Something intriguing is unfolding behind the scenes of Diablo 4, and it’s not just about Rod Fergusson stepping away from his leadership role. For weeks, Diablo Partners have been creating a buzz on social media with cryptic posts and photos, hinting at exciting developments. The speculation reached a fever pitch when creators were flown to Blizzard HQ to “test something,” fueling rumors of a new class introduction.
The last time such excitement surrounded the game, it was during early testing for the Spiritborn class. This has led many to believe that another class is on the horizon. For the past three years, the Diablo community has been vocal about their desire for the return of the Paladin, Sanctuary’s revered armored holy warrior. Fergusson himself has hinted at the introduction of a classic archetype, stating, “We know people are excited about Paladins.”
The Leak That Sparked Speculation
It appears the wait for the Paladin might be over, thanks to a leak reported by Wowhead. The source of this leak was Blizzard’s internal content delivery network, which briefly displayed a Diablo IV build labeled “2.5x Paladin.” This revelation comes just ahead of Gamescom, where Blizzard is expected to showcase something playable. The timing suggests that the build was pushed to external machines in preparation for the event.
Whether this was an oversight or a deliberate tease remains unclear. If it is a misdirection, it would be a particularly cruel one, given the Paladin’s status as the most requested post-launch class. The community’s anticipation is palpable, and the potential reveal at Gamescom could be a significant moment for fans.
News from the Sanctuary Sitdown
Coinciding with these developments, the ‘Sanctuary Sitdown’, formerly known as Campfire Chats, recently took place. Blizzard unveiled the full Season 10 content, including a Q&A session and patch notes. A major highlight was the rebranding of Seasonal Powers to ‘Perks’. Unlike the superficial bonuses of the past, these Perks are designed to redefine gameplay, offering a more integrated experience.
Blizzard developers described past seasonal powers as “icing on the cake,” a temporary enhancement that was replaced each season. In contrast, Chaos Perks, launching with Season 10, aim to change the core gameplay. They are intended to force players to rethink their skill loadout, gear choices, and playstyle, providing a refreshing departure from previous seasons’ criticized borrowed power themes.
How Chaos Perks Will Work
Players will have four perk slots: one unique, one magic, one rare, and one legendary. Each class will receive 16 perks, including four class-specific ones. Examples include:
- Unstable Power: Basic skills always crit and overpower, but have a 3-second cooldown.
- Bronn Over Brains: Massive boosts to life, healing, and overpower damage, but -25% max resistances and armor DR capped at 60%.
- Barbarian: All shouts are permanently active (with buffs), but reduce max Fury.
- Necromancer: Core skills become ultimates (no cost, long cooldown), and ultimates become core skills (cost essence, no cooldown).
- Sorcerer: 99% reduced max life, but damage hits mana before health (Mana Shield).
A new armor type, Chaos Armor, will also be introduced, shaking up itemization. Many uniques can now drop in different armor slots, allowing for previously impossible equipment combinations. These new pieces will always roll max stats with an extra 20% boost.
Season 10’s Broader Changes
Season 10 will also see a significant overhaul of Infernal Hordes, an activity beloved by many but in need of a refresh. ‘Chaos Monsters’ will join the enemy pool, adding new challenges for players. These changes are expected to reinvigorate interest in the game and provide a fresh experience for veterans and newcomers alike.
Accessing the Diablo 4 Public Test Realm
The Diablo 4 2.4.0 Public Test Realm (PTR) will be available from August 19 to August 26, allowing players to test Season 11’s Chaos theme. To access the PTR, players can follow these steps:
- Open the Battle.net launcher and navigate to Diablo 4.
- In the bottom left corner, select the dropdown and find Public Test Realm.
- Click Install, then Play, and select a test server.
- Create a character, opting for a Seasonal one for related themes, and skip the Campaign if starting anew.
For Xbox Game Pass players on PC, the PTR can be accessed through the Xbox app using the same steps.
As the Diablo 4 community eagerly awaits Gamescom, the potential reveal of the Paladin and the introduction of Chaos Perks promise to bring significant changes to the game. Whether these developments will meet the high expectations of fans remains to be seen, but they certainly set the stage for an exciting future in Sanctuary.
