Season 7 of Diablo 4 brings massive balance changes for all classes, revamps the loot system, and partially brings back the witch doctor from Diablo 3.
Diablo 4 is getting a huge update with Season 7, bringing massive changes for all classes. The massive Patch 2.1.0 makes sweeping balance adjustments that are likely to have a lasting impact on gameplay and the meta.
We have summarized the most important highlights from the Diablo 4 patch notes for you.
Cross-class changes: more dynamics, more damage
Blizzard has taken the feedback from the community seriously and revised numerous abilities of all classes. Many skills now have higher damage values, shorter cooldowns, and new effects. Legendary aspects and unique items have also been customized to make builds more flexible and powerful.
Table of Contents
General Changes
- Ultimates: Many ultimates have been buffed, with increased damage or added effects.
- Legendary Aspects: Numerous aspects have been rebalanced or given additional bonuses.
- Tempering & Masterworking: New recipes and adjustments provide better options for fine-tuning equipment.
Witchcraft powers and the secret comeback of the witch doctor
Season 7 is all about witchcraft powers – and thus indirectly brings back the witch doctor from Diablo 3. Even though the class is not playable, we can look forward to skills that are strongly reminiscent of the witch doctor.
Blizzard has already presented two of these new powers:
- Poison Frog minion: Summons a frog that poisons enemies. If it dies, it explodes, dealing area damage to enemies. At rank 5, it attracts enemies and taunts them.
- Firebat Minion: Summons a swarm of bats that attack enemies and deal fire damage. At higher ranks, they stun their opponents.
A total of 25 different witch powers are said to exist, which should provide a lot of fresh wind.
Loot revision
Blizzard is responding to criticism of the previous loot system and giving the ancestral items (inherited items) a major upgrade:
- The drop chance for ancestral items will be increased.
- The more major affixes a unique item has, the better the roll of its aspects.
- Ancestral items should generally have higher rolls on the aspects to more easily fill the Codex of Power.
- New:Amulets and rings can now be crafted from gem fragments – with a chance of achieving Ancestral quality.
Classes in detail: Changes for barbarians, mages, and more
Blizzard is making significant balance changes in Season 7. Every class will receive significant buffs, nerfs, and revisions to skills and legendary aspects.
Spiritborn / Geistgeborener
- Thunderspike (Enhanced Thunderspike): Vigor generation increased from 5 to 7.
- Stinger: Damage increased from 70 percent to 77 percent.
- Razor Wings: Maximum active Razor Wings increased from 12 to 15
- Concussive Stomp (Enhanced Concussive Stomp): Maximum barrier increased from 30 percent to 40 percent of maximum health.
- Payback (Invasive Payback): Cooldown reduced from 15 to 8 seconds.
- Velocity: Now generatesVigor while moving regardless of damage taken.
Barbarian
- Hammer of the Ancients: Damage increased from 80 percent to 90 percent. Critical hits now scale more with charged fury.
- Whirlwind: Damage increased from 18 percent to 22 percent.
- Iron Maelstrom: Cooldown is now more effectively reduced by weapon switching, while damage has been adjusted.
- Passive: Walking Arsenal: Damage increased by 15 percent per weapon type used, with improved crowd control bonus.
Sorcerer
- Ice Shard: Damage against frozen enemies has been doubled.
- Frost Nova: Now not only makes enemies vulnerable, but also increases damage taken by 15 percent.
- Inferno: Now makes enemies continuously vulnerable for 5 seconds.
- Legendary: Aspect of Splintering Energy: Critical damage now scales better, making lightning spells significantly more deadly.
Necromancer
- Bone Spear: Increases damage and makes enemies vulnerable, with additional lifesteal when overwhelming.
- Army of the Dead: The damage of the summoned skeletons and golems has been reduced, but there is better synergy with other skills.
- Bloodwave: Damage reduced by half, but more control with added knockback.
Druid
- Shred: Significantly increased poison damage and now hits multiple times.
- Grizzly Rage: Damage increased by 60 percent with an additional knockdown effect.
- Blood Howl: Now gives bonus damage while in werewolf form.
Rogue
- Dance of Blades: Increased chance of a critical hit and more damage.
- Death Trap: Enemies are now pulled directly into the trap, making it much more effective.
- Rain of Arrows: Instant damage with knockdown and massively increased damage scaling.
- Passive: Precision: Critical chance is now available faster.
Bug fixes and quality of life
In addition to the balance changes, Blizzard is also implementing numerous bug fixes and quality of life improvements:
- Monster density; in certain areas has been increased.
- Legendary items drop more frequently and with better affix values.
- Tooltip adjustments provide more clarity on effects and bonuses.
- Infernal Compasses can now be stacked to make the infernal mode more enjoyable.
With this massive patch, Blizzard is breathing new life into Diablo 4. All classes can expect major changes. If you’ve given Diablo 4 a break, it might be worth checking back on January 21, 2024, when the new season begins.
