Diablo III: Season 28 balance changes

Diablo III‘s 28th Season is almost upon us, and Blizzard plans to bring a slew of balance changes to several classes and items with it. What is likely the game’s final season before Diablo IV release features significant buffs to the Monk class’ abilities, as well as several items specific to the Barbarian, Demon Hunter, Monk, Necromancer, and Wizard classes. Here are the Season 28 balance changes for Diablo III. 

Diablo III: Season 28 balance changes

Season 28 Ability Changes

According to the official patch notes, several Season 28 balance changes are coming to multiple skills for Diablo III’s Monk class. Some of these skills include the Combination Strike passive and Crippling Wave. Many of the skill Runes within the Monk skills, such as Crippling Wave’s Concussion and Breaking Wave, are also receiving changes.

For the most part, these changes don’t touch the effects of these skills but drastically buff their duration. The majority of the buffed skills for Monk had their duration increased to 10 seconds. Each of the buffed skills will now last two to three times as long as they did previously. The following skills had their duration increased to 10 seconds:

• Combination Strike
• Crippling Wave
  • Concussion Rune
  • Breaking Wave Rune
• Deadly Reach – Foresight Rune
• Way of the Hundred Fists – Assimilation Rune

Season 28 Item Changes

Blizzard is also making Season 28 changes to many of the legendary class-specific items in Diablo III. First, the Barbarian’s Horde of the Ninety Savages set bonus doubles the per-stack damage increase on the Frenzy skill. Next, the Monk’s Pattern of Justice set bonus increases the damage buff when hitting with Tempest Rush while Sweeping Wind is up. The Monk’s Raiment of a Thousand Storms was also buffed so Dashing Strike costs 1/3rd as much Spirit.

Additionally, the Necromancer set bonus Masquerade of the Burning Carnvial increased the damage buff it provides to Bone Spear and added a property where Simulacrums gain triple the bonus.

Finally, the Wizard set Typhon’s Vail doubles the damage increase it provides for each living Hydra head.

Screenshot by PC Invasion

In addition, many buffs, a nerf or two, and some lateral changes were aimed at the Demon Hunter’s items.  First, the Chanon Bolter added a damage buff to Spike Trap and reduced the time between taunts. Next, the Natalya’s Vengeance set bonus has had some pretty significant changes. The set bonus no longer offers any buffs to Rain of Vengeance, and buffs the Spike Trap skill instead. Even Natalya’s Slayer had the skill it buffs changed to Spike Trap. Speaking of Spike Trap, the Trag’oul Coils now provide the Scatter Rune and a damage buff to the Spike Traps.

The final change was a pretty huge buff to the Unhallowed Essence set bonus. The damage bonus it provides to Vengeance attacks, Multishot, and Hatred generators have been increased.

These changes, along with the new Altar of Rites, are currently live on the Public Test Realm (PTR).