Abyssal Lich

Barbarian

Druid

Necromancer

Paladin

Rogue

Sorcerer

Spiritborn


<p>Blizzard is pretty upfront about Season 12 right from the start, which already makes this upcoming PTR feel a little different from previous ones. The biggest point to note is that this is not a big &#8220;everything changes&#8221; season. Instead, <a href="https://news.blizzard.com/en-us/article/24247516/the-2-6-0-ptr-what-you-need-to-know" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Blizzard is very clear</a> about Season 12 being smaller, more focused, and built to prepare Diablo 4 for the Lord of Hatred expansion coming April 28.</p>



<div class="blizzard-blue-post">
    <div class="d-flex align-items-center">
        <div>
            <img decoding="async" class="blizzard-logo" src="https://static.icy-veins.com/wp/static/public/blizzard-icon-small.png" alt="Blizzard Logo" />
        </div>
        <div>
            <a class="source-link" target="_blank" href="https://news.blizzard.com/en-us/article/24247516/the-2-6-0-ptr-what-you-need-to-know"><span class="white">(</span> Source URL <span class="white">)</span> </a>
        </div>
    </div>
    <hr class="blizzard-line" />
    <h3>The 2.6.0 PTR will be available from February 3, 10:00 a.m. PST to February 10, 10 a.m. PST</h3>
    <div class="blizzard-blue-post-content">
        <h1>A Note on the Upcoming Season</h1>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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!</p>
    </div>
</div>



<p>So, if you were wondering about the 2.6.0 PTR patch notes, this should explain most of it.</p>



<p>The goal of Season 12 is not to try to reinvent the game, but rather to lay some improved groundwork. On top of that, Blizzard has already confirmed that <strong>not everything planned for the season or the expansion is visible yet</strong>, which means what players are going to test right now is only part of the picture.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What You Will Be Testing on the PTR</h2>



<p>The systems on the PTR make that pretty obvious. Killstreaks, Bloodied Items, and Bloodied Sigils are not fancy seasonal gimmicks. They are <strong>new systems that touch core gameplay</strong>, from combat pacing to loot and endgame difficulty.</p>



<p>Rather than dumping a long list of new activities on players, the PTR is mostly about seeing how these systems feel in practice. How they interact with builds. Where they break. Where they feel good. Where they do not.</p>



<p>In that sense, this PTR will likely feel less like a preview and more like a stress test.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Why a Smaller Season Is Probably Intentional</h2>



<p>A more controlled season does make a lot of sense right now. New or returning players are not overwhelmed with mechanics right before an expansion. Veteran players get time to experiment and adjust without juggling too many temporary features.</p>



<p>Most importantly, it gives Blizzard room to clean things up. Season 12 still needs to be fun, but it is also very clearly <strong>meant to stabilize systems before Lord of Hatred</strong> launches.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What to Expect Going In</h2>



<p>If you were hoping Season 12 would completely change up Diablo 4 on its own, or add other fun yet crazy new things, this PTR is a good reality check. That does not mean the season is going to be empty or boring. It just means <strong>the focus is very different this time around.</strong></p>



<p>Season 12 is about testing ideas early, smoothing out systems, and making sure the expansion has something solid to build on.</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<p>For more information on the upcoming PTR, check out our <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/news/diablo-4-season-12-comes-with-major-paragon-buffs-and-qol-changes/">latest Diablo 4 news</a>.</p>


Diablo 4 Season 12 Is Smaller on Purpose and That Is the Point


<p><a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Diablo 4</a> Season 12 is going to be very bloody, on the battlefield and in the form of its seasonal gimmicks. This time around, player armor pieces are going to be blessed by blood, aka Bloodied Items. These new items grow in strength in accordance with <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/news/diablo-4-brings-back-the-iconic-killstreak-system-in-season-12/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the returning Killstreak system</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What are Bloodied Items?</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" src="https://static.icy-veins.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Diablo-IV-Bloodied-Items.webp" alt="" class="wp-image 121556" /></figure>



<p>Bloodied Items have affixes that <strong>scale in power based on your current Killstreak Tier</strong>. Any item that can drop has a potential chance to appear as <strong>Bloodied</strong>. Thankfully, this quality tag is non-exclusive, meaning this new system won&#8217;t replace Ancestral items or affect any Affixes.</p>



<p>So what do Bloodied items do? As you kill more and more demons, you will begin a Killstreak. Adding additional kills will increase its rank from:</p>



<ul>
<li>Killstreak</li>



<li>Carnage</li>



<li>Devastation</li>



<li>Bloodbath</li>



<li>Massacre</li>
</ul>



<p>Bloodied items will grow in power according to your current Killstreak rank. Bloodied Affixes come in three categories:</p>



<ul>
<li><strong>Rampage:</strong>
<ul>
<li>Increase in power based off current Killstreak Tier</li>



<li>Applies to Armor</li>



<li>Ex:&nbsp;<em>Killstreak: 7%[+] Move Speed per Killstreak Tier in your Killstreak</em></li>
</ul>
</li>



<li><strong>Feast:</strong>
<ul>
<li>Apply Combat bonuses based off total kills in your current Killstreak</li>



<li>Applies to Weapons</li>



<li>Ex:&nbsp;<em>Every 40 Kills in your Killstreak, reset 1 random Cooldown</em></li>



<li>These bonuses are constant and are not tied to Killstreak Tier</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li><strong>Hunger:</strong>
<ul>
<li>Customizes reward offerings, which scale with Killstreak Tiers</li>



<li>Ex:&nbsp;<em>Elite kills will drop Runes more frequently</em></li>



<li>Applies to Jewelry</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>



<p>It is very important to note that, like other Affixes, <strong>Bloodied Affixes stack their effects.</strong> Currently, we do not know all of the effects for each Affix, but we do know a few, such as Rampage, which also offers cooldown reduction, and Feast, which can grant its wielder Berserking.</p>



<p>Hopefully, we will know more soon once the <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/news/diablo-4-reveals-season-12-with-killstreaks-bloodied-items/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PTR hits on <strong>February 3, 10:00 a.m. PST</strong></a>.</p>


Diablo 4 Season 12 Adds Bloodied Items That Grow With Kills


<p>With <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/paladin/builds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Paladin still in early access</a> for Lord of Hatred pre-orders, a lot of players expected Blizzard to come down hard on the class in Season 12. After all, Paladin has been one of the strongest, and in some cases, outright broken classes in Season 11.</p>



<p>So is Paladin getting nerfed? No, not exactly.</p>



<p>Season 12 does not &#8220;delete&#8221; the Paladin, but it cleans up a huge amount of unintended power, and also adjusts some of the class&#8217;s best features!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Not a Nerf but a Reality Check</h2>



