d3 Patch 2.6.10 Testing Extended + New Balance & Item Changes: October 21st

[Staff 1,490]

Blizzard has extended Patch 2.6.10 testing on the PTR and there are also some item changes, seasonal updates, and bug fixes in the latest PTR update.

(Source)

Update on October 21: A new PTR patch has been implemented and PTR playtesting has been extended to October 27. Item changes, seasonal updates, and bug fix details have now been updated.

Update on October 14: We are extending PTR for an unspecified amount of time to troubleshoot latency and login issues. At this time you may notice the Seasonal Theme content being enabled and disabled at certain points of the test. 

Update on October 8: 2.6.10 PTR has been updated. Please see below for changes with "Developer's Note" annotations in RED.

Our two-week PTR testing period for the 2.6.10 update begins October 1 and we're asking for your help to quell the tides of surging demons. Take a look at the preliminary patch notes below and start theorycrafting how you'll make the most of the brand-new season content, a new item, and tons of Legendary item changes; Patch 2.6.10 will be arriving soon.

Table of Contents

• PTR Focus & Details
  • PTR Tips
• Patch Notes
  • Seasons
  • Items
• Bug Fixes
• How to Participate in PTR
• PTR Character Copy

Please note that this is a preview for PTR content, which is subject to change.

PTR Focus & Details

We’ll be conducting the Patch 2.6.10 PTR, and phasing in content updates over the course of two weeks, starting Thursday, October 1. During this time there may be periodic maintenances, outages, hotfixes, or minor patches. This time around, testing will consist of two phases:

• Phase 1 - October 1: During this phase, we will be introducing Legendary and Set item changes
• Phase 2 – October 8: In this phase, we will be adding the Seasonal Theme content

NOTE: Phase 1 content will persist throughout the entirety of the PTR. Phase 2 content will be an addition to the existing content. 

There will be two PTR-unique buffs active to help you on your journey: increased Legendary drop rate and double Blood Shard drops. You can also buy new gear for testing from the special PTR vendor, Djank Mi'em, who will exchange Blood Shards for class-specific bags full of Legendary items that we'd love for you to test!

Class Changes: To ensure that the most significant class changes receive an ample amount of attention, we'd love for you to focus testing and feedback on the Wizard changes around Etched Sigils and Hydras, the Crusader’s Steed Charge build, and the Witch Doctor’s Crazy Chicken build.

So that we can efficiently review your posts, feedback should be provided in the PTR Feedback forum while bug reports should be provided in the PTR Bug Report forum. 

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PTR Testing Tips

As with our previous PTRs, this testing period is short, so it's best to hit the ground running. Whether you’re a PTR veteran or newcomer, we thought we’d pass along a few tips to get you started.

• Because of the limited duration of this PTR, we ask that participants pick a particular portion of this update to focus on testing.
  • For example, if you’re primarily a Wizard player, consider what changes impact the Wizard specifically. What you like best, what you think may still need adjustment, and what you’d want to see in the future (even if that may be beyond the scope of this patch) are all good questions to ask yourself.
• Prior to the start of PTR, consider stocking up on items like Puzzle Rings and Bovine Bardiches. Having these available after you import your character can make any necessary PTR farming much faster!
• Try to break things! Just tell us when you do so we can make sure that the patch launch is as smooth as possible.
• When providing feedback, focus less on a solution and more on your experience. How did the changes make you feel? Was there something “off” that you noticed? Did something seem wrong or insufficient? Suggestions are always welcome but identifying the issues themselves is most important.

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Patch Notes

Below you will find the patch notes for the upcoming update for Diablo III, Patch 2.6.10.

PATCH 2.6.10

Table of Contents:

• Seasons
• Items
• Bug Fixes

Note: All changes apply to all versions of Diablo III, including PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC unless otherwise indicated.

Seasons

The shadows, they are moving, and they seem… animated. It is as though they have a will of their own. Whatever this trickery is, perhaps you can use it to your advantage. Let’s see what the demons say when you fight side by side with your own shadow!

Shadows of the Past: Activating a Shrine/Pylon will spawn in a shadow clone of your class. This clone will randomly have 1 out of 3 predetermined builds. This clone's power will scale with your character and will last for 1 minute or if your character dies. See below for the shadow clone variations that can spawn when activating.

Developer's Note: We appreciate and gathered feedback regarding the initial list of skills from the clones. We have decided to remove all hard crowd control effects from all kits and balanced each of the build variants to not have a potential buff that is more beneficial than the other 2 in the same class.

