Blizzard has officially shared the first details for Diablo 4 Season 12 out of nowhere, and it is sure that the upcoming season is going to play very differently!
The 2.6.0 Public Test Realm (PTR) will be available soon, from February 3, 10:00 a.m. PST to February 10, 10 a.m. PST, giving us a first look at the returning Killstreak system, a new Bloodied item quality, dangerous Bloodied Sigils, and a few new Unique items.
These changes will affect both Seasonal and Eternal Realms, making this PTR especially important. On top of that, you can also expect a ton of balance changes and optimizations!
Season 12 – A More Focused Season
According to Blizzard, Season 12 is intentionally more streamlined than previous seasons. The goal is to deliver a tighter, more focused experience as the season will be leading us into The Lord of Hatred expansion that launches on April 28.
The PTR will showcase the main changes of the season, and additional features and surprises will be revealed closer to launch. As usual, Blizzard is relying heavily on PTR feedback to change balance, fix bugs, and adjust new systems.
The Killstreak System Returns
The main feature of Season 12 is the Killstreak system! This was already a feature in Daiblo 3 but is now returning. It fundamentally changes how you play across all activities in Diablo 4.
The idea is simple: Kill enemies quickly and continuously to build momentum and power.
Bloodied Items
Season 12 also introduces Bloodied Items, a new item quality designed to work directly with the Killstreak system.
Any item in the game can roll as Bloodied, and this quality can stack with others, meaning items can be both Ancestral and Bloodied. All Bloodied affixes stack, encouraging fast, aggressive gameplay instead of slow and defensive.
Bloodied Sigils and Relentless Difficulty
Bloodied Sigils add another layer of risk and reward to endgame activities. Each Bloodied Sigil comes with the Relentless Butcher affix:
- The Butcher will relentlessly hunt you throughout the activity
- Killing him causes him to immediately respawn
- This does not replace normal Butcher spawns, so you can fight two at once
Activities using Bloodied Sigils are roughly one Torment Tier harder than your current level, but they guarantee Bloodied Item drops, making them one of the most dangerous and rewarding additions in Season 12.
The 2.6.0 PTR: What You Need to Know
The 2.6.0 Public Test Realm (PTR) for Diablo IV will be available from February 3, 10:00 a.m. PST to February 10, 10 a.m. PST, offering you the chance to test upcoming changes and features coming in the next season for the base game, shaking up how you play across both Eternal and Seasonal Realms.
The purpose of the PTR is to test updates and features before the launch of the next season, where we’ll be focusing on a vicious new Killstreak system, powerful Bloodied Items, murderous Bloody Sigils, and more.
Using your feedback, we’ll make adjustments before the next season goes live. This helps us to fine-tune balance changes, eliminate bugs, and create the best experience possible while testing new systems. Thank you for playing through the PTR and sharing your thoughts with the team.
Here is what the 2.6.0 PTR will preview ahead of next season.
A Note on the Upcoming Season
Season 12 is designed as a more focused, streamlined season that supports our broader roadmap toward launch of The Lord of Hatred expansion on April 28, while still delivering a fresh, rewarding and fun experience for players.
The 2.6.0 PTR will preview the foundation of the season, while more surprise features will be revealed closer to launch. As always, we are keen to hear your PTR feedback to ensure S12 is the best it can be!
Unleash Your Rage with Killstreak System
Indulge in bloodthirsty carnage to grow progressively stronger—maintain a fast, efficient slew of kills to increase your power and earn rewards.
The Killstreak system changes the way you play across every activity in Diablo IV.
- Slaughter your enemies in quick succession to begin your Killstreak,
- As your killstreak begins, a pop-up will start tracking your kill count.
- Once the Killstreak begins, there’ll be a short period of time before your Killstreak begins to deplete.
- Continue your Killstreak with merciless pace:
- Refresh your Killstreak timer with additional kills, direct damage, or on initial damage-over-time application.
Killstreaks are marked by five distinct tiers based off current streak’s total:
- Killstreak
- Carnage
- Devastation
- Bloodbath
- Massacre
When the timer bar fully depletes, the Killstreak is over.
- Experience and seasonal reputation are gained at the end of a Killstreak.
- The amount of Experience and seasonal reputation gained are based on the total number of monsters slain during the Killstreak, with a bonus based on the Killstreak Tier reached.
- Note: seasonal reputation will not be present in the PTR.
- If you should perish while in a Killstreak, it will immediately end without rewards.
Rain Crimson with Bloodied Items
Bloodied Items are a new Item Quality you can harness in combination with your Killstreaks to heighten the bloodshed.
Bloodied Items have affixes which scale in power based off your current Killstreak Tier.
- Any item that can drop can potentially appear as Bloodied.
- This Item Quality tag is non-exclusive, and an item can be both Ancestral and Bloodied.
Bloodied Affixes come in three categories:
- Rampage:
- Increase in power based off current Killstreak Tier
- Applies to Armor
- Ex: Killstreak: 7%[+] Move Speed per Killstreak Tier in your Killstreak
- Feast:
- Apply Combat bonuses based off total kills in your current Killstreak
- Applies to Weapons
- Ex: Every 40 Kills in your Killstreak, reset 1 random Cooldown
- These bonuses are constant and are not tied to Killstreak Tier
- Hunger:
- Customizes reward offerings, which scale with Killstreak Tiers
- Ex: Elite kills will drop Runes more frequently
- Applies to Jewelry
As with other Affixes, Bloodied Affixes stack their effects.