<p>If you only <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/news/diablo-4-season-12-comes-with-major-paragon-buffs-and-qol-changes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">peek at the patch notes</a>, Paladin might even look buffed in most places. A few core damage sources received direct improvements, including:</p>



<ul>
<li><a class="icy-gtnbrg-link" href="#"><span class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip"><img decoding="async" data-tooltip-name="Heaven's Fury" class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip-img" src="https://static.icy-veins.com/wp/static/d4/latest/images/icons/2DUI_Skills_Paladin_56.webp" alt="Heaven's Fury"><span class="tooltip-spell-name d4-text">Heaven&#8217;s Fury</span></span></a>, with Triplicate&#8217;s base damage jumping from 36% to 56%</li>



<li><a class="icy-gtnbrg-link" href="#"><span class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip"><img decoding="async" data-tooltip-name="Path of the Penitent" class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip-img" src="https://static.icy-veins.com/wp/static/d4/latest/images/icons/2DUI_Talents_Paladin_15.webp" alt="Path of the Penitent"><span class="tooltip-spell-name d4-text">Path of the Penitent</span></span></a>, now granting 12% damage per stack instead of 10%</li>



<li><a class="icy-gtnbrg-link" href="#"><span class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip"><img decoding="async" class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip-img" src="https://static.icy-veins.com/wp/static/d4/latest/images/icons/2DInventory_Flails_e002_16.webp" alt="Sunbrand"><span class="tooltip-spell-name" data-item-type="Flail" data-item-quality="unique">Sunbrand</span></span></a>, which saw its damage range doubled to 60-100%</li>
</ul>



<p>These are buffs that clearly reinforce Paladin&#8217;s intended damage. However, the bigger story is where Paladin is losing power, and it has less to do with raw numbers than with how the class was functioning in <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/guides/diablo-4-latest-season/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Season 11.</a></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Blizzard Is Cutting Out &#8220;Fake Power&#8221;</h2>



<p>A massive portion of Paladin&#8217;s current power came from bugs, snapshotting, and scaling issues, especially around Judgement, Thorns interactions, and aura effects. Season 12 fixes a long list of these problems.</p>



<p>Some changes include:</p>



<ul>
<li>Judgement damage was scaling incorrectly and stacking in ways Blizzard never intended</li>



<li>Thorns bonuses frequently failed to apply correctly or applied too well</li>



<li>Snapshotting allowed buffs to lock in inflated values</li>



<li>NPC allies inside <a class="icy-gtnbrg-link" href="#"><span class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip"><img decoding="async" data-tooltip-name="Holy Light Aura" class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip-img" src="https://static.icy-veins.com/wp/static/d4/latest/images/icons/2DUI_Skills_Paladin_76.webp" alt="Holy Light Aura"><span class="tooltip-spell-name d4-text">Holy Light Aura</span></span></a> were dealing damage far beyond intended rates</li>
</ul>



<p>Fixing these issues alone effectively brings Paladin back to earth, even when other skills receive buffs. This is why the class might feel weaker at first in Season 12, even though it received several damage increases on paper.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Pronouncement of Heaven (Spear of Heavens Enhancement)</h2>



<p>One of the most notable changes is Pronouncement of Heaven. This skill was completely redesigned. Previously, it created a single permanent spear that passively dealt damage. Now it does the following things instead:</p>



<ul>
<li><a class="icy-gtnbrg-link" href="#"><span class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip"><img decoding="async" data-tooltip-name="Spear of the Heavens" class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip-img" src="https://static.icy-veins.com/wp/static/d4/latest/images/icons/2DUI_Skills_Paladin_4.webp" alt="Spear of the Heavens"><span class="tooltip-spell-name d4-text">Spear of the Heavens</span></span></a> spawns three initial spears</li>



<li>Each spear deals damage over 12 seconds</li>



<li>Spears can be marked with Judgement, creating more active gameplay</li>
</ul>



<p>This change pushes the skill away from passive damage and toward a more direct damage-dealing skill.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Quality-of-Life Improvements</h2>



<p>Beyond balance, Season 12 also adds a lot of adjustments:</p>



<ul>
<li>Tooltips now correctly explain scaling, durations, and effects</li>



<li><a class="icy-gtnbrg-link" href="#"><span class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip"><img decoding="async" data-tooltip-name="Holy Light Aura" class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip-img" src="https://static.icy-veins.com/wp/static/d4/latest/images/icons/2DUI_Skills_Paladin_76.webp" alt="Holy Light Aura"><span class="tooltip-spell-name d4-text">Holy Light Aura</span></span></a> gains proper UI indicators and duration tracking</li>



<li>Several misleading or incorrect descriptions across the skill tree were fixed</li>
</ul>



<p>These changes do not move the meta directly, but they make Paladin far easier to understand and build correctly.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Is Paladin Still Strong?</h2>



<p>Yes, but not in the same way. Season 12 Paladin is going to feel a bit more &#8220;honest&#8221;. It loses a lot of bug-driven power, but gains better scaling, clearer mechanics, and more intentional damage. Players who relied on Season 11&#8217;s broken interactions will, of course, feel the difference, but you should still be able to clear high pit levels.</p>



