolls with +150-200% Tempest Rush damage
  - Witch Doctor
    - Last Breath
      - Legendary Power added
        
        The 15-20 second Mass Confusion cooldown reduction is now a Legendary Power
    - Thing of the Deep
      - Legendary Power added
        
        The 20 yard Pickup radius is now a Legendary Power
  - Wizard
    - Fragment of Destiny
      - Legendary Power added
        
        Spectral Blade attacks 50% faster and deals 150-200% increased damage
- Bug Fixes
  - Fixed an issue that prevented some sources of Attack Speed, which only benefit specific skills, from reducing the internal cooldown of Bane of the Stricke

Are You Prepared for 2.4.0?

Posted by DHAdmin on January 7th, 2016 at 5:33 am

Blizzard Quote [source]

Death continues to stretch its icy grasp over the world of Sanctuary. The terrors that await will crush the life from your fragile frames, and know that I shall be patiently observing from the threshold of existence. Let us examine the trials ahead together, that we might better prepare for your inevitable doom.

Mad Mysteries Await

- Greyhollow Island and Beyond -

Though I do not require respite, were I to take leave of my duties, this little lost island immersed in intrigue would be a restful destination. Bloodthirsty beasts, occult mysteries, and the total annihilation of an entire civilization? Even from the distant shores of a deserted Westmarch, I can sense the malevolent forces that are undoubtedly to blame. How invigorating.

The scattered remnants of the Coven have finally made use of their pitiful existence, clearing the previously collapsed stairwell within the decrepit halls of Leoric’s Manor. Perhaps it is worth your time to see what the Mad King left behind.

Return to the Ruins of Sescheron and take a moment to observe your surroundings. To the east lies the Eternal Woods, the wilderness that surrounds this barbaric landmark. Beware the yeti who roam this frozen wasteland and keep your wits about you; the remnants of their hunts often claw their way above the permafrost. . .

The Strong Grow Stronger

- Set Item Revisions -

It is prudent to equip yourself to your best of your meager abilities. Luckily for you, your efforts are now much more manageable. Many of the fabled Set items of heroes past have grown in strength, boasting new or improved abilities.

This is, of course, in addition to the treasure trove of new items the Horadrim have discovered and catalogued. I have acquired some of their research, and I recommend you take note of their findings.

Rise to the Challenge

- Set Dungeons -

Pride is a satisfying sin, and there is no greater gratification than watching an egotistical hero fall as a result of their own hubris. Naturally, when a curiously dangerous new set of challenges arises, I have little doubt your arrogance will get the best of you. Set Dungeons have begun opening their mystical portals all around the land of Sanctuary, and you will be permitted to enter should you be fully equipped with a completed wardrobe.

The challenges that lie within will take planning, guile, and dedication to conquer. Naturally, you do not stand a chance and, regrettably, death will not claim you when you inevitably fail. Still, should you desire to overcome these challenges, your efforts will be well rewarded.

The Price of Power

- Empowered Rifts -

The greed of adventurers knows no bounds, and I have heard whispers of the immense fortunes so many of you possess. While I am hardly impressed, perhaps I can recommend an alternative to rolling about in your filthy lucre? The abilities of your nephalem friend Orek are not yet depleted, and he has use for such riches.

Empowered Rifts allow your gold to serve you best by enhancing your Legendary Gems with additional levels of power. Naturally, should you fail in your challenge, the treasure you offered will be as forfeit as your life. A pity, but to be expected. Buyers should always beware.

Treacherous Shores Lie Beyond

- Greyhollow Hungers -

Are you prepared to dare the dangerous coastal forests of Greyhollow Island? Will you prevail a true victor over the challenges of Set Dungeons? Or do you simply pine for the newest Season, eager to once again begin your journey anew? Share your thoughts below, that I might welcome you to your end with open arms. I do so enjoy being the guide to your doom.

Best of luck, nephalem.

First Look - Season 5

Posted by DHAdmin on December 22nd, 2015 at 1:57 pm

Blizzard Quote [source]

Patch 2.4.0 is live on the PTR for testing and headed soon to live realms, stuffed to the brim with great new features for Diablo III. For our Seasonal heroes out there, we’ve prepared this guide to Season 5 so you can roll right into a fresh start on day one.

