Diablo 4 Update Introduces Game-Changing Buffs for The Butcher and Terrifying New Monsters!

Even after the full release of Diablo 4, the developers are actively working on addressing bugs and improving the game's balance. In the latest update, a range of balance adjustments have been implemented, with a particular focus on enhancing the power of monsters in Diablo 4. One notable change is the increase in HP scaling, which now stands at 100% per extra player, compared to the previous 85%. Additionally, defensive Item Affixes have been significantly weakened to create a more challenging experience, particularly as players progress to higher levels.

According to Blizzard's patch notes for update 1.1.0a, it has been observed that Diablo 4 players have been easily defeating higher-level monsters. While this is not necessarily a problem, Blizzard wants to ensure that bosses in the game present a significant challenge that players must strive to overcome. The recent balance changes introduced in patch 1.1.0a are intended to address this issue, and Blizzard will continue to monitor the game and make further adjustments if necessary.

Moreover, the latest update includes adjustments to items. For instance, the Slow effect on Diablo 4's Butcher's Cleaver has been increased from 40-75% to 61-75%. Drop rates for Ancestral and Sacred items in Nightmare Dungeons have also been increased, and enemies in these dungeons are now more likely to drop extra equipment. However, the likelihood of obtaining additional gear outside of Nightmare Dungeons and Helltide has been reduced. Additionally, the new update has made Rare and Legendary items more likely to drop in Nightmare Dungeons.

Developer’s Note: As our community continues to battle the Burning Hells, we have been amazed and delighted by the impressive builds created by new players. For Season of the Malignant, we have chosen to prioritize addressing imbalances in itemization rather than redesigning Class features. The changes to Class abilities primarily involve increasing the power of Skill Upgrades and Legendary Aspects that players have not yet found compelling. Additionally, we are modifying Critical Strike Damage Paragon Glyphs to enhance all types of damage, not just Core Skills, thereby allowing for more diverse build strategies. We have also made some adjustments to certain Class stats that currently provide excessive amounts of damage, healing, or Unstoppable. While we generally prefer to provide bonuses rather than decreases for build-specific changes, we believe these adjustments are necessary for the overall health of the game. Diablo IV is a game that continuously evolves with its Seasons, and therefore the adjustments we make will evolve alongside them.

The following balance updates will be applied to both the Seasonal and Eternal Realms.

Barbarian

Skills

Power Charge Cooldown reduction is now capped to 3 targets, for a maximum of 9 seconds of Cooldown reduction.

Tactical Ground Stomp Fury gain increased from 25 to 40.

Enhanced Death Blow's damage bonus to Bosses increased from 100% to 150%.

Enhanced Steel Grasp Vulnerable duration increased from 2.5 to 3 seconds.

Fighter’s Rupture healing increased from 15% to 18% Maximum Life.

Passives

Hamstring now only Slows Healthy enemies, and Slow amount increased from 10/20/30% to 20/40/60%.

Cut to the Bone Bleeding damage bonus to Vulnerable reduced from 6/12/18% to 5/10/15%.

Aspects

Relentless Berserker's Aspect Berserking duration increased from 1 to 2 seconds.

Battle-Mad Aspect Beserking duration increased from 1-2.5 to 2-3.5 seconds.

Brawler's Aspect damage increased from 1-1.3 to 1.5-1.8.

Aspect of Burning Rage damage increased from .08-.14 to .22-.28.

Aspect of the Iron Warrior Damage Reduction increased from 15-25% to 18-28%.

Weapon Master's Aspect Lucky Hit Chance increased from 32-50% to 37%-55%.

Items

Gohr's Devastating Grips now explodes every 2 seconds or after it ends, and its hit cap has been removed.

Fields of Crimson Bleeding damage bonus increased from 10% to 15%.

Enhanced Claw Attack Speed bonus increased from 10% to 15%.

Stormstrike Damage Reduction reduced from 25% to 15%.

Boulder damage increase from 33% to 46%.

Savage Trample Spirit gain increased from 20 to 40.

Supreme Cataclysm Vulnerable duration increased from 2 to 3 seconds.

Prime Cataclysm duration increased from 2 to 4 seconds.

Prime Grizzly Rage now grants Unstoppable for 6 seconds instead of while active.

Passives

Masochistic now also requires a Lucky Hit chance of 75%.

Prickleskin Thorns increased from .1 to .15.

Iron Feather Maximum Life increased from 10% to 14%.

Bolster Fortify increased from 10% to 15% of Maximum Life.

Spirit Glyph's bonus now affects all damage instead of just Core Skills.

Aspects

Aspect of the Calm Breeze Lucky Hit chance increased from 5-10% to 7-12%.

Balanced Aspect Maximum Spirit increased from 30-50 to 60-80.

Symbiotic Aspect Cooldown reduction reduced from 4-8 to 3-5.

Aspect of the Stampede damage bonus increased from 10-20 to 16-26%.

Shepherd's damage bonus increased from 6-8% to 6-10%.

