Stay up-to-date with all the latest news, updates, and rumors surrounding Ashes of Creation right here on our dedicated news section.

Ashes of Creation

Barbarian

Druid

Necromancer

Rogue

Sorcerer

Spiritborn


<p>Blizzard is changing its approach to balance updates in Diablo 4. Mid-season patches are officially gone, starting with Season 8. Instead, the devs will take a faster, more reactive approach to balancing the game.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What&#8217;s Changing?</h2>



<ul>
<li>There will be no longer any mid-season patches.</li>



<li>Extreme outliers (overpowered/broken or underperforming builds) will be addressed <strong>early in the season</strong>.</li>



<li>Seasonal powers that aren&#8217;t strong enough will be buffed sooner, rather than waiting for the mid-season update.</li>
</ul>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" src="https://wp-prod.icy-veins.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Snimka-obrazovky-2025-03-15-o-19.51.31.webp" alt="" class="wp-image 61385"/></figure>



<p>The planned changes will result in quicker adjustments and faster buffs/nerfs, keeping the game more dynamic throughout each season.</p>



<p>Do you think this is a good move for Diablo 4? Let us know!</p>


Diablo 4 Ditches Mid-Season Patches—Here’s What’s Changing


<p>We have all been there. You are at the <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/guides/tree-of-whispers-guide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tree of Whispers</a> and your friends have already headed to the next headhunt. Unfortunately for us right now, there is no way to easily port to our party members, unless we return to one of the main towns. Good news: those days are almost over!</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full has-custom-border"><img decoding="async" src="https://wp-prod.icy-veins.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/TeleportToPlayerD4.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image 61380" style="border-radius:8px"/></figure>



<p>Right now, on the PTR, you can teleport directly to any party member without needing to go back to town first to use their portals. Just <strong>right-click their icon in the party menu</strong> and select <strong>&#8220;Teleport to Party Member.&#8221;</strong> No more running back and forth, no more portal FOMO!</p>



<p>This simple but much-needed quality-of-life change will officially arrive with Season 8, making grouping up and switching activity with friends easier than ever. We cannot wait to get this next season! </p>


Teleport to Friends Anywhere in Season 8, No Need for Town Portals!


<p>Season 8 is bringing changes to the <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/barbarian/builds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Barbarian</a> class, reinforcing its core fantasy: hitting enemies with big weapons. The focus this season is on making weapon-based attacks feel stronger and impactful, reducing reliance on the class&#8217; magical elements.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">New Unique &amp; Aspect: Mighty Throw Gets a Power Boost</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full has-custom-border"><img decoding="async" src="https://wp.icy-veins.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Barbarian-New-Unique-and-Aspect.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image 61373" style="border-radius:8px"/></figure>



<p>A new unique &amp; aspect will improve the skill <a class="icy-gtnbrg-link" href="#"><span class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip"><img decoding="async" data-tooltip-name="Mighty Throw" class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip-img" src="https://wp.icy-veins.com/static/d4/latest/images/icons/2DUI_Skills_Barbarian_108.webp" alt="Mighty Throw"><span class="tooltip-spell-name d4-text">Mighty Throw</span></span></a>, making it a devastating but less frequently attack.</p>



<ul>
<li><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-unique-item-color">Bane of Ahjed-Den</mark> (Unique Gloves)
<ul>
<li>Boosts Mighty Throw damage with instant Fire damage every 12 seconds.</li>



<li>Will deal 400-600% increased damage when detonating.</li>



<li>Affixes: Adds cooldown reduction, Fury regeneration, and critical strike damage.</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-legendary-item-color">Aspect of Delayed Extinction</mark>
<ul>
<li>Converts Cooldown Reduction into multiplicative damage for Mighty Throw and Steel Grasp.</li>



<li>Additional 125-250% damage boost.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>