Several changes are coming to Seasons with Season 5, including the removal of Season-exclusive Legendary Items, the introduction of new and varied rewards, and a whole new feature in the form of Season Rebirth. Let’s check it out!

Table of Contents:

Season Journey Updates
New and Updated Conquests
New Cosmetic Rewards
Season Rebirth
FAQ

Season Journey Updates

The Season Journey feature was introduced in Patch 2.3.0 for Season 4, and we’ve made a few updates in time for Season 5 to begin. The first major change is a direct response to popular player feedback, as we have removed Seasonal Legendaries from the game. All new Legendaries included in Patch 2.4.0 will be made immediately available to be found by players regardless of Season participation.

However, we still want there to be item-based rewards as part of the Season experience. We’ve introduced Haedrig’s Gift, a special bundle of Set items you’ll receive on completion of certain stages of the Season Journey. Starting in Chapter 3, three of the objectives in the Season Journey will reward you one of these bags, each containing two pieces of one of your class sets.

By the time you complete all of Chapter 4 of the Season Journey, you should be fully decked out in a full class set! Which set you receive will rotate with each Season and depends on which class of hero you open the gifts on. Each Haedrig’s Gift will be mailed to you and can be retrieved by opening the in-game mail icon in the bottom left corner of the screen.

Be careful, though; each step of the Season Journey will only reward one Haedrig’s Gift (for a total of three bags per Season/one full set of gear), regardless of how many characters you might play in a given Season. Make sure to claim these gifts on the character you want to receive their set!

The class sets offered in Season 5 are:

Barbarian: Might of the Earth
Crusader: Thorns of the Invoker
Demon Hunter: The Shadow’s Mantle
Monk: Monkey King’s Garb
Witch Doctor: Raiment of the Jade Harvester
Wizard: Firebird’s Finery

New and Updated Conquests

Conquests continue to be a staple of the Seasonal experience, and we’ve updated some of our existing Conquests and added some new ones based on features included in Patch 2.4.0.

If you’re looking for an entirely new challenge, you should try tackling the Masters of the Universe / Masters of Sets Conquest! Designed around the new Set Dungeon feature, this Conquest requires you to complete 8 different Set Dungeons of your choosing.

The Thrill / Super Human Conquests previously asked players to push the limits of their gear without equipping a class set. With the introduction of more powerful two-piece sets, we’ve decided to up the ante on this challenge by tweaking the rules. In Season 5, you’ll need to complete these Conquests without using a single set item. Save up those Ancients and well-rolled Legendaries—you’re going to need them!

We’ll continue rotating through different challenging Conquests in Season 5, and you can expect to see the return of a few favorites. Sprinter / Speed Racer makes a triumphant return, as well as Avarice / Avaritia. Finally, Years of War / Dynasty has been updated for the latest levels of class power, now requiring Greater Rift Level 55 Solo to complete.

New Cosmetic Rewards

Starting with Season 5 and moving forward, we will provide a variety of cosmetic rewards, and what type of reward you will receive will rotate with each new Season.

In addition to the usual exclusive Portrait Frames and pieces of the Conqueror’s Transmogrification set, you will also receive either a pair of wings, an exclusive pennant, or a non-combat pet. For Season 5, players who reach level 70 will receive the Wickerman pet.

Season Rebirth

Last, but certainly not least, is the addition of a totally new Season-exclusive feature called the Season Rebirth. This allows you to take any non-Seasonal character you have and instantly transform them into a Seasonal character, ready to jump straight into the action on day one.

Any of the gear or items equipped on your character or in your inventory will be automatically stripped from the hero and mailed to your non-Seasonal characters, similar to the rollover process that occurs with your stash space when a Season ends. In addition, your character will be reduced to level 1, ready to start the process as though they were freshly created!

Accomplishments like achievements, crafting recipes learned, artisan levels, or unlocked stash tabs will be left behind as part of your non-Seasonal progression. However, personal records like your character name or time played will be retained and carry on through your Seasonal adventures.

There are a few things to keep in mind when using Season Rebirth:

Gear mailed to your non-Seasonal characters will only be available for reclamation for up to 30 days from the time it is mailed!
You may only Rebirth up to three characters per Season.
Hardcore characters who have fallen are not eligible to use the Season Rebirth feature.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When does Season 5 start?

