Yesterday, Blizzard released the blog post for Diablo IV Season 9, and it introduced more than just a few numbers or system changes. It also squeezed in a new Horadric Jewel that was not available in the PTR: Willbreaker.
While many players will be experimenting with elemental damage builds this season, the developers decided to give physical builds something to chase as well. But does Willbreaker actually fit into the current meta? That’s up for debate.
Let’s break down what this jewel does, how it works, and who it’s really good for.
What Is Willbreaker, and What Does It Do?
Willbreaker is one of the Horadric Jewels exclusive to Season 9. It can be slotted into amulets and rings on the Seasonal Realm. Those jewels increase both your armor and resistance to all elements, on top of giving you another bonus. Here is what Willbreaker does:
Physical damage you deal shatters enemies’ spirits, causing them to take 40%[x] more Physical damage for 6 seconds. This effect applies when first damaging a Boss or Elite, or when they are affected by Crowd Control.
Blizzard’s Intentions Behind the Jewel
Here is what Blizzard said about the Willbreaker:
“As this season offers extensive options for elemental character builds, we wanted to introduce this new Horadric Jewel so physical builds have something to chase as well.”
So, the idea was to give physical-focused players a meaningful new upgrade. But right now, it does go a bit against the seasonal meta that seemed to be focusing on Poison or Elemental damage.
However, this is not a bad thing since it means more build possibilities for the season!
Which Builds Actually Benefit From Willbreaker?
Barbarian – Excellent Fit
Barbarians remain the king of raw Physical power, and Willbreaker slots in perfectly with many of their builds. If you are not relying on Bleed or Thorns, this jewel’s 40% boost is huge.
Here are some good examples, but this is not an exhaustive list:
Of course, many more Barbarian builds can benefit from the jewel since it is a class that is overall focused on Physical damage.
Rogue – Solid in Non-Imbue Builds
Rogues that skip elemental Imbuements (
Poison Imbuement, 
Shadow Imbuement, 
Cold Imbuement) can benefit quite a lot from Willbreaker. The Physical Rogue archetype may be less common, but it exists.
Here are a few examples as well (if you go for a version without imbuements):
Again, the list is non-exhaustive, if you are going non-elemental Rogue, Willbreaker gives a nice burst window against Elites and Bosses.
Druid – Mixed Use
Willbreaker getting introduced is a welcome addition that will help cover all Druid builds that primarily deal physical type damage, as the last jewel slot was rather empty up until now for those.
Some examples include:
Druid builds can make use of Willbreaker, but keep in mind that most aren’t fully physical. If Landslide stays Physical, it could be the best fit.
Keep in mind that the builds listed for any of the classes are non-exhaustive! And in order to know if a class or build leans into Physical Damage it is best to directly check out the various guides we provide on our website! Some seasons may change who some builds are played, and there may be some surprises.
In the end, Willbreaker brings something new to the table in a season dominated by elemental builds, but how often it gets used is still unclear. It also depends on the balance adjustments that will be announced in the June 27 Campfire Chat.
If your build is already leaning into Physical damage, Willbreaker might be the jewel you’ve been waiting for. Otherwise? You will be better off chasing elemental synergy instead.