Unlock Slaughter with Bloodied Sigils
Evoke the power of the Burning Hells and set a fearsome combatant on your trail. Bloodied Sigils unlock your ability to increase the heat and increase the ferocity of gameplay while rewarding you handsomely for this increased effort.
- Nightmare Dungeons, Infernal Hordes, and Lair Bosses each have Bloodied Sigils.
- These potent Sigils only become available once you reach Torment I.
Bloodied Sigils
- Each Bloodied Sigil carries a Bloodied Affix, Relentless Butcher. The infamous purveyor of human charcuterie hunts you endlessly, hounding your every move. Should you manage to fell the Butcher, he will immediately return. He will never cease!
- This does not replace the existing chance to have Butcher spawns, there is the chance to fight both Butchers simultaneously.
- Expect the activity in the Bloodied Sigil to be around a Torment Tier higher in difficulty than your current Torment Tier.
Bloodied Sigils reward this significant challenge with guaranteed drops of Bloodied Items.
New Unique Items
Wield these tools of demonic dismemberment to beat back the Butcher and continue your slaughter.
Blood-Mad Idol—Unique Amulet
Affixes:
- 51- 65 All Stats
- 8.3-10% Attack Speed
- 7-8% Critical Strike Chance
- 17.5-31.5% Damage Reduction while Injured
Power:
- You are always Berserking but take 200%[x] increased damage as Burning over 8 seconds. While Burning, Berserking grants an additional 75-125% increased damage.
Useable by: All Classes
Wendigo Brand—Unique Ring
Affixes:
- 424-457 Life
- 855-1086 Life Regen
- 146-159 Life on Hit
- 441-490 Physical Resistance
Power:
- Every 15 kills in the last 30-60 seconds increases your damage dealt by 2%, and Maximum Health by 1%.
Useable by: All Classes
Rustbitten Dirk—Unique Dagger
Affixes:
- 51-65 All Stats
- 424-457 Life
- 8.3-10% Attack Speed
- 40-50% Vulnerable Damage
Power:
- Deal 50-100% increased damage to isolated enemies.
Useable by: Sorcerer, Druid, Rogue, Necromancer
Wyrdskin—Unique Gloves
Affixes:
- 424-457 Life
- 1-2 Ranks to Core Skills
- 7-8% Critical Strike Chance
- 8.3-10% Attack Speed
Power:
- Attacks apply Vulnerable to Distant Enemies, and Weakened to Close Enemies. Deal 10-30% increased damage to Enemies that are both Vulnerable and Weakened.
Useable by: All Classes
Thousand-Eye Reaver—Unique One-Handed Axe
Affixes:
- 424-457 Life
- 7-8% Critical Strike Chance
- 36.5-50% Movement Speed on Elite Kill
- Lucky Hit: Up to a 40% Chance to Deal 900-2,400 Physical Damage
Power:
- Moving grants Ferocity, and Maximum Ferocity is increased by 1-3. Ferocity also increases Movement Speed by 4-8% per stack.
Useable by: Barbarian, Druid, Necromancer, Paladin
Features Offered for Testing
We will have servers for PTR in our largest regions: North America, Europe, Korea and Japan, South America, and Australia. Use the PTR Boost NPC in major cities to aid you in the Public Test Realm.
PTR Boost
Similar to our previous Public Test Realms, the trusty PTR Vendor—Mrak—will be available through the duration of the PTR. You can find our hot-footed friend next to the main Waypoint in major cities. Mrak has received some substantial upgrades, now offering segmented boosts if you want to focus on a specific item for testing.
Additionally, when your Account is copied for the PTR, your character names will no longer be changed to ‘default.’
The following items are available through the PTR Boosts. Anything highlighted in blue has been updated since the last PTR:
Crafting & Materials
- Grant Gold
- Grant Obols
- Grant All Materials
- Unlock Masterworking
- Grant All Temper Manuals
- Grant Lair Keys
- Grant Tributes
- Grant Infernal Compasses
- Grant Nightmare Escalation Sigils
Equipment
- Grant All Runes
- Max All Aspects
- Grant Random Legendaries*
- Grant All Uniques*
Note: To receive Helms and Amulets from the PTR Boost, you must be at least Level 7 and Level 15 respectively. Please use one of the level boosts to level past this point to receive these specific items.*
Paragon
- Grant All Glyphs
- Max All Glyphs
Progression
- Complete Campaign & All Strongholds (Unlocks Whispers and the Artificer’s Obelisk)
- Set Level to 50
- Set Level to 60
- Unlock All Waypoints & Reveal Map
- Unlock All Torment Tiers
- Set Paragon to Level 200
Seasonal
- Grant Bloodied Items
- Grant Seasonal Activity Keys (Bloodied Sigils)
How to Provide Feedback
Your feedback on the changes you will see and experience in the PTR is important to us and is vital in ensuring that Season 12 is the best it can be when it goes live in Diablo IV. If you participate in the PTR, please let us know what you think!
You can provide feedback through the in-game feedback tool of the Diablo IV PTR forums. Pressing the ESC key in the in-game menu will bring up the Report a Bug menu. You can select the dropdown filter and select the in-game feedback tool to provide feedback without leaving the game.
If you play Diablo 4 regularly, this PTR is absolutely worth checking out! For more guides or information, you can also check our latest news, where we will detail all the upcoming Season 12 features!
