I must admit I was eager to play this one at launch, but I’ve held tight waiting for the Gamespass release as if I can get it included in that bundle, then it saves me a few quid. Alas, not playing at launch has other benefits, such as a plethora of updates fixing all the messy bugs that games tend to launch with these days.
Diablo 4
Now, Blizzard has just released Title Update 1.3.3, and looking at the changelog (below), there have been quite a few tweaks and fixes this time, as well as the addition of six new Vampiric Powers, a new challenge called Gauntlet, and some generally balancing too.
Update 1.3.3
Furthermore, Blizzard says that this new patch will improve the overall game stability, so if you are having performance issues and crashes, hopefully, this big update will fix most, if not all of the issues you’ve been having.
To get the update, simply load up Battlenet and the game should update automatically. Now, if you’re pretty serious about the game, grab a drink and have a read through this rather extensive changelog!
Diablo 4 Patch 1.3.3 Release Notes
GAMEPLAY UPDATES
Vampiric Powers
Developer’s Note: Select Vampiric Powers from Season of Blood have returned with some tweaks to make their power level fit into Season of the Construct. These powers will be available as Legendary Aspects in all World Tiers and in both the Eternal and Seasonal Realms.
Of Accursed Touch
Lucky Hit: Up to a 20-35% chance to inflict Vampiric Curse on enemies. Enemies afflicted by Vampiric Curse are also Vulnerable.
When you Evade you turn into a cloud of bats, becoming Unstoppable for 2.5 seconds. Enemies along your path take Physical Damage and are inflicted with Vampiric Curse.
Evade’s cooldown is increased by 5-10 seconds.
Blood Boiling
When your Core skills Overpower an enemy, you spawn 3 Volatile Blood Drops. Collecting a Volatile Blood Drop causes it to explode, dealing Physical Damage around you.
Every 20 seconds, your next Skill is guaranteed to Overpower.
Hectic
For every 5 Basic Skills you cast, one of your active Cooldowns is reduced by 2-4 seconds.
Undying
Casting Skills heals you for .5-2% life. This heals for an additional 1% life while you are below 50% Life.
Of the Moonrise
Damaging an enemy with a Basic skill grants you 4% Attack Speed for 10 seconds, stacking up to 5 times. Upon reaching maximum stacks, you enter a Vampiric Bloodrage, gaining 40-80% Basic Skill damage and 15% Movement Speed for 10 seconds.
BALANCE UPDATES
General
Unique Items
Ring of Starless Skies
Now shows a buff on the bar while active.
Penitent Greaves
Damage to Chilled enemies increased from 7-10% to 12-15%.
Tassets of the Dawning Sky
Maximum Resistance increased from 6-10% to 8-12%.
Mother’s Embrace
Resource refund increased from 20-40% to 30-50%.
Legendary Aspects
Of Inner Calm
Damage maximum increased from 30% to 40%.
Of Retribution
Stun chance increased from 8% to 10%.
Damage to Stunned enemies increased from 10-20% to 15-25%.
Starlight
Amount of Life Healed needed for Resource gain changed from 25% to 20%.
Barbarian
Skills
Bash
Damage increased by 10%.
Fury gain increased from 13 to 15.
Battle Bash
Additional Fury increased from 3 to 5.
Additional Fury with 2-handed weapons increased from 4 to 10.
Frenzy
Damage increased by 10%.
Flay
Damage increased by 10%.
Fury gain increased from 13 to 15.
Enhanced Flay
Vulnerable duration increased from 2 to 3 seconds.
Strategic Ground Stomp
Ultimate Cooldown Reduction increased from 1 to 2 seconds.
Strategic Iron Skin
Fortify amount increased from 15% to 20%.
Prime Call of the Ancients
Bonus damage increased from 10% to 20%.
Passives
Endless Fury
Fury gain increased from 7/14/21% to 10/20/30%.
Paragon
Executioner Glyph
Previous: While wielding a Polearm, you deal 10%[x] damage to Healthy or Injured Enemies.
New: While wielding a Polearm, you deal 10%[x] increased damage.
Legendary Aspects
Aspect of the Iron Warrior
Damage reduction increased from 18-28% to 25-35%.
Unique Items
Gohr’s Devastating Grips
Ranks of Whirlwind increased from 2-3 to 3-4.
Damage increased from 16-26% to 25-35%.
Druid
Skills
Earth Spike
Spirit Generation increased from 13 to 16.
