Blizzard has just pulled the curtain back on what’s in store for Diablo 4’s upcoming season. While it doesn’t have a name yet, Season 7 is set to start on January 21. However, players won’t have to wait that long to get a taste of what’s to come, as the patch 2.1 Public Test Realm (PTR) will be rolled out much earlier.
Swooping in on Tuesday, December 3, the 2.1 PTR will be available for PC users on BattleNet. What sets this PTR apart from previous ones is that it will feature seasonal content for the first time, expanding beyond the standard gameplay adjustments.
This new season dives deep into theme of witchcraft, focusing on honing those mystical skills during battles. It’s akin to the Vampiric powers from Season 2, with characters able to unlock special abilities that will only last for the season. A neat twist is that some of these abilities can only be activated by discovering and interacting with specific altars in dungeons.
The main foes to watch out for this season are the Headrotten. Defeating them drops Restless Rot, a crucial component to unlocking fresh powers for your characters. The witchcraft abilities are upgradable, and Blizzard has made this process smoother than it was back in Season 2. You’ll be able to wield five standard powers alongside one distinct power.
Occult Gems, which are unique and time-limited, make a return as well. These can be embedded into your jewelry and come with their own witchcraft-related abilities.
Building up your reputation with the coven links back to Whispers, providing another avenue for grinding this season. You’ll also encounter the Headrotten within Headhunt zones that resemble Helltide areas, which double up as Whisper spots.
Moreover, Blizzard has streamlined some aspects of the Whispers grind. Enhancements around the Tree of Whispers include more services and easier navigation. The standout feature here is the Raven of the Tree, allowing you to hand in your Whispers without trekking back to the Tree. Instead, they’ll be available in Headhunt zones.
With the 2.1 update, there’s a noteworthy change coming to Ultimate skills. Once an Ultimate hits rank 5, it gets a significant power-up or improved damage scaling. You can amplify these enhancements further by selecting complementary skills in your skill tree and opting for the right nodes in the Paragon board.
In broader terms, many game classes are set to receive buffs. These changes stem partly from adjustments to some passive skills. While the Spiritborn isn’t technically getting nerfed, certain bugs made it stronger than it should have been in Season 6. Fixing these issues will balance out its strength.
A fresh and exciting addition is the Armory. This feature allows you to save and switch between multiple loadouts for your characters without shelling out Gold. Each loadout can have different Paragon boards, offering more flexibility. You’ll find the Armory conveniently located in several places, including Sanctuary towns, near the Tree of Whispers, training areas, and inside the Citadel.
Like clockwork with new seasons, the loot pool will be enriched with new Uniques, while some existing items will be refined for consistency. Expect new Legendary Aspects too, some of which will enhance the power of Ultimates.
For those who missed it, there’s a livestream you can watch via the embedded link in this story. However, you’ll need to hold tight for the patch notes, which are slated for release on Wednesday, November 27.