<p>Both this unique and the aspect will interact with each other, making <a class="icy-gtnbrg-link" href="#"><span class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip"><img decoding="async" data-tooltip-name="Mighty Throw" class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip-img" src="https://wp.icy-veins.com/static/d4/latest/images/icons/2DUI_Skills_Barbarian_108.webp" alt="Mighty Throw"><span class="tooltip-spell-name d4-text">Mighty Throw</span></span></a> a very heavy final hit on your enemies. While you will not be able to activate Mighty Throw that often, it will be a great finishing move. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full has-custom-border"><img decoding="async" src="https://wp-prod.icy-veins.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Barbarian.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image 61376" style="border-radius:8px"/></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Skill Updates: Heavy-Hitting Core Skills Get Buffed</h2>



<ul>
<li><a class="icy-gtnbrg-link" href="#"><span class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip"><img decoding="async" data-tooltip-name="Double Swing" class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip-img" src="https://wp.icy-veins.com/static/d4/latest/images/icons/2DUI_Skills_Barbarian_23.webp" alt="Double Swing"><span class="tooltip-spell-name d4-text">Double Swing</span></span></a>: <a class="icy-gtnbrg-link" href="#"><span class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip"><img decoding="async" class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip-img" src="https://wp.icy-veins.com/static/d4/latest/images/icons/2DInventory_Items_Gloves_Unique_4.webp" alt="Twin Strikes"><span class="tooltip-spell-name" data-item-type="Gloves" data-item-quality="unique">Twin Strikes</span></span></a> unique now allows additional hits for 3 seconds instead of just one boosted hit.</li>



<li><a class="icy-gtnbrg-link" href="#"><span class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip"><img decoding="async" data-tooltip-name="Whirlwind" class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip-img" src="https://wp.icy-veins.com/static/d4/latest/images/icons/2DUI_Skills_Barbarian_39.webp" alt="Whirlwind"><span class="tooltip-spell-name d4-text">Whirlwind</span></span></a>: Base damage increased from 24% to 32%, and Whirlwind explosions (<a class="icy-gtnbrg-link" href="#"><span class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip"><img decoding="async" class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip-img" src="https://wp.icy-veins.com/static/d4/latest/images/icons/2DInventory_Items_Gloves_211.webp" alt="Gohr's Devastating Grips"><span class="tooltip-spell-name" data-item-type="Gloves" data-item-quality="unique">Gohr&#8217;s Devastating Grips</span></span></a>) now scale with Whirlwind&#8217;s damage.</li>



<li><a class="icy-gtnbrg-link" href="#"><span class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip"><img decoding="async" data-tooltip-name="Steel Grasp" class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip-img" src="https://wp.icy-veins.com/static/d4/latest/images/icons/2DUI_Skills_Barbarian_100.webp" alt="Steel Grasp"><span class="tooltip-spell-name d4-text">Steel Grasp</span></span></a>: Damage increased by 400%.</li>



<li><a class="icy-gtnbrg-link" href="#"><span class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip"><img decoding="async" data-tooltip-name="Ground Stomp" class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip-img" src="https://wp.icy-veins.com/static/d4/latest/images/icons/2DUI_Skills_Barbarian_6.webp" alt="Ground Stomp"><span class="tooltip-spell-name d4-text">Ground Stomp</span></span></a>: Base damage nearly doubled (80% → 140%), though <a class="icy-gtnbrg-link" href="#"><span class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip"><img decoding="async" data-tooltip-name="Tactical Ground Stomp" class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip-img" src="https://wp.icy-veins.com/static/d4/latest/images/icons/2DUI_Skills_Barbarian_6.webp" alt="Tactical Ground Stomp"><span class="tooltip-spell-name d4-text">Tactical Ground Stomp</span></span></a>&#8216;s bonus damage has been toned down.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Legendary Aspects and Unique Items Balancing</h2>



<ul>
<li>Whirlwind Aspects: <a class="icy-gtnbrg-link" href="#"><span class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip"><img decoding="async" data-tooltip-name="Aspect of the Dire Whirlwind" class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip-img" src="https://wp.icy-veins.com/static/d4/latest/images/aspects/offensive.webp" alt="Aspect of the Dire Whirlwind"><span class="tooltip-spell-name d4-codex-text">Aspect of the Dire Whirlwind</span></span></a> will offer more critical chance, and <a class="icy-gtnbrg-link" href="#"><span class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip"><img decoding="async" data-tooltip-name="Dust Devil's Aspect" class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip-img" src="https://wp.icy-veins.com/static/d4/latest/images/aspects/offensive.webp" alt="Dust Devil's Aspect"><span class="tooltip-spell-name d4-codex-text">Dust Devil&#8217;s Aspect</span></span></a> receives an additional power: hitting enemies with Dust Devils increases damage from all other sources by 25% for 3 seconds.</li>