Developer's Note: Adjusted Seasonal Theme's Shadow Clone damage numbers and they can now move unhindered through enemies. Damage numbers should now be more even across all classes

Witch Doctor

Build Variation 1	Build Variation 2	Build Variation 3
Grasp of the Dead - Rain of Corpses	Wall of Death - Fire Wall	Haunt - Poisoned Spirit
Piranhas - Zombie Piranhas	Firebomb - Flash Fire	Spirit Barrage - The Spirit is Willing
Acid Cloud - Kiss of Death	Acid Cloud - Corpse Bomb	Wall of Death - Communing with Spirits
Zombie Charger - Zombie Bears	Piranhas - Zombie Piranhas	Piranhas - Zombie Piranhas
Corpse Spiders - Medusa Spiders	Zombie Charger - Explosive Beast	Acid Cloud - Slow Burn
Locust Swarm - Diseased Swarm	Spirit Barrage - Well of Souls	Grasp of the dead - Unbreakable Grasp

Wizard

Build Variation 1	Build Variation 2	Build Variation 3
Arcane Orb - Frozen Orb	Meteor - Molten Impact	Arcane Orb - Obliteration
Frost Nova - Bone Chill	Arcane Orb - Scorch	Disintegrate - Volatility
Blizzard - Unrelenting Storm	Explosive Blast - Short Fuse	Wave of Force - Debilitating Force
Energy Twister - Raging Storm	Blizzard - Apocalypse	Slow Time - Exhaustion
Explosive Blast - Obliterate	Wave of Force - Heat Wave	Energy Twister - Raging Storm
Ray of Frost - Black Ice	Disintegrate - Convergence	Meteor - Star Pact

Barbarian

Build Variation 1	Build Variation 2	Build Variation 3
Seismic Slam - Rumble	Battle Rage - Marauder's Rage	Battle Rage - Ferocity
Threatening Shout - Falter	Threatening Shout - Falter	Threatening Shout - Falter
Avalanche - Volcano	Wrath of The Berserker - Insanity	Leap - Launch
Earthquake - Molten Fury	Sprint - Run Like the Wind	Wrath of The Berserker - Insanity
Wrath of The Berserker - Insanity	Whirlwind - Dust Devils	Bash - Pulverize
Ancient Spear - Boulder Toss	Rend - Lacerate	Hammer of The Ancients - Rolling Thunder

Monk

Build Variation 1	Build Variation 2	Build Variation 3
Lashing Tail Kick - Sweeping Armada	Fists of Thunder - Static Charge	Exploding Palm - Essence Burn
Seven-Sided Strike - Fulminating Onslaught	Way of the Hundred Fists - Hands of Lightning	Seven-Sided Strike - Sudden Assault
Inner Sanctuary - Intervene	Crippling Wave - Concussion	Lashing Tail Kick - Spinning Flame Kick
Epiphany - Soothing Mist	Lashing Tail Kick - Vulture Claw Kick	Sweeping Wind - Fire Storm
Breath of Heaven - Circle of Scorn	Dashing Strike - Barrage	Wave of Light - Explosive Light
Wave of Light - Empowered Wave	Sweeping Wind - Blade Storm	Epiphany - Inner Fire

Necromancer

Build Variation 1	Build Variation 2	Build Variation 3
Land of the Dead - Plaguelands	Land of the Dead - Plaguelands	Land of the Dead - Plaguelands
Frailty - Early Grave	Frailty - Early Grave	Frailty - Early Grave
Army of the Dead - Dead Storm	Army of the Dead - Blighted Grasp	Bone Spirit - Poltergeist
Corpse Explosion - Final Embrace	Corpse Lance - Ricochet	Corpse Lance - Blood Lance
Bone Spear - Blood Spear	Bone Spear - Blighted Marrow	Bone Spear - Shatter
Death Nova - Blood Nova	Death Nova - Blight	Death Nova - Bone Nova

Demon Hunter

Build Variation 1	Build Variation 2	Build Variation 3
Marked for Death - Valley of Death	Marked for Death - Valley of Death	Marked for Death - Valley of Death
Caltrops - Jagged Spikes	Rain Of Vengeance - Dark Cloud	Rain Of Vengeance - Shade
Fan of Knives - Assassin's Knives	Cluster Arrow - Shooting Stars	Cluster Arrow - Maelstrom
Chakram - Twin Chakrams	Multishot - Arsenal	Impale - Overpenetration
Vengeance - Side Cannons	Vengeance - Personal Mortar	Chakram - Serpentine
Impale - Ricochet	Elemental Arrow - Immolation arrow	Elemental Arrow - Frost Arrow

Crusader

Build Variation 1	Build Variation 2	Build Variation 3
Akarat's Champion - Fire Starter	Akarat's Champion - Hasteful	Akarat's Champion - Rally
Falling Sword - Superheated	Iron Skin - Flash	Falling Sword - Rapid Descent
Sweep Attack - Blazing Sweep	Blessed Shield - Shattering Throw	Heaven's Fury - Split Fury
Consecration - Shattered Ground	Consecration - Bathed in Light	Fist of the Heavens - Retribution
Bombardment - Annihilate	Blessed Hammer - Limitless	Iron Skin - Explosive Skin
Condemn - Reciprocate	Condemn - Unleashed	Condemn - Shattering Explosion

Rewards: Two unique new rewards, a portrait frame, and a pet will be granted to players who complete the Season 22 Guardian Journey.