Damage increased by 10%.
Enhanced Earth Spike
Chance to Stun increased from 10% to 15%.
Fierce Earth Spike
Fortify amount increased from 8% to 12% maximum Life.
Wind Shear
Spirit Generation increased from 14 to 16.
Damage increased by 10%.
Wild Wind Shear
Additional Spirit per enemy hit increased from 3 to 4.
Claw
Spirit Generation increased from 12 to 15.
Damage increased by 15%.
Fierce Claw
Damage increased by 30%.
Maul
Spirit Generation increased from 17 to 20.
Damage increased by 10%.
Enhanced Maul
Fortify amount increased from 3% to 5% max Life.
Wild Maul
Knockdown duration increased from 1.5 to 2 seconds.
Wolves
Passive damage increased by 30%.
Active damage increased by 45%.
Poison Creepers
Passive damage increased by 30%.
Active damage increased by 40%.
Ravens
Passive damage increased by 30%.
Active damage increased by 20%.
Passives
Quickshift
Damage bonus increased from 5/10/15% to 7/14/21%.
Bestial Rampage
Damage bonus while in Werebear form increased from 30% to 50%.
Ursine Strength
Damage and Overpower damage bonuses increased from 25% to 30%.
Perfect Storm
Damage bonus increased from 15% to 20%.
Legendary Aspects
Seismic Shift
Previous: Earth Spike launches spikes in a line and has a 2-1 second cooldown.
New: Earth Spike gains 35-50% bonus damage, launches spikes in a line, and has a 2–1 second Cooldown.
Unique Items
Storm’s Companion
Ranks of Wolves increased from 2–3 to 3–4.
Storm Howl damage increased by 180%.
Necromancer
Book of the Dead
Skeleton Skirmishers
Damage increased by 30%.
Life increased by 10%.
Skeleton Defenders
Damage increased by 30%.
Life increased by 10%.
Skeleton Reaper
Damage increased by 20%.
Life increased by 10%.
Skeleton Frost Mage
Damage increased by 20%.
Life increased by 10%.
Skeleton Shadow Mage
Damage increased by 20%.
Life increased by 10%.
Skeleton Sacrifice Mage
Damage increased by 20%.
Life increased by 10%.
Golem
Basic Attack Damage increased by 30%.
Life increased by 20%.
Skills
Blood Surge
Damage bonus per enemy drained reduced from x10% to x5%.
Nova damage increased by 40%.
Developer’s Note: The goals of this change are to reduce the opportunity cost of using Blood Surge against fewer numbers of enemies as well as increasing its overall power, even in scenarios of hitting multiple enemies.
Supernatural Blood Surge
Damage bonus increased from [x]20% to [x]30%.
Sever
Outgoing Damage increased by 6.5%.
Returning damage increased by 20%.
Enhanced Sever
Damage increased from 40% to 75% of Sever’s initial damage.
Paranormal Sever
Vulnerable duration increased from 2 to 3 seconds.
Blight
Impact damage increased by 33.3%.
Damage over time increased by 10.5%.
Paranormal Blight
Immobilize duration increased from 1.5 to 2.5 seconds.
Supernatural Blight
Damage bonus increased from [x]15% to [x]20%.
Corpse Explosion
Damage increased by 21.5%.
Plagued Corpse Explosion
Damage bonus increased from 8% to 10%.
Enhanced Bone Prison
Previous: Enemies inside Bone Prison are Vulnerable.
New: Enemies inside of Bone Prison when cast are made Vulnerable for 8 seconds.
Blood Wave
Damage increased by 25%.
Passives
Death’s Approach (name changed from Death’s Reach)
Previous: You deal 4%[x] increased damage to Distance enemies.
New: Gain 4/8/12% Movement Speed.
Spiked Armor
Previous: Gain .1/.2/.3 Thorns.
New: Gain 0.1/0.2/0.3 Thorns and 5/10/15% additional Armor.
Death’s Embrace
Damage Reduction from Close enemies increased from 3/6/9% to 4/8/12%.
Hellbent Commander
Damage bonus increased from x10/20/30% to /15/30/45%.
Crippling Darkness
Previous: Lucky Hit: Darkness Skills have up to a 15% chance to Stun for 1 Second.
New: Lucky Hit: Darkness Skills have up to a 15% chance to Stun enemies for 1/2/3 seconds and deal .2 Shadow damage to them.