<li><a class="icy-gtnbrg-link" href="#"><span class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip"><img decoding="async" class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip-img" src="https://wp.icy-veins.com/static/d4/latest/images/icons/2DInventory_Swords_42.webp" alt="The Third Blade"><span class="tooltip-spell-name" data-item-type="Sword" data-item-quality="unique">The Third Blade</span></span></a> received an update. 
<ul>
<li>Previous: Your Weapon Mastery Skills are now also Core Skills that have no Cooldowns but cost Fury, dealing 50 &#8211; 70% of normal damage. Their Fury costs are reduced by 5 for any additional Charges the Skill would have had.</li>



<li>Now: Your Weapon Mastery Skills are now also Core Skills that have 100% Cooldown Reduction but cost Fury, dealing 50 &#8211; 70% of normal damage.</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li><a class="icy-gtnbrg-link" href="#"><span class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip"><img decoding="async" class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip-img" src="https://wp.icy-veins.com/static/d4/latest/images/icons/2DInventory_Rings_91.webp" alt="Ring of Red Furor"><span class="tooltip-spell-name" data-item-type="Ring" data-item-quality="unique">Ring of Red Furor</span></span></a>: Bonus critical strikes now apply to all non-Channeled Core &amp; Weapon Mastery skills.</li>
</ul>



<p>With these updates, Season 8 is looking to be a strong return to the Barbarian&#8217;s roots. Current Season 8 PTR testing shows that Barbarian is very powerful! If no drastic changes are made, we can expect great melee damage, devastating weapon strikes, and new popular high-damage builds.  </p>


Season 8 Brings Back the True Barbarian: Heavy Weapons, Huge Damage


<p>It seems while Season 8 is simplifying endgame boss summoning it&#8217;s also slowing it down. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A New Dungeon Reset Angle</h2>



<p>One of the better changes that arrived to Diablo 4 was Blizzard removing the requirement to reset the boss dungeon after completing a run. This sped up boss runs and removed unnecessary busywork. However, the boss are slowed down once again on the Season 8 PTR, due to the new chest mechanic. </p>



<p>After a boss is defeated, all players have a chest they can open if they have the key. However, as pointed out by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/NoRulez112/">NoRulez112</a>, it seems there&#8217;s a 20-second timer during which you can&#8217;t re-summon the boss, and it starts after the last player has opened/interacted with the Horde chest. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-reddit wp-block-embed-reddit"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="reddit-embed-bq" style="height:316px" ><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/diablo4/comments/1jbj42i/boss_summoning_altar_doesnt_need_a_20_second/">Boss Summoning Altar doesn&#39;t need a 20 second Respawn Cooldown after everyone opens the chest&#8230;..</a><br> by<a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/NoRulez112/">u/NoRulez112</a> in<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/diablo4/">diablo4</a></blockquote><script async src="https://embed.reddit.com/widgets.js" charset="UTF-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<p>This adds up pretty quickly when players are running the same boss over and over for some specific loot. Which is most boss runs.</p>



<p>It&#8217;s certainly important that players have enough time to open their chests. However, it&#8217;s also important players can&#8217;t grief each other. And, even if everything goes smoothly, that unnecessary waiting is removed as much as possible. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">It&#8217;s the PTR</h2>



<p>This is still the PTR, of course, and there&#8217;s still plenty of time to change the timer. Hopefully, Blizzard can find a good middle-ground solution that helps both players who are slower to open their chests, as well as those speedy farmers! </p>