<p>Here are the official Paladin patch notes for the upcoming PTR:</p>



<div class="blizzard-blue-post">
    <div class="d-flex align-items-center">
        <div>
            <img decoding="async" class="blizzard-logo" src="https://static.icy-veins.com/wp/static/public/blizzard-icon-small.png" alt="Blizzard Logo" />
        </div>
        <div>
            <a class="source-link" target="_blank" href="https://news.blizzard.com/en-us/article/24247516/the-2-6-0-ptr-what-you-need-to-know#Patch"><span class="white">(</span> Source URL <span class="white">)</span> </a>
        </div>
    </div>
    <hr class="blizzard-line" />
    <h3>2.6.0 PTR Patch Notes</h3>
    <div class="blizzard-blue-post-content">
        <h2><span style="font-size: 16px;">2.6.0 PTR Build #70465 (PC Only)—February 3, 2026</span></h2>
<div id="accordion" class="panel-group">
<div class="panel">
<div id="2.6.0 PTR" class="panel-collapse collapse in" aria-expanded="true">
<div class="panel-body">
<h1>Expansion</h1>
<h2>Balance Updates</h2>
<h3>Paladin</h3>
<h4>Skills</h4>
<p>Holy Light Aura</p>
<ul>
<li>The tooltip now clarifies that it gains damage from attack speed.</li>
</ul>
<p>Sanctify</p>
<ul>
<li>Damage now remains at 90% when selecting the upgrade.</li>
</ul>
<p>Conviction</p>
<ul>
<li>Adjusted Rank Up description in tooltip to reflect that the attack speed maximum is increased and not Resolve maximum.</li>
</ul>
<p>Defiance</p>
<ul>
<li>Increased the damage-over-time tick rate of Rite of Prayer from 2 seconds to 1 second.</li>
<li>Adjusted the tooltip to clarify Rite of Prayer works by healing yourself as well.</li>
</ul>
<p>Heaven&#8217;s Fury</p>
<ul>
<li>Triplicate base damage increased from 36% to 56%.</li>
</ul>
<p>Word of Sacrifice (Rally Enhancement)</p>
<ul>
<li>Health cost increased from 15% to 35%.</li>
<li>Added a duration indicator and UI number to the Rally icon for this variant.</li>
</ul>
<p>Pronouncement of Heaven (Spear of Heavens Enhancement)</p>
<ul>
<li>Previous: Spear of the Heavens&#8217; first spear gains a permanent Judgement mark and remains on the battlefield, dealing x% damage per second for 8 seconds.</li>
<li>Now: Spear of the Heaven&#8217;s gains 3 initial spears that deal x% damage per second for 12 seconds. These spears can be marked with Judgement.</li>
</ul>
<h4>Passives</h4>
<p>Path of the Penitent</p>
<ul>
<li>Damage increased from 10% to 12% per stack.</li>
</ul>
<h4>Unique Items</h4>
<p>Dawnfire</p>
<ul>
<li>Updated the tooltip to indicate that the aura around the player changes size.</li>
<li>Activating Holy Light now refreshes the duration.</li>
<li>Chance for Holy Light aura to deal double damage increased to the higher value for Paladin unique items.</li>
<li>Buff duration increased from 15 to 20 seconds.</li>
<li>Added a buff number and duration indicator to the Holy Light aura icon.</li>
<li>Adjusted the tooltip to show its increased burn area per stack.</li>
</ul>
<p>Sunbrand</p>
<ul>
<li>Damage increased from 30-50% to 60-100%.</li>
</ul>
<p>Sundered Night</p>
<ul>
<li>Anointing passive affix replaced with +2-4 ranks to Aura Skills.</li>
</ul>
<h4>Tempering</h4>
<p>Holy Light Aura Potency</p>
<ul>
<li>Amount granted doubled.</li>
</ul>
<h4>Paragon</h4>
<p>Castle</p>
<ul>
<li>Previous: You deal increased damage equal to 1.8% of your Armor.</li>
<li>Now: You deal increased damage equal to 125% of your Damage Reduction granted from Armor.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Bug Fixes</h2>
<h3>Paladin</h3>
<h4>Skill Tree</h4>
<ul>
<li>Fixed an issue where Zenith&#8217;s second cast counted towards casting an ultimate skill for the Zan rune.</li>
<li>Fixed an issue where the Sunder upgrade for Zenith only dealt 10% of the intended damage.</li>
<li>Fixed an issue where Consecrate would not properly apply Weakened.</li>
<li>Fixed an issue where the Armor while in Arbiter form temper did not update if new values were gained or lost while in Arbiter form.</li>
<li>Fixed an issue where Judgement marks could rarely apply to destructible objects in the environment.</li>
<li>Fixed an issue where Judgement dealt damage as if it always hit one additional target.</li>
</ul>
<blockquote><p><strong>Developer’s Note: </strong><em>This fix will be relatively unnoticeable when you’re getting procs from many judgment explosions in a short window, but greatly reduces single explosions.</em></p></blockquote>
<ul>
<li>Fixed an issue where Judgement Day&#8217;s bonus was stacking multiplicatively rather than additively.</li>
<li>Fixed an issue where Holy Light Aura would have a delay before it was granted to allies.</li>
<li>Fixed an issue where NPC allies within Holy Light aura dealt damage at a far greater rate than intended.</li>
<li>Fixed an issue where Fanaticism would snapshot its stats the first time the buff was added.</li>
<li>Fixed an issue where the Rite of Prayer upgrade for Defiance Aura caused Resolve to be gained <i>per</i> ally it affected, rather than if at <i>least one</i> ally was affected.</li>
<li>Fixed an issue where Thorns bonus from Defiance Aura would not increase with ranks immediately after upgrading the skill.</li>
<li>Fixed an issue with Defiance Aura&#8217;s Active power not granting the full bonuses from Thorns on its attacks.</li>
<li>Fixed an issue with Retribution where it wasn&#8217;t granting the full bonuses from Thorns on its attacks.</li>
<li>Fixed an issue with Blessed Shield&#8217;s Shield of Retribution where it wasn&#8217;t granting the full bonuses from Thorns on its attacks.</li>
<li>Fixed an issue with Fortress&#8217; Rampart of Thorns where it wasn&#8217;t granting the full bonuses from Thorns on its attacks.</li>
<li>Fixed an issue where Aegis&#8217; Impunity was not granting its Thorns bonus.</li>
<li>Fixed an issue where the player would sometimes not dash when using Divine Lance.</li>
<li>Fixed an issues where the Juggernaut Oath was granting all skill damage rather than Juggernaut skill damage.</li>
<li>Fixed an issue where pressing Falling Star twice in rapid succession would queue a second cast before the first cast completed.</li>
</ul>
<h4>Paragon</h4>
<ul>
<li>Fixed an issue where Castle Legendary node would snapshot the values it gains from Armor in some cases.</li>
<li>Fixed an issue that caused the Law glyph to grant its additive bonus to base damage rather than the additive bonus for Judgement.</li>
<li>Fixed an issue where the Preacher paragon node scaled with weapon speed rather than bonus attack speed.</li>
</ul>
<h4>Items</h4>
<ul>
<li>Fixed an issue where Aspect of the Disciple would not properly apply Weakened.</li>
<li>Fixed an issue where some skills could stack Apogeic Furor more than once per Ultimate cast.</li>
</ul>
<blockquote><p><strong>Developer’s Note: </strong><em>Recasted Ultimates will grant one stack on the first Cast of the sequence. Ultimates with charges will grant one stack per Cast.</em></p></blockquote>
<ul>
<li>Fixed an issue where both Aspect of the Golden Hour and Aspect of the Judicator were granting base damage rather than multiplicative bonus damage.</li>
<li>Fixed an issue where the damage bonus from Bastion of Sir Matthias was being applied to base damage.</li>
<li>Fixed an issue where Light&#8217;s Rebuke and Sunbrand were granting the incorrect amount of Strength and Maximum Life.</li>
<li>Fixed an issue where allies had the visual fire aura around them when Dawnfire was equipped.</li>
<li>Fixed an issue where the Holy Light Aura granted by Dawnfire would change the rate that NPC allies dealt their damage.</li>
<li>Fixed an issue where a player with affixes that reduce Evade’s cooldown with attacks allowed Argent Veil to spawn infinite Core skills.</li>
<li>Fixed various other Legendary Aspects and Unique items that were applying damage improperly, granting less bonus than intended.</li>
<li>Fixed an issue where Arbiter Wing Strikes double damage tempered affix would snapshot after the effect happened once.</li>
<li>Fixed an issue where Judgement of Auriel&#8217;s damage reduction bonus was not being doubled.</li>
<li>Fixed an issue where Judgement of Auriel activated on all versions of Arbiter form&#8217;s activation.</li>
</ul>
<h4>UI &amp; UX</h4>
<ul>
<li>Fixed an issue where Holy Light Aura&#8217;s Rite of Submission tooltip did not properly explain its effect.</li>
</ul>
<blockquote><p><strong>Developer’s Note: </strong><em>This skill stuns enemies it hits, and then deals a burst of damage in an area if the stunned enemy is killed during the duration.</em></p></blockquote>
<ul>
<li>Fixed an issue where damage lowered on the tooltip for Sanctify.</li>
</ul>
<blockquote><p><strong>Developer’s Note: </strong><em>A compensatory buff for Paladin was implemented for this, see above.</em></p></blockquote>
<ul>
<li>Fixed an issue where the tooltip for the Atonement Upgrade for Condemn Atonement didn&#8217;t display its increased damage per rank.</li>
<li>Fixed an issue where tempering for Block Chance didn&#8217;t display the exact value that would be gained.</li>
<li>Fixed an issue where Herald of Zakarum&#8217;s tooltip was incorrectly displaying a multiplicative value.</li>
<li>Fixed multiple issues when using the Keyword search in Paladin&#8217;s Skill Tree.</li>
<li>Fixed multiple issues where tooltips and descriptions weren&#8217;t accurate or missing information.</li>
</ul>
<h4>Miscellaneous</h4>
<ul>
<li>Fixed an issue that caused the Spiritborn Revealing Legendary paragon node to gain more than the intended double bonus when hitting Crowd Controlled enemies.</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
    </div>
</div>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<p>For more updates on Season 12 and Lord of Hatred, visit our <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/news/">Diablo 4 News hub</a>.</p>