Items

Necromancer

Skills

Enhanced Claw Attack Speed bonus increased from 10% to 15%.

Stormstrike Damage Reduction reduced from 25% to 15%.

Prime Lacerate healing increased from 3% to 5%.

Cataclysm Lightning damage increased from 64% to 77%, and Tornado damage from 19% to 23%.

Supreme Cataclysm Vulnerable duration increased from 2 to 3 seconds.

Prime Cataclysm duration increased from 2 to 4 seconds.

Provocation threshold required for guaranteed Overpower reduced from 35/30/25 to 24/20/16 seconds.

Spirit Boon

Masochistic now also requires a Lucky Hit chance of 75%.

Prickleskin Thorns increased from .1 to .15.

Overload damage increased from .2 to .25.

Paragon

Spirit Glyph's bonus now affects all damage instead of just Core Skills.

Aspects

Aspect of the Tempest damage bonus increased from 7-15% to 10-18%.

Skinwalker's Aspect healing increased from .05-.1 to .07-.12.

Symbiotic Aspect Cooldown reduction reduced from 4-8 to 3-5.

Aspect of the Stampede damage bonus increased from 10-20 to 16-26%.

Insatiable Fury Werebear Skill Ranks increased from 2 to 3.

Mad Wolf's Glee Werewolf Skill Ranks increased from 2 to 3.

Rogue

Skills

Advanced Rapid Fire duration increased from 3 to 5 seconds.

Caltrops cast speed increased by 15%.

Methodical Dash maximum Cooldown reduction increased from 3 to 4 seconds.

Concealment Stealth duration increased from 4 to 5 seconds.

Enhanced Dark Shroud's chance to not be consumed increased from 10% to 14%.

Supreme Death Trap Cooldown reduction increased from 10 to 12 seconds.

Siphoning Strikes now also requires a Lucky Hit chance of 75%.

Rugged Damage Reduction against Damage over Time effects increased from 5/10/15 to 6/12/18.

Mending Obscurity healing per second while Stealthed increased from 3/6/9% to 4/8/12%.

Aftermath Energy restored increased from 25/50/75 to 30/60/90.

Eldritch Bounty Legendary Node duration increased from 6 to 9 seconds.

Specialization

Preparation's Ultimate Cooldown reduction increased from 4 to 5 seconds.

Legendary Aspects

Shadowslicer Aspect damage increased from 25-35% to 80-100%.

Toxic Alchemist's damage increased from 0.080-0.13 to .11-.16.

Vengeful Aspect Lucky Hit Chance increased from 30-50% to 40-60%.

Aspect of Imitated Imbuements duration increased from 5 to 9 seconds.

Aspect of Noxious Ice bonus damage increased from 10-25% to 14-29%.

Aspect of Elusive Menace Dodge chance increased from 1-5% to 3-7%.

Items

Skyhunter's Energy gain increased from 15-25 to 20-30.

Skills

Enhanced Charged Bolts damage increased from 24% to 30%, and now benefits from Skill Ranks.

Destructive Charged Bolts Damage Reduction increased from 20% to 25%.

Destructive Incinerate Damage Reduction increased from 20% to 25%.

Wizard's Firewall maximum increased Mana Regeneration increased from 25% to 35%.

Wizard's Blizzard Core Skill Mana cost reduction increased from 10% to 20%.

Supreme Deep Freeze Cooldown Reduction increased from 50% to 100%.

Passives

Protection Barrier duration increased from 2 to 3 seconds.

Align the Elements Damage Reduction per second increased from 1/2/3 to 3/6/9.

Mana Shield Damage Reduction increased from 5/10/15% to 7/14/21%.

Devouring Blaze bonus Critical Strike damage reduced from 10/20/30% to 7/14/21%.

Paragon

Destruction Glyph now affects all damage instead of just Core Skills.

Enchantments

Spark Enchantment chance to form Crackling Energy increased from 10% to 14%.

Hydra Enchantment Mana threshold reduced from 300 to 200.

Legendary Aspects

Aspect of Efficiency Mana cost reduction increased from 10-20% to 15-25%, and now also affects Mastery Skills.

Aspect of Armageddon damage increased from .205-.25 to .35-.4.

Glacial Aspect Ice Spikes bonus damage to Frozen reduced from 25% to 15%.

Glacial Aspect Ice Spikes damage increased from .2-.3 to .25-.35.

Aspect of the Frozen Tundra Ice Spikes damage increased from .25-.35 to .3-.4.

Aspect of the Frozen Wake Ice Spikes damage increased from .2-.3 to .25-.35, and Chill increased from 10% to 15%.

Stable Aspect chance for a free cast increased from 5-10% to 7-12%.

Aspect of Splintering Energy chance to spawn an additional Lightning Spear increased from 11-20% to 41-50%.

Aspect of the Unbroken Tether chance for additional Chain Lightning chains increased from 25-35% to 30-40%.

Items

Gloves of the Illuminator Fireball damage reduction reduced from 65-75% to 55%-65%.