Paragon
Cult Leader Legendary Node
Bonus Minion damage per 20% Attack Speed increased from 10% to 15%.
Corporeal Glyph
Previous Additional Bonus: You and your minions deal 10%[x] increased Physical damage.
New: You and your Minions deal 10%[x] increased Physical damage and you gain 1% Movement Speed for each active Minion.
Legendary Aspects
Aspect of Hardened Bones
Damage reduction also applies to the player in addition to their Minions.
Blood-Bathed Aspect
Damage of Blood Surge echoes changed from 60-50% less damage to 10-30% less damage.
Sorcerer
Skills
Incinerate
Damage increased by 40%.
Enhanced Incinerate
Damage of Burn radius increased from 25% to 50%.
Destructive Incinerate
Enemy damage reduced amount increased from 25% to 30%.
Greater Incinerate
Immobilize duration increased from 1 to 1.5 seconds.
Hydra
Damage increased by 15%.
Ball Lightning
Damage increased by 10%.
Passives
Icy Veil
Barrier duration increased from 5% to 8%.
Snap Freeze
Lucky Hit chance increased from 3% to 5%.
Soulfire
Previous: After Standing still for 1.5 Seconds, your Pyromancy Skills cost 5/10/15% less mana.
New: Your Pyromancy Skills cost 4% less Mana and deal 2% increased damage. Double these bonuses after standing still for 2 seconds.
Avalanche
Damage increased from 40% to 45%.
Shocking Impact
Damage increased by 33%.
Paragon
Frostbite Glyph
Damage Reduction increased from 13% to 15%.
Invocation Glyph
Damage Reduction stacks increased from 12% to 15%.
Stalagmite Glyph
Critical Strike Chance increased from 10% to 20%.
Enchanter Glyph
Damage per 5 Intelligence purchased in range increased from +1.3% to +2%, maxing out at +10%.
Conjurer Glyph
Damage per 5 Intelligence purchased in range increased from +2.6% to +3%, maxing out at +15%.
Unleash Glyph
Damage and Mana Regeneration increased from 6.7% to 7%.
Legendary Aspects
Of Searing Wards
Mana cost reduced from 100-200 to 75-125.
Of Overwhelming Currents
Chance increased from 10-20% to 15-30%.
Rogue
Skills
Heartseeker
Attack Speed increased by 20%.
Dev Note: Lower the Power interrupt frames from 20 to 16.
Forceful Arrow
Attack Speed increased by 20%.
Dev Note: Lower the Power interrupt frames from 20 to 16.
Flurry
Damage increased by 10%.
Improved Flurry
Previous: If Flurry hits any Vulnerable enemy, it will make all enemies hit by that cast Vulnerable for 3 seconds.
New: Flurry deals x20% increased damage to Vulnerable enemies. If Flurry hits any Vulnerable enemy it will make all enemies hit by that cast Vulnerable for 3 seconds.
Advanced Flurry
Previous: Evading through an enemy will cause your next Flurry to Stun enemies for 2.5 seconds.
New: Evading through an enemy will cause your next Flurry to deal x30% increased damage and Stun enemies for 2.5 seconds.
Rapid Fire
Damage increased by 10%.
Rain of Arrows
Damage increased by 10%.
Passives
Precision
Stacks required for bonuses reduced from 6 to 4.
Paragon
Infusion Glyph
Cooldown reduction increased from .5 seconds to 1 second.
Legendary Aspects
Of Encircling Blades
Damage bonus increased from 8-15% to 15-22%.
Of Branching Volleys
Previous: Barrage’s Arrows have 15-25% chance to split into two arrows whenever they ricochet.
New: Increase the damage of arrows that Ricochet from Barrage from 40% to 60-80%. In addition, Barrage’s arrows have a 40-60% chance to split into 2 arrows whenever they ricochet.
Shadowslicer
Damage increased from 80-100% base damage to 200-300%.
Unique Items
Eaglehorn
Damage bonus increased from 20-40% to 40-60%.
Eyes in the Dark
Death Trap bonus damage increased from 30-50% to 50-70%.
Writhing Band of Trickery
Cooldown to summon a Shadow Decoy reduced from 12 to 10 seconds.
Shadow Decoy damage increased by 20%.
The Seneschal
Developer’s Note: We want the Seneschal to feel strong, but there are certain powers that are overperforming. Additionally, there are a couple of unintended interactions that are being addressed.