Is Paladin Getting Nerfed in Diablo 4 Season 12?

Diablo 4 Season 12 Comes With Major Paragon Buffs and QoL Changes


<p>The long-beloved Killstreak system from D3 is finally making its way into <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Diablo 4</a>, and it&#8217;s perhaps just as good as long-time fans remember it. So get ready to hack and slash your way to keep that timer going during <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/news/diablo-4-reveals-season-12-with-killstreaks-bloodied-items/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Season 12</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Unleash Your Rage with Killstreak System</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" src="https://static.icy-veins.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Diablo-IV-Killstreak.webp" alt="" class="wp-image 121529" /></figure>



<p>That&#8217;s right, after 12 long and eventful seasons, the Killstreak system is finally coming to Diablo 4, but with some slight changes. But just in case you aren&#8217;t familiar with the system from <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d3/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Diablo 3</a> or you need a brief reminder, here is what the system does:</p>



<p>As you slaughter your enemies, you will begin to accumulate a killstreak, which is tracked underneath your character. As you continue to defeat enemies and deal damage, the counter will steadily tick up, but it&#8217;s always depleting. So in order to maintain your Killstreak, you need to stay in the fight, racking up additional kills,  direct damage, or on initial damage-over-time application.</p>



<p>Killstreaks have five distinct tiers:</p>



<ul>
<li>Killstreak</li>



<li>Carnage</li>



<li>Devastation</li>



<li>Bloodbath</li>



<li>Massacre</li>
</ul>



<p>But once your Killstreak finally ends via the bar fully depleting, you will earn:</p>



<ul>
<li><strong>Experience and seasonal reputation are gained at the end of a Killstreak.</strong></li>



<li>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.
<ul>
<li>Note: seasonal reputation will not be present in the PTR.</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li><strong>If you should perish while in a Killstreak, it will immediately end without rewards</strong>.</li>
</ul>



<p>So racking up kills while staying alive is a great way to boost your overall leveling speed and your rep rewards each season. But it is slightly disappointing that the movement speed boost from Diablo 3&#8217;s version isn&#8217;t returning as well. Perhaps we will see it return in the future; after all, Blizzard loves updating its systems.</p>


Diablo 4 Brings Back the Iconic Killstreak System in Season 12


<p>Blizzard has officially shared the first details for <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Diablo 4</a> Season 12 out of nowhere, and it is sure that the upcoming season is going to play very differently!</p>



<p>The 2.6.0 Public Test Realm (PTR) will be available soon, from <strong>February 3, 10:00 a.m. PST</strong> to <strong>February 10, 10 a.m. PST</strong>, giving us a first look at the returning <strong>Killstreak system</strong>, a new <strong>Bloodied item quality</strong>, dangerous <strong>Bloodied Sigils</strong>, and a few new <strong>Unique items</strong>. </p>



<p>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!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Season 12 &#8211; A More Focused Season</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Killstreak System Returns</h2>



<p>The main feature of Season 12 is the <strong>Killstreak system</strong>! This was already a feature in Daiblo 3 but is now returning. It fundamentally changes how you play across all activities in Diablo 4.</p>



<p>The idea is simple: Kill enemies quickly and continuously to build momentum and power.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Bloodied Items</h2>



<p>Season 12 also introduces <strong>Bloodied Items</strong>, a new item quality designed to work directly with the Killstreak system.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Bloodied Sigils and Relentless Difficulty</h2>



<p>Bloodied Sigils add another layer of risk and reward to endgame activities. Each Bloodied Sigil comes with the <strong>Relentless Butcher</strong> affix:</p>



<ul>
<li>The Butcher will relentlessly hunt you throughout the activity</li>



<li>Killing him causes him to immediately respawn</li>



<li>This does not replace normal Butcher spawns, so you can fight two at once</li>
</ul>