A: Season 5 will begin Friday, January 15 at 5:00 p.m. PDT in North America, 5:00 p.m. CEST in Europe, and 5:00 p.m. KST in Asia. For assistance with time zones, click here.

Q: How long will Season 5 last?

A: Starting with Season 5, all seasons going forward will last approximately three months.

Q: When are the non-Seasonal Leaderboards being wiped?

A: Non-Seasonal Leaderboards are tied to what we call “Eras.” We currently anticipate the next wipe to coincide with the end of Season 4, although this may not be the case for future Seasons.

Q: Will Seasons be coming to console?

A: Some features on console are best designed for that platform, and the same is true for the PC version of the game. A large part of the fun of Seasons is the entire community rerolling heroes together at the same time. Because the offline and disconnected nature of console does not support this style of play, we do not currently have plans to implement Seasons on console.

Q: What will happen to older Seasonal records?

A: As we continue on into additional Seasons, we will no longer be able to store some personal Seasonal records. While Season 5 will store your personal bests for all Seasons to date, at some point in a future Season, we will begin removing old personal bests, beginning with Season 1. This will be true regardless of your personal participation in previous Seasons. We will have more information on this change at a later date.

Seasonal Leaderboard records are not being cleared, and will remain archived both in game and on our website.

Are You Ready?

We’re stoked to start Season 5, and we hope you’re as excited as we are to jump straight in with us on day one! With tons of class set revisions, oodles of new items, and the new Set Dungeon feature, this is bound to be our most exciting Season yet!

Have you already picked which class you plan to roll in Season 5? Do you plan to dust off an old favorite using the Season Rebirth feature? What are your goals for this Season Journey, or your strategy for the day-one rush? Let us know below—and good luck in the new Season!

Patch 2.4.0 Preview: Items and Sets

Posted by DHAdmin on December 18th, 2015 at 11:07 am

Blizzard Quote [source]

Patch 2.4.0 is currently on the Public Test Realm, and we’re introducing over fifty new Legendary items and powers for you to collect. Here’s a first look at some of the incredible new loot coming soon in Patch 2.4.0!

Please keep in mind that the PTR is still active, and there may be more changes in store before these items arrive on live servers for Patch 2.4.0. Keep an eye on our latest PTR Patch Notes for more information.

Updated Sets

Several class sets are receiving significant revisions in Patch 2.4.0, including a couple that are expanding from 4 to 6 pieces, like the Thorns of the Invoker and The Shadow’s Mantle.

Other sets, like Armor of Akkhan or Firebird’s Finery, are receiving a bit more power to make them more comparable to other high-performance options.

While some sets are simply receiving adjustments, like the addition of new skills to their bonuses or adjustments to damage values, others are being completely redesigned.

New and Updated Legendary Items

Patch 2.4.0 will also have a ton of new and updated Legendary items. While some are designed to augment the class sets we’ve redesigned or revisited, there are plenty aimed to enhance class skills that previously lacked complementary Legendaries.

That’s not all—for the players who want to seek power beyond 6-piece sets, we’ve got just the thing for you. The revisited Legacy of Nightmares (or the “no set” set, as we like to call it) allows you to make your wildest build dreams a reality, boosting damage and defense for every Ancient item equipped as long as no other set bonuses are equipped.

Seasonal Rewards

As you may have heard, we’re removing Season-exclusive Legendaries from the game. However, there are still plenty of rewards in store for those of you who enjoy starting fresh! By the time you complete Chapter 4 of the Season Journey, you will be guaranteed a full six-piece set for your class.

The featured class sets for Season 5

You will receive two pieces at a time via Haedrig’s Gift, a new reward mailed directly to you after completing certain milestones in the Season Journey. But be careful - each gift can only be earned once, so choose wisely when you open these precious packages! The items you receive will be determined by the class who opens them.

In addition to guaranteed class sets, we’re continuing our tradition of rewarding cosmetics for Seasonal participation. Take a peek at the unique pet and portrait frames you can earn in Season 5!

These items (and plenty more) are headed your way in Patch 2.4.0, but you can test them right now by joining us on the PTR. We’ll see you there!