Endgame Boss Summoning Woes Return: Altar Cooldowns Annoy Players


<p>Season 8 is almost here, and it comes with various new systems; <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/news/diablo-4-season-8-official-preview-belial-returns-boss-powers-endgame-boss-rework-and-much-more/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">from Incursions and Boss Powers</a> to the new grind that is Spectral Ash. But as the community thoroughly tests the season on the PTR, the overall sentiment is mixed. Even though the ideas behind these new mechanics are quite good, poor pacing, accessibility issues, and reduced rewards are leaving many players frustrated.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Incursions &amp; Boss Powers</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large has-custom-border"><img decoding="async" src="https://bnetcmsus-a.akamaihd.net/cms/page_media/KK5DEUWHKAG01741131944191.gif" alt="" style="border-radius:8px"/></figure>



<p>Incursions are a new seasonal mechanic that spawn randomly across the map. Clearing them grants Spectral Ash, which you will need to upgrade your powers. The mechanic is easy enough but lacks engagement, and progression feels tied more to repetition than actual challenge.</p>



<p>Boss Powers are split into Main and Minor powers. You can equip one Main Power and three Minor Powers, most of which are locked behind higher-difficulty bosses or endgame content. This means casual players miss out on the fun, and the early game feels underwhelming. Most early powers will feel situational or weak until you hit <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/guides/world-tier-difficulty/#torment_difficulties" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Torment difficulty</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Leveling Feels Slower Than Ever</h2>



<p>One of the bigger changes is how much slower progression feels. XP gains are lower, loot drops are nerfed, and blue/yellow gear still feels irrelevant. Legendary drops are also less frequent compared to earlier seasons, which makes early game progression feel even more like a grind than a journey.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Scaling and Balance Issues in Solo Play</h2>



<p>Difficulty scaling has also become a &#8216;pain point&#8217;. Group play still feels manageable, but solo players are going to struggle, especially in higher Torment tiers where boss HP skyrockets. The new difficulty curve makes non-meta builds far less viable, and players who are not running top-tier setups might feel stuck for much longer.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Apparition Events and Spectral Ash Farming</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full has-custom-border"><img decoding="async" src="https://wp.icy-veins.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Screenshot036-min.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image 61356" style="border-radius:8px"/></figure>



<p>Spectral Ash, the resource required for power upgrades, only comes from Apparition Events. Unfortunately, these events are slow, repetitive, and not very rewarding. They also do not contribute to Whispers, XP, or gear progression, which makes them feel disconnected from the rest of the game loop!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Masterworking and Glyph Progression Are Now Gated Harder</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/guides/masterworking-guide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Masterw</a><a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/guides/masterworking-guide/">orking</a> also hits a wall unless you are clearing Torment 4, which is currently the only reliable way to farm <a class="icy-gtnbrg-link" href="#"><span class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip"><img decoding="async" class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip-img" src="https://wp.icy-veins.com/static/d4/latest/images/icons/2DInventory_Materials_38.webp" alt="Obducite"><span class="tooltip-spell-name" data-item-type="Crafting Material" data-item-quality="rare">Obducite</span></span></a> &#8211; a required material for full upgrades, because drop rates are simply not worth it in lower difficulty. At the same time, <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/guides/paragon-glyph-guide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">glyph</a> upgrades beyond Level 70-80 are anyway gated behind much harder content, pushing players toward extreme optimization or heavy grind just to keep up.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Accessibility Also Remains a Big Concern</h2>



<p>Several of the most powerful systems are locked behind endgame content. That would be fine if early and mid-game progression felt a bit more rewarding, but currently it does not. Many players are <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/news/diablo-iv-is-going-to-be-way-harder-in-season-8-massive-pit-difficulty-increase/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stuck in Torment 3</a>, unable to access important upgrades or experiment with powers in meaningful ways.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What Players Want to See Changed</h2>



<p>If you spend even a bit of time on the PTR or browse community forums and social media, it becomes clear what most players want to see changed in Season 8:</p>



<ul>
<li>Give players access to stronger powers earlier</li>



<li>Improve drop quality for Minor Powers</li>



<li>Make Spectral Ash farming less grindy</li>



<li>Reduce the extreme scaling of boss HP in solo play</li>



<li>Rebalance XP and loot so early progression feels more satisfying</li>



<li>Introduce better incentives for casual and mid-core players</li>
</ul>



<p>In the end, and even though <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/news/patch-2-2-0-campfire-chat-recap-march-7th/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Season 8</a> introduces some interesting mechanics on paper, the pacing, progression, and accessibility seem to need a bit more work. If Boss Powers are the highlight feature, players need to be able to access and enjoy them without grinding for hours in Torment. Until that happens, this season risks feeling more punishing than rewarding. </p>