<p>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.</p>



<div class="blizzard-blue-post">
    <div class="d-flex align-items-center">
        <div>
            <img decoding="async" class="blizzard-logo" src="https://static.icy-veins.com/wp/static/public/blizzard-icon-small.png" alt="Blizzard Logo" />
        </div>
        <div>
            <a class="source-link" target="_blank" href="https://news.blizzard.com/en-us/article/24247516/the-2-6-0-ptr-what-you-need-to-know"><span class="white">(</span> Source URL <span class="white">)</span> </a>
        </div>
    </div>
    <hr class="blizzard-line" />
    <h3>The 2.6.0 PTR: What You Need to Know</h3>
    <div class="blizzard-blue-post-content">
        <p>The 2.6.0 Public Test Realm (PTR) for Diablo IV will be available from <b>February 3, 10:00 a.m. PST</b> to <b>February 10, 10 a.m. PST</b>, 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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Here is what the 2.6.0 PTR will preview ahead of next season.</p>
<h3>A Note on the Upcoming Season</h3>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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!</p>
<h2>Unleash Your Rage with Killstreak System</h2>
<p>Indulge in bloodthirsty carnage to grow progressively stronger—maintain a fast, efficient slew of kills to increase your power and earn rewards.</p>
<p><a class="lightbox" href="https://bnetcmsus-a.akamaihd.net/cms/page_media/B5SOFETSPQTD1769645253377.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img decoding="async" class="no-border no-shadow" src="https://bnetcmsus-a.akamaihd.net/cms/page_media/B5SOFETSPQTD1769645253377.png" alt="" /></a></p>
<p>The Killstreak system changes the way you play across every activity in Diablo IV.</p>
<ul>
<li>Slaughter your enemies in quick succession to begin your Killstreak,
<ul>
<li>As your killstreak begins, a pop-up will start tracking your kill count.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Once the Killstreak begins, there’ll be a short period of time before your Killstreak begins to deplete.</li>
<li>Continue your Killstreak with merciless pace:
<ul>
<li>Refresh your Killstreak timer with additional kills, direct damage, or on initial damage-over-time application.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Killstreaks are marked by five distinct tiers based off current streak’s total:</p>
<ul>
<li>Killstreak</li>
<li>Carnage</li>
<li>Devastation</li>
<li>Bloodbath</li>
<li>Massacre</li>
</ul>
<p>When the timer bar fully depletes, the Killstreak is over.</p>
<ul>
<li>Experience and seasonal reputation are gained at the end of a Killstreak.</li>
<li>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.
<ul>
<li>Note: seasonal reputation will not be present in the PTR.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>If you should perish while in a Killstreak, it will immediately end without rewards.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://news.blizzard.com/en-us/article/24247516/the-2-6-0-ptr-what-you-need-to-know#Top">Back to Top</a></p>
<hr />
<p><a name="Rain"></a></p>
<h2>Rain Crimson with Bloodied Items</h2>
<p>Bloodied Items are a new Item Quality you can harness in combination with your Killstreaks to heighten the bloodshed.</p>
<p><a class="lightbox" href="https://bnetcmsus-a.akamaihd.net/cms/page_media/3SLM6Z149COZ1769645246594.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img decoding="async" class="no-border no-shadow" src="https://bnetcmsus-a.akamaihd.net/cms/page_media/3SLM6Z149COZ1769645246594.png" alt="" /></a></p>
<p>Bloodied Items have affixes which scale in power based off your current <b>Killstreak Tier</b>.</p>
<ul>
<li>Any item that can drop can potentially appear as <b>Bloodied</b>.</li>
<li>This Item Quality tag is non-exclusive, and an item can be both Ancestral and Bloodied.</li>
</ul>
<p>Bloodied Affixes come in three categories:</p>
<ul>
<li><b>Rampage:</b>
<ul>
<li>Increase in power based off current <b>Killstreak Tier</b></li>
<li>Applies to Armor</li>
<li>Ex: <i>Killstreak: 7%[+] Move Speed per Killstreak Tier in your Killstreak</i></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><b>Feast:</b>
<ul>
<li>Apply Combat bonuses based off total kills in your current Killstreak</li>
<li>Applies to Weapons</li>
<li>Ex: <i>Every 40 Kills in your Killstreak, reset 1 random Cooldown</i></li>
<li>These bonuses are constant and are not tied to Killstreak Tier</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><b>Hunger:</b>
<ul>
<li>Customizes reward offerings, which scale with Killstreak Tiers</li>
<li>Ex: <i>Elite kills will drop Runes more frequently</i></li>
<li>Applies to Jewelry</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>As with other Affixes, Bloodied Affixes stack their effects.</p>
<p><a href="https://news.blizzard.com/en-us/article/24247516/the-2-6-0-ptr-what-you-need-to-know#Top">Back to Top</a></p>
<hr />
<p><a name="Unlock"></a></p>
<h2>Unlock Slaughter with Bloodied Sigils</h2>
<p><a class="lightbox" href="https://bnetcmsus-a.akamaihd.net/cms/page_media/7BYTVC3FWWNQ1769645250756.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img decoding="async" class="no-border no-shadow" src="https://bnetcmsus-a.akamaihd.net/cms/page_media/7BYTVC3FWWNQ1769645250756.png" alt="" /></a></p>
<p>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.</p>
<ul>
<li>Nightmare Dungeons, Infernal Hordes, and Lair Bosses each have Bloodied Sigils.</li>
<li>These potent Sigils only become available once you reach Torment I.</li>
</ul>
<p><a class="lightbox" href="https://bnetcmsus-a.akamaihd.net/cms/page_media/NODDFC6FRPHD1769645246805.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img decoding="async" class="no-border no-shadow" src="https://bnetcmsus-a.akamaihd.net/cms/page_media/NODDFC6FRPHD1769645246805.png" alt="" /></a></p>
<p>Bloodied Sigils</p>
<ul>
<li>Each Bloodied Sigil carries a Bloodied Affix, <b>Relentless Butcher</b>. 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!</li>
<li>This does not replace the existing chance to have Butcher spawns, there is the chance to fight both Butchers simultaneously.</li>
<li>Expect the activity in the Bloodied Sigil to be around a Torment Tier higher in difficulty than your current Torment Tier.</li>
</ul>
<p>Bloodied Sigils reward this significant challenge with guaranteed drops of Bloodied Items.</p>
<p><a href="https://news.blizzard.com/en-us/article/24247516/the-2-6-0-ptr-what-you-need-to-know#Top">Back to Top</a></p>
<hr />
<p><a name="New"></a></p>
<h2>New Unique Items</h2>
<p>Wield these tools of demonic dismemberment to beat back the Butcher and continue your slaughter.</p>
<h4>Blood-Mad Idol—Unique Amulet</h4>
<p>Affixes:</p>
<ul>
<li>51- 65 All Stats</li>
<li>8.3-10% Attack Speed</li>
<li>7-8% Critical Strike Chance</li>
<li>17.5-31.5% Damage Reduction while Injured</li>
</ul>
<p>Power:</p>
<ul>
<li>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.</li>
</ul>
<p>Useable by: All Classes</p>
<p><a class="lightbox" href="https://bnetcmsus-a.akamaihd.net/cms/page_media/RR6RVSTEYKZ01769645254830.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img decoding="async" class="no-border no-shadow" src="https://bnetcmsus-a.akamaihd.net/cms/page_media/RR6RVSTEYKZ01769645254830.png" alt="" /></a></p>
<h4>Wendigo Brand—Unique Ring</h4>
<p>Affixes:</p>
<ul>
<li>424-457 Life</li>
<li>855-1086 Life Regen</li>
<li>146-159 Life on Hit</li>
<li>441-490 Physical Resistance</li>
</ul>
<p>Power:</p>
<ul>
<li>Every 15 kills in the last 30-60 seconds increases your damage dealt by 2%, and Maximum Health by 1%.</li>
</ul>
<p>Useable by: All Classes</p>
<p><a class="lightbox" href="https://bnetcmsus-a.akamaihd.net/cms/page_media/UV16JIF6Q49Z1769645247753.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img decoding="async" class="no-border no-shadow" src="https://bnetcmsus-a.akamaihd.net/cms/page_media/UV16JIF6Q49Z1769645247753.png" alt="" /></a></p>
<h4>Rustbitten Dirk—Unique Dagger</h4>
<p>Affixes:</p>
<ul>
<li>51-65 All Stats</li>
<li>424-457 Life</li>
<li>8.3-10% Attack Speed</li>
<li>40-50% Vulnerable Damage</li>
</ul>
<p>Power:</p>
<ul>
<li>Deal 50-100% increased damage to isolated enemies.</li>
</ul>
<p>Useable by: Sorcerer, Druid, Rogue, Necromancer</p>
<h4>Wyrdskin—Unique Gloves</h4>
<p>Affixes:</p>
<ul>
<li>424-457 Life</li>
<li>1-2 Ranks to Core Skills</li>
<li>7-8% Critical Strike Chance</li>
<li>8.3-10% Attack Speed</li>
</ul>
<p>Power:</p>
<ul>
<li>Attacks apply Vulnerable to Distant Enemies, and Weakened to Close Enemies. Deal 10-30% increased damage to Enemies that are both Vulnerable and Weakened.</li>
</ul>
<p>Useable by: All Classes</p>
<h4>Thousand-Eye Reaver—Unique One-Handed Axe</h4>
<p>Affixes:</p>
<ul>
<li>424-457 Life</li>
<li>7-8% Critical Strike Chance</li>
<li>36.5-50% Movement Speed on Elite Kill</li>
<li>Lucky Hit: Up to a 40% Chance to Deal 900-2,400 Physical Damage</li>
</ul>
<p>Power:</p>
<ul>
<li>Moving grants Ferocity, and Maximum Ferocity is increased by 1-3. Ferocity also increases Movement Speed by 4-8% per stack.</li>
</ul>
<p>Useable by: Barbarian, Druid, Necromancer, Paladin</p>
<p><a href="https://news.blizzard.com/en-us/article/24247516/the-2-6-0-ptr-what-you-need-to-know#Top">Back to Top</a></p>
<hr />
<p><a name="Features"></a></p>
<h2>Features Offered for Testing</h2>
<p>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.</p>
<h3>PTR Boost</h3>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Additionally, when your Account is copied for the PTR, your character names will no longer be changed to ‘default.’</p>
<p>The following items are available through the PTR Boosts. Anything highlighted in blue has been updated since the last PTR:</p>
<h4>Crafting &amp; Materials</h4>
<ul>
<li>Grant Gold</li>
<li>Grant Obols</li>
<li>Grant All Materials</li>
<li>Unlock Masterworking</li>
<li>Grant All Temper Manuals</li>
<li>Grant Lair Keys</li>
<li>Grant Tributes</li>
<li>Grant Infernal Compasses</li>
<li>Grant Nightmare Escalation Sigils</li>
</ul>
<h4>Equipment</h4>
<ul>
<li>Grant All Runes</li>
<li>Max All Aspects</li>
<li>Grant Random Legendaries*</li>
<li>Grant All Uniques*</li>
</ul>
<p><i>Note: To receive Helms and Amulets from the PTR Boost, you must be at least <b>Level 7</b> and <b>Level 15</b> respectively. Please use one of the level boosts to level past this point to receive these specific items.*</i></p>
<h4>Paragon</h4>
<ul>
<li>Grant All Glyphs</li>
<li>Max All Glyphs</li>
</ul>
<h4>Progression</h4>
<ul>
<li>Complete Campaign &amp; All Strongholds (Unlocks Whispers and the Artificer’s Obelisk)</li>
<li>Set Level to 50</li>
<li>Set Level to 60</li>
<li>Unlock All Waypoints &amp; Reveal Map</li>
<li>Unlock All Torment Tiers</li>
<li>Set Paragon to Level 200</li>
</ul>
<h4>Seasonal</h4>
<ul>
<li>Grant Bloodied Items</li>
<li>Grant Seasonal Activity Keys (Bloodied Sigils)</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://news.blizzard.com/en-us/article/24247516/the-2-6-0-ptr-what-you-need-to-know#Top">Back to Top</a></p>
<hr />
<p><a name="Feedback"></a></p>
<h2>How to Provide Feedback</h2>
<p>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!</p>
<p>You can provide feedback through the in-game feedback tool of the <a href="https://us.forums.blizzard.com/en/d4/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Diablo IV PTR forums</a>. Pressing the <b>ESC</b> 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.</p>
    </div>
</div>