Poison Support
Poison Support no longer reapplies the Construct’s damage bonuses when it spreads, matching the functionality of the other damage over time Tuning Stones.
Bleeding Support
Bonus Bleeding damage from 20% to 10%.
Burning Support
Bonus Critical Strike damage from 20% to 10%.
Bonus Critical Strike damage per Skill Rank from 2% to 1%.
Tempest
Tempest no longer gains bonus damage and duration when its reapplied or when it spreads.
USER INTERFACE AND USER EXPERIENCE
Player Profile Updates
Players’ equipped skills are now displayed in their profile.
Equipped Emblems are now displayed in the header of player Profiles.
The applied cosmetic name and where it was earned from are displayed in the tooltips of items that have been transmogged.
From Edit profile, Players can select seals from those they earned during the current week to display on their profile header and social card.
The current character’s time played is displayed at the bottom of the profile.
Miscellaneous
The cost to craft Uber Unique items has been reduced from 5 Resplendent Sparks to 4.
BUG FIXES
Gameplay
Fixed an issue where the Seneschal gained double the benefit from skills that benefit allies, such as Barbarian’s War Cry or Druid’s Blood Howl.
Fixed an issue where an attack that swaps from melee to Crossbow would double the bonuses from the Precision and Weapon Mastery Rogue passives.
Fixed an issue where some interactable objects associated with various quests, such as Lyndon’s Stash during the Discretionary Spending quest, could not be interacted with while mounted.
Fixed an issue where the camera would not reset if the player died during the Echo of Lilith encounter while the camera was zoomed out.
Fixed an issue where the Juggernaut Aspect didn’t apply armor while the player was mounted.
Fixed an issue where the Guaranteed Overpower granted by the Druid’s Enhanced Pulverize did not apply immediately after acquiring 12 stacks.
Fixed and issue where the Necromancer’s Skeleton Reapers’ chance to create a corpse was based on Lucky Hit instead of a flat percentage.
Fixed an issue where Bone Splinters cast from the shattered Spirit Aspect didn’t receive the Vulnerable effect granted by Initiate’s Bone Splinter.
Fixed an issue where Thorns was not consistent when applying Lucky Hit. (Ex: Thorns could trigger Abhorrent Decrepify but not Hewed Flesh).
Fixed an issue where the Cult Leader Legendary Paragon Node didn’t properly give bonus damage based on bonus minion Attack Speed.
Fixed an issue where the Rotting Aspect wouldn’t spawn additional corpses.
Fixed an issue where Sorcerer’s Frigid Fate and Elemental Summoner Legendary Paragon effects did not work properly with the Aspect of the Elements.
Fixed an issue where the Fiery Surge Passive was not granting as much mana regeneration as it should.
Fixed an issue where bonus damage from Enhanced Caltrops could apply more often than intended when stacking multiple casts of Caltrops on the same enemy.
Fixed an issue where Enhanced Caltrops was dealing less damage than expected to bosses.
Developer’s Note: Some items, Legendary Aspects, Passives, Paragon bonuses, and Skills displayed bugs that allowed players to gain more power than intended when you equipped and then unequipped them. We believe these interactions lead to a worse experience for all players, as it creates a stigma that these bugs must be exploited to reach new levels of power. The bug fixes below address all known instances of this issue.
Fixed an issue with multiple Legendary Aspects where equipping duplicate Aspects would always apply the effect of the first equipped Aspect, ignoring the rule of applying only the strongest equipped Aspect.
Fixed an issue where unlearning Vyr’s Mastery with the Mage-Lord’s Aspect equipped would cause the effect of Vyr’s Mastery to remain active.
Fixed an issue where a power that grants a bonus Stat based on another Stat would not re-adjust after the temporary bonus wore off.
User Interface and User Experience
Fixed an issue where editing your profile could also trigger the prompt for adding a friend.
Fixed an issue where the description for Enhanced Caltrops was missing the damage cap.
Miscellaneous
Fixed an issue where Heddam, the quest giver NPC for Guardians of the Pit, would disappear while Helltide was active in the area.
Various performance, UI, visual, and stability improvements.
Peter Donnell
As a child still in my 30's (but not for long), I spend my day combining my love of music and movies with a life-long passion for gaming, from arcade classics and retro consoles to the latest high-end PC and console games. So it's no wonder I write about tech and test the latest hardware while I enjoy my hobbies!