<p>And that is without even getting into the debate around Torment 4 being required to finish the final chapter of the <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/guides/latest-season-journey-for-diablo-4/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Season Journey</a> &#8211; a whole other topic that has sparked plenty of discussion in the community.</p>


Why Diablo 4 Season 8 Has Players Worried


<p>Some players have noticed that the newly introduced Unique items in the latest “Campfire Chat” and on the current Public Test Realm are missing their distinctive artwork/icons. Unique Items are traditionally known for their special design in Diablo to make them even more special and exciting.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://preview.redd.it/diablo-iv-uniques-and-lack-of-visual-difference-v0-nl3sbdqqubne1.png?width=353&amp;format=png&amp;auto=webp&amp;s=a139324af7ff10704a2a06eb7c71184ca6da64e8" alt=""/></figure>



<p>As <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/myheroscape20/">myheroscape20</a> spotted, the art/icon for the new Gathlen&#8217;s Birthright helm is the same as the currently live one for <a class="icy-gtnbrg-link" href="#"><span class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip"><img decoding="async" class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip-img" src="https://wp.icy-veins.com/static/d4/latest/images/icons/2DInventory_Items_Helms_169.webp" alt="Vasily's Prayer"><span class="tooltip-spell-name" data-item-type="Helm" data-item-quality="unique">Vasily&#8217;s Prayer</span></span></a>! </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">An Official Response</h2>



<p>On Reddit Adam Fletcher quickly clarified that these are still being worked on and art isn’t final on PTR</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-reddit wp-block-embed-reddit"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="reddit-embed-bq" ><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/diablo4/comments/1j5ziw5/comment/mgl4oql/">Comment</a><br> by<a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/myheroscape20/">u/myheroscape20</a> from discussion<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/diablo4/comments/1j5ziw5/diablo_iv_uniques_and_lack_of_visual_difference/"></a><br> in<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/diablo4/">diablo4</a></blockquote><script async src="https://embed.reddit.com/widgets.js" charset="UTF-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<p>It will only be a temporary issue. This is a standard step in the development process and similar situations occurred during older season PTRs as well.</p>



<p><strong>The Importance of Art<br></strong><br>With its over 130 different Unique Items, many of them build defining, it is crucial to have distinct art design for each one, to help differentiate them from each other. Each item’s artwork often reflects its lore, purpose, and power, adding a layer of depth and immersion to the game. This attention to detail very often leads to even more excitement once obtaining a new Unique.</p>



<p>Are you excited for these small details? Cause we are!&nbsp;</p>


New Season 8 Uniques Getting Their Own New Art


<p>Season 8 is currently in testing on the Diablo 4 PTR, and players are already noticing a huge issue. <strong>Seasonal boss powers are dealing billions of damage, while fully optimized skill builds struggle to keep up.</strong></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Huge Damage Gap Between Skills and Boss Powers</h2>



<p>One Sorcerer player shared their experience on Reddit (see below) after testing an Ice Shards build with 24 skill ranks, full crit chance, and capped defenses. The build dealt millions of damage per hit and felt solid overall, but it was completely overshadowed by <a href="https://wp-prod.icy-veins.com/custom_guides/the-beast-in-the-ice-boss-guide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the Beast in the Ice</a> boss power, which outclassed everything by a massive margin.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full has-custom-border"><img decoding="async" src="https://wp-prod.icy-veins.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/image-8.png" alt="" class="wp-image 61245" style="border-radius:8px"/></figure>



<p><em>&#8220;No item or perfect gear roll could make my actual skills hit for even 1% of the damage that power does.&#8221;</em></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">&#8220;Why Should I Even Care About My Build?&#8221;</h2>



<p>That one comment sums up the core frustration. <strong>Many players feel that if borrowed powers like this deal such absurd damage, then actual builds start to feel irrelevant.</strong> The post started a bigger conversation around build identity, power scaling, and balance.</p>