<p>If you play Diablo 4 regularly, this PTR is absolutely worth checking out! For more guides or information, you can also <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/news/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">check our latest news</a>, where we will detail all the upcoming Season 12 features!</p>


Diablo 4 Reveals Season 12 With Killstreaks & Bloodied Items!


<p>There is currently growing frustration among Diablo 4 players regarding Season 11&#8217;s mid-season content, especially the increased Compass drop rate and Chaos Waves event <strong>linked to Infernal Hordes</strong>. </p>



<p>Although most players agree that the season overall has been one of the best so far, <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/news/why-you-should-participate-in-the-diablo-4-compass-to-carnage-event/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">this particular &#8220;event&#8221;</a> is being widely ignored. </p>



<p>You can check out <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/diablo4/comments/1qpm6vc/loving_this_season_but_the_new_event_is_wholly/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">this Reddit <span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">thread</span></a> to see some of the current community sentiment for yourself.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Infernal Hordes Are Not It</h2>



<p>The main issue that players bring up is not that <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/guides/infernal-hordes-guide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Infernal Hordes</a> are broken, but that they just feel&#8230; pointless. A lot of the gameplay during Infernal Hordes comes down to running in circles while staring at the minimap, with <strong>rewards that do not justify the time spent</strong>. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The path ahead is paved with carnage.<br><br>The Compass to Carnage is Live Now. Take down even more Chaos Waves to earn additional Infernal Compasses and increased Aether now through Feb 4. <a href="https://t.co/lqgqygOdd2">pic.twitter.com/lqgqygOdd2</a></p>&mdash; Diablo (@Diablo) <a href="https://twitter.com/Diablo/status/2016576248474898747?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2026</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<p>Compass overflow has also become a bit of a running joke. By now, a lot of players are sitting on dozens or even hundreds of Compasses, either selling them for one gold or simply deleting them. With only the final chest really mattering, more Aether from Chaos Waves does not change much.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Chaos Waves Feel Like a Checkbox</h2>



<p>Chaos Waves are generally seen as slightly better than regular Hordes, although that is mostly just because of extra Aether and the occasional Goblin spawn. Even then, however, most players only run them to finish seasonal objectives and then move on.</p>