Esu's Heirloom Critical Strike Chance from Movespeed increased from 15-25% to 20-30%.

Aspects

Aspect of Disobedience maximum stacks reduced from 100 to 60, reducing maximum Bonus Armor % from 25%-50% to 15%-30%.

Aspect of Retribution bonus damage to Stunned reduced from 20-40% to 10-20%.

Exploiter's Aspect bonus damage to Unstoppable reduced from 20-50% to 20-40%.

The Butcher's Cleaver Slow increased from 40-75% to 61-75%.

Drop Rate Adjustments:Increased bonus to drop Ancestral and Sacred items in Nightmare Dungeons from +5% to +10%.

Removed the 20% probability of obtaining an additional equipment item from Elite monsters found outside of Nightmare Dungeons and Helltide.

Enhanced the likelihood of acquiring an extra equipment item from Elite monsters within Nightmare Dungeons and Helltide by 10%.

Monsters

Increased monster HP scaling from 85% to 100% bonus per extra player in a party.

Miscellaneous

Adjusted the scaling of the Greed Shrine to improve its effectiveness throughout the game.

Item Affixes

Note from the developer: Some Affixes are currently more powerful than others, overshadowing other options. We aim to rebalance these outliers, enhance the range of viable choices for competitive slots, and provide more flexibility in item customization. We acknowledge that these adjustments may decrease the overall power potential of characters, and we will closely observe how these changes impact players' progression towards expected milestones in the Season.

We’re increasing the availability of the Affixes below to make them easier to include in different builds.

Control Impaired Duration Reduction: Can now appear on Pants.

Mastery Skill Damage: Newly added; can appear on Sorcerer Weapons. Scales identically to Core Skill Damage.

Resistance to All Elements: Can now appear on Shields.

Developer’s Note: The Core Stat bonus on Weapons has been overperforming, so we're pulling back on this bonus.

Strength: 50% Stronger when on Weapons -> 25% Stronger when on Weapons.

Willpower: Increased strength by 50% when equipped with Weapons -> Increased strength by 25% when equipped with Weapons.

Developer's Note: Cooldown Reduction affixes were previously deemed essential due to their significant impact. We believe Cooldown Reduction will continue to be a sought-after attribute, however, the consequences of not prioritizing it will be less severe.

Cooldown Reduction: Reduced by ~30%.

Imbuement Skill Cooldown Reduction: Reduced by ~30%.

Critical Strike Damage: Reduced by ~17%.

Lightning Critical Strike Damage: Reduced by ~17%.

Critical Strike Damage with Bone, Earth, Imbued, and Werewolf Skills: Reduced by ~17%.

Vulnerable Damage: Reduced by ~40%.

Critical Strike Damage (Inherent on Swords): Reduced by ~50%.

Vulnerable Damage (Inherent on Crossbows): Reduced by ~65%.

Damage Bonus against Crowd Controlled Enemies has been reduced by approximately 30%.

Physical Damage: Increased by ~25%.

Fire Damage: Increased by ~25%.

Cold Damage: Increased by ~25%.

Lightning Damage: Increased by ~25%.

Non-Physical Damage: Increased by ~25%.

Physical Damage Over Time: Increased by ~40%.

Fire Damage Over Time: Increased by ~40%.

Shadow Damage Over Time: Increased by ~40%.

Damage with Dual-Wielded Weapons: Increased by ~25%.

Damage with Ranged Weapons: Increased by ~25%.

Damage with Skills that Swap to New Weapons: Increased by ~25%.

Damage while in Human Form: Increased by ~25%.

Bone Skill Damage: Increased by ~25%.

Brawling Skill Damage: Increased by ~33%.

Companion Skill Damage: Increased by ~33%.

Conjuration Skill Damage: Increased by ~33%.

Cutthroat Skill Damage: Increased by ~25%.

Darkness Skill Damage: Increased by ~25%.

Imbued Skill Damage: Increased by ~25%.

Imbuement Skill Damage: Increased by ~33%.

Marksman Skill Damage: Increased by ~25%.

Pyromancy Skill Damage: Increased by ~25%.

Summoning Skill Damage: Increased by ~25%.

Trap Skill Damage: Increased by ~33%.

Weapon Mastery Skill Damage: Increased by ~33%.

Werebear Skill Damage: Increased by ~25%.

Attack Speed for 4 Seconds after Dodging an Attack: Increased by ~20%.

Damage for 4 Seconds after Dodging an Attack: Increased by ~20%.

Total Armor while in Werebear Form: Reduced by ~25%.

Total Armor while in Werewolf Form: Reduced by ~25%.

Damage Reduction from Enemies that are Bleeding: Reduced by ~25%.

Damage Reduction from Enemies that are Burning: Reduced by ~25%.

Damage Reduction from Enemies that are Poisoned: Reduced by ~25%.

Damage Reduction from Enemies that are affected by Shadow Over Time: Reduced by ~25%.

Source: Blizzard