<p>Several players also pointed out that this issue is not unique to just one class or power. It is happening across the board, making entire builds feel like they exist just to trigger a seasonal effect that actually does the real damage.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Fears of a &#8220;One-Build Meta&#8221; in Season 8</h2>



<p>Some even compared the situation to the infamous Barbarian meta from earlier seasons, where one overpowered mechanic completely took over endgame content. If nothing changes, the fear is that every build in Season 8 will just become a &#8220;boss power build&#8221;, no matter the class or playstyle.</p>



<p>One player said: <em>“We are not building around our skills anymore. We are just scaling the seasonal power and pressing a random button to make it go off.&#8221;</em></p>



<p>While most of us agree that seasonal mechanics should feel impactful, there is clearly a growing concern that the current balance undermines the core gameplay and build variety. <strong>Some are hopeful, like us, that Blizzard will adjust the damage scaling before Season 8 goes live, while others worry this is just the direction the game is headed.</strong></p>



<p>With feedback now flowing in from the PTR, many in the community are stressing the importance to tone down the seasonal powers to the devs and make sure builds remain fun, rewarding, and skill-driven. Not just reliant on one flashy effect! </p>



<p>If you want, you can read the full community discussion on Reddit: </p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-reddit wp-block-embed-reddit"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="reddit-embed-bq" style="height:316px" ><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/diablo4/comments/1jaywgi/damage_disparity_between_skills_and_season_8/">Damage disparity between skills and season 8 borrowed power is way too high.</a><br> by<a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/constablecrab/">u/constablecrab</a> in<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/diablo4/">diablo4</a></blockquote><script async src="https://embed.reddit.com/widgets.js" charset="UTF-8"></script>
</div></figure>


Diablo 4 Players Raise Concerns Over Too Strong Boss Powers in Season 8


<p>Season 8 is bringing some updates to the <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/guides/spiritborn-leveling-guide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Spiritborn class</a>. While the developers believe the Spiritborn to be in a good space on the class ladder, they want to build more playstyle diversity, and look to improve under-used skills like <a class="icy-gtnbrg-link" href="#"><span class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip"><img decoding="async" data-tooltip-name="Rushing Claw" class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip-img" src="https://wp.icy-veins.com/static/d4/latest/images/icons/2DUI_Skills_Spiritborn_84.webp" alt="Rushing Claw"><span class="tooltip-spell-name d4-text">Rushing Claw</span></span></a>. To do so, they are introducing a powerful new Unique Amulet and Legendary Aspect.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">New Unique and Aspect</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full has-custom-border"><img decoding="async" src="https://wp-prod.icy-veins.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Spiritborn_stream.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image 61217" style="border-radius:8px"/></figure>



<p>The new <mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-unique-item-color">Sunbird&#8217;s Gorget</mark> amulet greatly improves <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/guides/storm-feathers-status-effect/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Storm Feather</a> builds, forming a Firestorm around you when picking up a Storm Feather. Each additional feather broadens the effect, giving good synergy with <strong>Eagle and Jaguar</strong> builds.</p>



<ul>
<li><strong>Affixes</strong>: +30% Resistance to All Elements, Movement Speed, and Passive Skill ranks.</li>



<li><strong>Unique Power</strong>: 
<ul>
<li>Picking up a Storm Feather forms a firestorm around you for 8 seconds, dealing 150-300% Fire damage every 0.5 seconds.</li>



<li>Every 5 additional Storm Feathers you pick up grows the firestorm, increasing its damage by 100%[x] but not refreshing its duration. The firestorm is considered to be an Eagle, Jaguar, and Storm feather skill.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full has-custom-border"><img decoding="async" src="https://wp-prod.icy-veins.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/spiritborn-firestorm.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image 61218" style="border-radius:8px"/></figure>



<p>The <mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-legendary-item-color">Rip and Tear aspect</mark> adds buffs to <a class="icy-gtnbrg-link" href="#"><span class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip"><img decoding="async" data-tooltip-name="Rushing Claw" class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip-img" src="https://wp.icy-veins.com/static/d4/latest/images/icons/2DUI_Skills_Spiritborn_84.webp" alt="Rushing Claw"><span class="tooltip-spell-name d4-text">Rushing Claw</span></span></a>, with effects dependent on the number of Charges consumed:</p>