<p>Of course, some players also farm <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/guides/infernal-hordes-guide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Infernal Hordes</a> because they actually like the activity, but for the majority of players, there are other things to do in-game that are a little bit more fun.</p>



<p>That is not to say that the system is bad; it just does not feel worth farming right now, at the tail end of Season 11.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Where Players Are Spending Their Time Instead</h2>



<p>At this point <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/guides/diablo-4-latest-season/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">in the season</a>, rather than touching Hordes, most players are sticking to more efficient and rewarding loops:</p>



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/guides/lair-boss-system-guide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lair bosses</a> like Andariel, Duriel, and Belial for Mythics and GA gear</li>



<li>Azmodan runs for sigils, Ascendance, and keys</li>



<li>Hidden Armory and Dark Citadel for scrolls and upgrades</li>



<li><a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/news/why-players-farm-normal-azmodan-diablo-4/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Azmodan AFK farming</a> to level seasonal perks</li>
</ul>



<p>Thanks to earlier events, especially the Goblin event, most players are already flooded with materials. More resource drops do not solve anything.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What The Community Would Want in Diablo 4</h2>



<p>If you take a look at similar threads or topics throughout the online community of <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Diablo 4</a> platforms right now, you will find a few common suggestions that keep coming up in said discussions:</p>



<ul>
<li>Bring back the Goblin event</li>



<li>Add Pit progression or upgrades</li>



<li>Give Aether better uses, like XP or gear-focused chests</li>



<li>Make Hordes more interactive, not just longer</li>
</ul>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full has-custom-border"><img decoding="async" src="https://static.icy-veins.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/s10-chaos-waves-d4.webp" alt="" class="wp-image 95409" style="border-radius:8px"/></figure>



<p>It is pretty clear that players are not asking for more stuff; they just want more reasons to care. And right now, this event is not giving them one.</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<p>For more updates on events, seasons, and beyond, visit our <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/news/">Diablo 4 News hub</a>.</p>


Diablo 4 Players Are Ignoring Season 11’s New Event


<p>It’s been a while since the initial reveal of Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred, and Blizzard is keeping the excitement alive. As part of building hype, the <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/news/preorder-lord-of-hatred-to-unlock-paladin-early-in-diablo-4/"><strong>Paladin</strong> was introduced </a><a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/news/preorder-lord-of-hatred-to-unlock-paladin-early-in-diablo-4/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">d</a><a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/news/preorder-lord-of-hatred-to-unlock-paladin-early-in-diablo-4/">uring Season 11</a>, and while fans are loving the new class, one question still remains: <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/news/lord-of-hatred-second-new-class-after-paladin/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">when will we see the second class revealed?</a></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What is Happening in February</h2>



<p>Blizzard recently announced a <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/wow/news/wow-players-finally-get-a-date-for-blizzards-next-big-reveal/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">new series of Franchise Spotlight livestreams</a>, with <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/news/diablo-4-blizzard-spotlight-february-11/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Diablo 4 scheduled for its own dedicated day on <strong>February 11th</strong></a>. So far, details on the new class remain a mystery.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Get ready to tune-in! 🔔 The next chapter of Blizzard begins, and you don’t want to miss a moment.<br><br>Franchise Spotlight Schedule (PT):<br>⚔️ WoW — Jan 29 @ 9am<br>⚡Overwatch — Feb 4 @ 10am<br>✨ Hearthstone — Feb 9 @ 9:30am<br>🔥Diablo — Feb 11 @ 2pm <a href="https://t.co/dBrDLppdcy">pic.twitter.com/dBrDLppdcy</a></p>&mdash; Blizzard Entertainment (@Blizzard_Ent) <a href="https://twitter.com/Blizzard_Ent/status/2015803305054642283?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2026</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<p>Several theories have already emerged. One of the most popular suggests we could finally see a <strong>new caster</strong>, <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/news/diablo-4s-next-class-may-focus-on-dark-magic-and-summoning/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">possibly with a darker theme</a> to balance the Paladin. Other speculation points to a class tied to the <strong>Willpower stat</strong>, as the Druid is currently the only class in Diablo 4 that heavily relies on it.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">New Diablo 4 Class &amp; Season?</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" src="https://static.icy-veins.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/d4-paladin-diciple.webp" alt="" class="wp-image 115964" /></figure>



<p>February is shaping up to be a big month for Diablo 4 fans. Many have been eagerly awaiting updates since the Lord of Hatred reveal, and the timing suggests the new class could debut just before <strong>Season 12</strong> launches in March. <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/news/something-big-is-coming-to-diablo-4-in-february-2026/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The blank slate in February</a> has fueled speculation that Blizzard is saving the big reveal for this livestream, likely alongside news about the upcoming collaboration event.</p>



<p>For now, Blizzard is keeping things in the dark, but merely calling this event a &#8220;spotlight&#8221; suggests it will be more than a quick update. Of course, anything is on the table. Lore explanations, plans for the future, or anything else.</p>



<p>We will just have to wait and see what the hells have instore.</p>


Is the Next Diablo 4 Class Coming in February?


<p>Blizzard has just launched the Compass to Carnage event in <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Diablo 4</a>, giving players a big reason to jump back into Infernal Hordes content. The event is live now and will end on <strong>February 4, 2026</strong>, offering more rewards, faster progression, and better farming potential for everyone!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What is Compass to Carnage</h2>



<p>Compass to Carnage is a returning event that increases the amount of <a class="icy-gtnbrg-link" href="#"><span class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip"><img decoding="async" class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip-img" src="https://static.icy-veins.com/wp/static/d4/latest/images/icons/2DInventory_DungeonSigils_7.webp" alt="Infernal Compass"><span class="tooltip-spell-name" data-item-type="Reputation Cache" data-item-quality="normal">Infernal Compass</span></span></a>, Chaos Waves, and Aether in your Infernal Hordes. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" src="https://static.icy-veins.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/d4-compass-carnage.webp" alt="" class="wp-image 121370"/></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Why You Should Participate</h2>



<p>During the event, you will get more&nbsp;<a class="icy-gtnbrg-link" href="#"><span class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip"><img decoding="async" class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip-img" src="https://static.icy-veins.com/wp/static/d4/latest/images/icons/2DInventory_DungeonSigils_7.webp" alt="Infernal Compass"><span class="tooltip-spell-name" data-item-type="Reputation Cache" data-item-quality="normal">Infernal Compass</span></span></a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/guides/infernal-hordes-guide" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chaos Waves in the Infernal Hordes</a>, giving you even more opportunities to fight the Fell Council or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/guides/bartuc-infernal-hordes-boss-guide" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bartuc</a>, and earn even more rewards.</p>