Kanai’s Cube: Additionally, the Kanai’s Cube will have a fourth slot this season. This fourth slot will have the choices of the first 3 slots but will not stack with any of them. The intent is to provide players with creative flexibility to their character builds.

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Items

General

• Haedrig’s Gifts now grants all class sets and we have a new rotation schedule. This upcoming season, depending on which class you choose, Haedrig’s Gifts will reward you with Horde of the Ninety Savages, Aegis of Valor, Gears of Dreadlands, Patterns of Justice, Masquerade of the Burning Carnival, Mundunugu’s Regalia, or Typhon’s Veil.
• Stone Gauntlets now drops for all classes.
• Paragon Bonus Gold Find has been changed to Gold Pickup Radius at 0.1 per point.

Item Changes

• New Item* Gelmindor’s Marrow Guards: Bone Spear cast from Simulacrums deal 400-500% 300-400% increased damage.

  Developer's Note: We see how strong this is performing. We would like to tweak it back a little for now.

• Ivory Tower: Rapid multiple blocks will now scale the damage for Fires of Heaven, up to a maximum of 2.5 times damage.
• Mantle of Channeling: Removed the 1 second start up before the power takes effect.
• The Twisted Sword: The Twisted Sword: Energy Twister damage is increased by 125-150% for each Energy Twister you have out up to a maximum of 5. The Raging Storm rune is automatically applied to Energy Twister and allows the tornado to merge with 3 additional Energy Twisters. Unfortunately, this item is not available with PTR vendor, Djank Mi'em.

  Developer's Note: We want to address the lag situation of multiple Energy Twisters doing AoE by allowing them to combine up to 5 while dealing with their combined damage. We will monitor the situation and see if this is the correct approach. 

• Etched Sigil: While channeling Arcane Torrent, Disintegrate, or Ray of Frost, the damage of your Energy Twister is increased by 200-250%, and you also cast Energy Twister every second.
• Fragment of Destiny: Your Signature Spells attack 50% faster and deal triple damage. You gain a Spectral buff whenever you land an attack with a Signature Spell. Hydras deal 25-30% increased damage for each Spectral stack. Max 10 stacks.
• Valthek's Rebuke: Energy Twister now travels in a straight path and deals 300-400% increased damage.
• Winter Flurry: Enemies killed by Cold damage have a 25% chance to release a Frost Nova. Your Hydra deals 125-150% increased damage to enemies in a Blizzard.
• Wizardspike: Performing an attack has a 25% chance to hurl a Frozen Orb. Arcane Orb deals 300-350% increased damage.
• Delsere's Magnum Opus: 6 piece bonus increased from 8500% to 12500%.
• The Typhon's Veil: 6 piece bonus increased from 1300% to 2000%.
• Norvald's Fervor: Buff 2 piece bonus damage from 100% to 400%
• Armor of Akkhan: Buff 6 piece bonus damage from 1500% to 2000%
• Roland's Legacy: Buff 4 piece bonus damage from 13,000% to 17,500%
• Seeker of the Light: Buff 6 piece Blessed Hammer bonus damage from 12,000% to 15,000%
• Belt of the Trove: Every 4 seconds, call down Bombardment on a random nearby enemy. Bombardment deals 400-500% increased damage.
• Mortal Drama: Double the number of Bombardment impacts. Bombardement deals 400-500% increased damage.
• Thorns of The Invoker: 2-Piece bonus decreased from 350% to 90% and has a cap of 10 stacks. 6-piece bonus increased from 15,000% to 67,500% and increased attack speed bonus from 50% to 100%.

  Developer's Note: This is to address the Bombardment build that Crusaders have been tearing across the board. We've severely nerfed the 2-piece and compensated in the 6-piece. We also thought about extending the duration of the buff past 2 seconds, but we rather change a couple of things first rather than too many things to see how things play out.

• Manajuma's Way: Angry Chicken explosion damage increased from 400% to 2000%. Manajuma's Way now includes a third legendary affix, which allows angry chicken to spawn a chicken that seeks enemies every second that deals 25% of the angry chicken's explosion damage. 

Developer's Note: This build wasn't clearing T16 as fast as we want, so we wanted to give it more juice in an interesting way

• New Item* Ursua's Trodden Effigy: New Witch Doctor Legendary mojo buffing Zombie Charger 100-150%, and spawning more Zombie Bears. Unfortunately, this item is not available with PTR vendor, Djank Mi'em.