<ul>
<li><strong>1 Charge</strong>: Heals for <strong>15% of your Maximum Life</strong>.</li>



<li><strong>2 Charges</strong>: Guaranteed <strong>Overpower</strong>.</li>



<li><strong>3 Charges</strong>: Guaranteed <strong>Critical Strike</strong>.</li>



<li><strong>4+ Charges</strong>: <strong>Strikes an additional time</strong>.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Rushing Claw Changes and Playstyle Adjustments</h2>



<p><a class="icy-gtnbrg-link" href="#"><span class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip"><img decoding="async" data-tooltip-name="Rushing Claw" class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip-img" src="https://wp.icy-veins.com/static/d4/latest/images/icons/2DUI_Skills_Spiritborn_84.webp" alt="Rushing Claw"><span class="tooltip-spell-name d4-text">Rushing Claw</span></span></a>&#8216;s base damage is increasing from 50% to 60%, but the biggest change comes from its <strong>two new upgrade possibilities</strong>:</p>



<ul>
<li><strong>Traditional Playstyle</strong>: Keeps <strong>4 Charges</strong> which can be redeemed one after the other, allowing for rapid attacks.</li>



<li><strong>New Playstyle</strong>: Gains up to <strong>20 Charges</strong>, but <strong>consumes all</strong> when used. Each consumed charge <strong>increases damage</strong> and <strong>expands its area of effect</strong>.</li>
</ul>



<p>This change adds <strong>flexibility</strong>, giving you the choice between <strong>burst-heavy</strong> or a <strong>sustained attack</strong> playstyle.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Other Spiritborn Buffs</h2>



<p>Several <strong>Legendary Aspects</strong> are also getting <strong>damage buffs</strong>, including:</p>



<ul>
<li><a class="icy-gtnbrg-link" href="#"><span class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip"><img decoding="async" data-tooltip-name="Aspect of Recalling Feathers" class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip-img" src="https://wp.icy-veins.com/static/d4/latest/images/aspects/offensive.webp" alt="Aspect of Recalling Feathers"><span class="tooltip-spell-name d4-codex-text">Aspect of Recalling Feathers</span></span></a> &amp; <a class="icy-gtnbrg-link" href="#"><span class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip"><img decoding="async" data-tooltip-name="Aspect of Falling Feathers" class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip-img" src="https://wp.icy-veins.com/static/d4/latest/images/aspects/offensive.webp" alt="Aspect of Falling Feathers"><span class="tooltip-spell-name d4-codex-text">Aspect of Falling Feathers</span></span></a> now scale up to <strong>150% weapon damage</strong>.</li>



<li><a class="icy-gtnbrg-link" href="#"><span class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip"><img decoding="async" data-tooltip-name="Aspect of Wild Claws" class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip-img" src="https://wp.icy-veins.com/static/d4/latest/images/aspects/offensive.webp" alt="Aspect of Wild Claws"><span class="tooltip-spell-name d4-codex-text">Aspect of Wild Claws</span></span></a> now increased damage to <strong>65-85% of </strong><a class="icy-gtnbrg-link" href="#"><span class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip"><img decoding="async" data-tooltip-name="Rake" class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip-img" src="https://wp.icy-veins.com/static/d4/latest/images/icons/2DUI_Skills_Spiritborn_80.webp" alt="Rake"><span class="tooltip-spell-name d4-text">Rake</span></span></a><strong>&#8216;s base damage </strong>(previously 45-65%).</li>



<li><a class="icy-gtnbrg-link" href="#"><span class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip"><img decoding="async" data-tooltip-name="Aspect of Plains Power" class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip-img" src="https://wp.icy-veins.com/static/d4/latest/images/aspects/offensive.webp" alt="Aspect of Plains Power"><span class="tooltip-spell-name d4-codex-text">Aspect of Plains Power</span></span></a>&#8216;s damage slightly boosted by <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/guides/ferocity-status-effect/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ferocity</a> stacks more effectively.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Stronger Builds &amp; New Synergies</h2>