<p>Each&nbsp;<a class="icy-gtnbrg-link" href="#"><span class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip"><img decoding="async" class="icy-gtnbrg-tooltip-img" src="https://static.icy-veins.com/wp/static/d4/latest/images/icons/2DInventory_DungeonSigils_7.webp" alt="Infernal Compass"><span class="tooltip-spell-name" data-item-type="Reputation Cache" data-item-quality="normal">Infernal Compass</span></span></a>&nbsp;you get during the event will now grant an additional one, doubling the number of Infernal Hordes runs you can participate in.</p>



<p>On top of that, inside the Infernal Hordes, Chaos Waves will appear more often as well. Sealing&nbsp;<a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/guides/chaos-rifts-guide" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chaos Rifts</a>&nbsp;will grant you extra Aether, making this week the perfect moment to farm Hordes and, at the same time, various gear and materials.</p>



<p>Compass to Carnage is also a great opportunity to make an Alt and level it really fast if you want to test another build or class.</p>



<p>The event is live right now, so it is the perfect time to prepare your best builds, or start a new one, and empty your stash tabs for all the compasses!</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<p>You can visit our <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/news/diablo-4-season-11-best-builds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">guides and tier lists</a>, or get more information in <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/news/diablo-4-mephisto-lore-before-lord-of-hatred/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">our latest news</a>!</p>


Why You Should Participate in the Diablo 4 Compass to Carnage Event


<p>Welcome back to <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/news/diablo-lore-bites-skovos-isles-diablo-4/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Diablo Lore Bites</a>, our ongoing series where we revisit key characters, places, and events from Diablo&#8217;s history.</p>



<p>With <strong>Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred</strong> coming up, it is worth taking a closer look at <strong>Mephisto</strong>, because a lot of what Diablo 4 has been doing so far makes more sense once you do.</p>



<p><a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/news/diablo-lore-bites-prime-evils-never-truly-die/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mephisto is not the kind of villain</a> who shows up early and starts burning everything down. He never has been. As the Lord of Hatred, his strength is not brute force, but timing. He lets things fall apart first, then steps in once the damage is already done.</p>



<p>That idea is what leads us right to the center of <a href="https://diablo4.blizzard.com/en-us/lord-of-hatred" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lord of Hatred</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Mephisto Does Not Lead the First Attack</h2>



<p>If there is one thing to understand about Mephisto going into the expansion, it is this: you are not meant to face him right away. Historically, Mephisto works through others. Followers, false leaders, corrupted figures of faith. He turns belief into a weapon and lets hatred spread on its own.</p>



<p>In Diablo 4, we already see this approach at work. <strong>Mephisto guides, nudges, and manipulates</strong> instead of conquering. Even the main boss fight of the expansion is against his Vessel, not Mephisto himself. He does not need Sanctuary to fear him yet. He needs it divided.</p>



<p>Lord of Hatred builds directly on that. The first real threats linked to Mephisto are not demons at the gates, but people who believe they are doing the right thing.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Faith, Disguises, and Familiar Patterns</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full has-custom-border"><img decoding="async" src="https://static.icy-veins.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/diablo-lucion-mephisto-son.webp" alt="" class="wp-image 121315" style="border-radius:8px"/></figure>



<p>Mephisto has a long history of hiding behind religion and divine authority. During the Sin War (still a great book trilogy), both he and <strong>his son Lucion</strong> used faith as a mask, presenting themselves as saviors while quietly spreading corruption. That pattern is important, because it keeps showing up.</p>



<p>Sanctuary after Diablo 4&#8217;s initial story is desperate. <strong>Lilith</strong> is gone, <strong>Inarius</strong> is gone, and the world is left without answers. That is exactly the kind of vacuum in which Mephisto operates best. When people are looking for purpose, he offers it. When they are looking for hope, he reshapes it into something darker.</p>



<p>If you have played any of the previous Diablo games, you will quickly notice that this is not new behavior. It is repetition.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Inarius and Unfinished Business</h2>



<p>Mephisto&#8217;s history with Inarius is also far from resolved. Mephisto orchestrated Inarius&#8217; capture and centuries of torture in the Burning Hells, breaking him long before Diablo 4 ever begins. What we see of Inarius in the base game is the result of that damage.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full has-custom-border"><img decoding="async" src="https://static.icy-veins.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/D4-news-inarius-chains.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image 47505" style="border-radius:8px"/></figure>



<p>Inarius did not just die. He was left to dissolve into hatred itself, and Mephisto has never wasted a powerful soul.</p>



<p>Corruption, resurrection, and twisted echoes of the past are tools he has used before, and Lord of Hatred will likely lean heavily into that idea.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Neyrelle, the Soulstone, and Mephisto&#8217;s Patience</h2>



<p>Neyrelle&#8217;s decision to take Mephisto&#8217;s soulstone is one of the most significant unresolved threads in <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Diablo 4</a> so far. Rather than presenting her as corrupted outright, the story emphasizes uncertainty, isolation, and burden… conditions Mephisto has exploited countless times before.</p>



<p>From a lore perspective, this fits Mephisto&#8217;s methods perfectly. He does not need immediate control. Proximity, time, and emotional strain are often enough. By placing his fate in the hands of a single mortal, Diablo 4 gives players a slow-burn narrative rather than a confrontation. </p>



<p>Although Vessel of Hatred received criticism for its slow and underwhelming ending to the campaign, this kind of setup makes sense for a story around Mephisto. It suggests the lore is designed to unfold over multiple big updates or expansions.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What This Means Going Forward</h2>



<p>Diablo 4&#8217;s <strong>Lord of Hatred expansion</strong> is not about a sudden escalation. It is about consequences.</p>



<p>Mephisto corrodes from the inside. He turns belief into resentment, allies into enemies, and history into weapons. The <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/news/diablo-lore-bites-lesser-evils-diablo-4/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bosses and threats</a> linked to him are not random. They exist because hatred has already taken root somewhere.</p>



<p>Before Lord of Hatred begins, the important thing to remember is this:<br>If Mephisto is involved, the real damage happened long before we ever pick up a weapon to fight him.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full has-custom-border"><img decoding="async" src="https://static.icy-veins.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/d4-mephisto-expansion.webp" alt="" class="wp-image 115748" style="border-radius:8px"/></figure>



<p>This is part of our Lore Bites series, where we take a closer look at Diablo&#8217;s lore whenever it becomes relevant again. With Lord of Hatred coming up, Mephisto&#8217;s role is only just beginning.</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<p>For even more lore updates, guides, and builds, head back to our <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/d4/news/">Diablo 4 News hub</a>.</p>


Diablo 4 Season 12 Is Smaller on Purpose and That Is the Point

The 2.6.0 PTR will be available from February 3, 10:00 a.m. PST to February 10, 10 a.m. PST

A Note on the Upcoming Season

What You Will Be Testing on the PTR

Why a Smaller Season Is Probably Intentional

What to Expect Going In

Diablo IV News