  Developer's Note: More, Bears

• Spirit of Arachyr: Buff 6 piece bonus damage from 9000% to 17,500%.
• Helltooth Harness: Buff 6 piece bonus damage from 9000% to 17,500%.
• Scrimshaw: Reduces the Mana cost of Zombie Charger by 75% and increases its damage by 6-7 times.
• Inna's Mantra: Buff 6 piece bonus damage from 750% to 950%.
• Shenlong's Spirit: Damage bonus increased from 200% to 350%.
• Uliana's Strategem Set: Now has 77% damage reduction for 7 seconds after applying Exploding Palm.

  Developer's Note: This set needed damage reduction much more than a damage boost, so we'll see where this takes it.

• Gungdo Gear: Exploding Palm's on-death explosion applies Exploding Palm. Exploding Palm's damage is increased by 75-100%.
• Blade of the Tribes: War Cry and Threatening Shout cause an Avalanche and Earthquake. Avalanche and Earthquake both deal 150-200% increased damage. Consolidated Blade of the Tribes Earthquake affix into the new legendary affix so that it's no longer two affixes that buff Earthquake. 

   

  Developer's Note: This item had a standard affix that boosted earthquake by up to 200%, along with a legendary affix that boosted Avalanche and Earthquake. We've combined those two which means also buffing Avalanche at the same time.

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Bug Fixes

• Fixed an issue with PC Win32 (32-bit) and macOS clients crashing. Please share any issues on our PTR Bug Report section
• Fixed Wizardspike to more properly proc Frozen Orb.
• Simulacrums casting Grim Scythe with Haunted Visions no longer gain double benefit from Trag’Ouls Corroded Fang (currently bugged on the PTR)
• Blessed Hammer will now destroy itself after hitting 63 targets.
• Reduced the tick rate of Energy Twister by half and doubled its damage. (currently looking into improving this)
  • Reverted Energy Twister's tick rate and damage back to normal which is 0.5 seconds per tick.
• Fixed legacy items stacking with the new items from this PTR: Gundo Gear, Blade of the Tribes, Scrimshaw, Belt of the Trove, Mortal Drama, Winter Flurry, Wizardspike, Etched Sigil, and Fragment of Destiny
• Fixed Necromancer's pets doing extra damage to cursed enemies from a bug caused by the original fix for Haunted Visions + Trag'Ouls Corroded Fang.

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How to Participate

To participate in the public test, you must have a Diablo III game license attached to a Battle.net account in good standing (i.e. one that hasn't been suspended or banned). In addition, you will also need to download and install the Blizzard Battle.net desktop app if you have not already done so.

Step 1: Restart the Battle.net desktop app.

Step 2: Navigate to the Diablo III tab on the left-hand menu.

Step 3: On the Diablo III screen, there is a drop-down menu right above the "Play" button (note that this may say "Install" if you do not have Diablo III currently installed). Select "PTR: Diablo III" from this drop-down menu before proceeding.

Step 4: Click Install to begin the installation process.

Your PTR account will be created automatically if you do not already have one. The PTR is available in all supported languages, and accounts from all regions are eligible to participate. For additional assistance with installing and launching the PTR, click here.

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PTR Character Copy

The option to copy your existing Diablo III characters from your live account to the PTR will be available and can be done directly through the PTR client. However, only one region per account can be copied at a time. So, if you choose to copy characters from your account in a different region, any previously copied PTR characters will be lost.

Step 1: Log into the live game and then log out.

Step 2: Log into PTR client and create a level 1 character. After you're done, return to the main character screen.

Step 3: Click on the "PTR Copy" button located in the upper right-hand corner. (The PTR Copy button will not appear in-game until you have created a new level 1 character.)

Step 4: Select your region.

Step 5: Click "Copy." This will copy all characters on your account from the selected region.

Step 6: You will be disconnected from the PTR client.

Step 7: Log back in. Your copied characters will be available for play.

Please note that you can only copy characters from one gameplay region at a time. If you choose to copy characters from a different region, any previously copied PTR characters will be lost. In addition, you can only copy characters over to your PTR account once every 24 hours. Attempting to copy characters before this cooldown is up will result in an error.

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As this is a test server, please anticipate uneven game performance, and note that restarts and downtime may occur without warning. Thank you, and we look forward to your feedback!

[Notoriousthf 19]

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Thorns of The Invoker: 2-Piece bonus decreased from 350% to 90% and has a cap of 10 stacks. 6-piece bonus increased from 15,000% to 67,500% and increased attack speed bonus from 50% to 100%.

I knew bombsader was going to be good, but i never thought they'd go so far as nerfing it after giving us the option.