<p>Spiritborn was already in a good place, but these changes improve build variety, with the possibility to use the new Storm Feathers synergy, and an updated Rushing Claw with its new Legendary Aspect. Because of these changes, we can expect more powerful and <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/spiritborn/builds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">interesting new builds</a> emerging in Season 8. </p>



<p>Are you excited about the new Spiritborn changes?</p>


Spiritborn Buffed in Season 8: New Amulet, Rushing Claw Overhaul, and Aspect Upgrades


<p>We&#8217;re in the Season 7 late-season and it&#8217;s time to look at the current Pit Tier Rankings to determine how well balanced the classes are, so let&#8217;s dive in!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Top Runs</h2>



<p>The following post uses data from <a href="https://helltides.com/pit">Helltides</a>, which records top Pit Tier clears for each class. <strong>Four</strong> out of <strong>six</strong> classes timed a<strong> Pit Tier 150</strong>. </p>



<p><em>Keep in mind some of the runs use bilibili for video footage and we can&#8217;t embed them directly without autoplay</em>.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" src="https://wp-prod.icy-veins.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Snimka-obrazovky-2025-03-14-o-18.11.14.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image 61231"/></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Necromancer Tier 150 Pit Clear</h2>



<p>Necromancers have the fastest clear among all the classes. It took 黑巫师@秋葉 just 3 minutes and 18 seconds to clear a Tier 150.</p>



<p>You can watch the video <a href="https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1JPPWeAEcw/">here</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Druid Tier 150 Pit Clear</h2>



<p>In second place, we&#8217;ve got the Druid with a Tier 150 Pit clear that took 5:41. Congrats to 蓝萌君! Check out the <a href="https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1Z8Are5EHF/">full clear video</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Barbarian Tier 150 Pit Clear</h2>



<p>The Barbarian top clear goes to Lk who managed to time a 150 Pit run in 8:41.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="디아블로 IV 시즌7 나락 산의분노 지진 야만 150단 대지의재앙 08분 41초 Diablo IV Season 7 Earthquake Barb Pit150 08:41" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kcXu7ZMnCVM?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Sorcerer Tier 150 Pit Clear</h2>



<p>흑우 cleared a Pit Tier 150 in 10 minutes and 13 seconds with their Sorcerer.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Diablo 4 S7 Pit tier 150 clear Orange Ls Sorc" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/X8_dvdrQ-qw?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Rogue Tier 142 Pit Clear</h2>



<p>The highest Rogue Pit Tier is 142 scored by 黑巫师@软萌猫猫超可爱の捏 in 13 minutes and 27 seconds.</p>



<p>Here is the <a href="https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1qb9fYiEjX/?vd_source=2280387e580eeb2aac9a8caea64555c5">full video of the clear</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Spiritborn Tier 138 Pit Clear</h2>



<p>Spiritborn are the underdogs this late in the season when it comes to Pit clears. The highest Pit tier for the class is 138, claimed by WAVA in 13 minutes.<a href="https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1sfQ5YnETf/"> Watch the full clear video now</a>.</p>


Diablo 4 Late-Season 7 Pit Tier Rankings


<p class="has-text-align-left">Have you ever wondered how to spot your highest damage between all the flying numbers on your screen?</p>



<p class="has-text-align-left">Simply head to your Gameplay Options and scroll down to “Combat Text Options.” Here, select only “Overpower Damage” as these hits typically produce the highest values in most builds, like for the <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/guides/blood-wave-necromancer-build/">Blood Wave Necromancer</a> in Season 7. Depending on your build you might instead want to select “Critical Damage” or “Vulnerable Damage”.</p>



<p class="has-text-align-center"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="602" height="244" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXe7nljZcrvMp4LoIxVHvThTCI8WVI9gX91pY2ZEJn-I-7wHqhmGhRVvXxPyXElQSYzvQCrqHabK-_tuLB_IpDiIDem8CV_mRHMfHy_YfSUx-YAGpboUuKIDDIcQOk9CvfZy9_k9_Q?key=SmcTemCp6GdDH_E6da9Xf35p"></p>



<p>This small change will make it much easier to see your numbers without them being clustered all over your screen.</p>


Diablo 4 Ditches Mid-Season Patches—Here’s What’s Changing

What’s Changing?

Diablo IV News