Blizzard is set to launch Diablo 4's Season 5 on August 6th, introducing major changes that will reshape the game's endgame experience and loot system.
Infernal Hordes: A New Permanent Game Mode
The highlight of Season 5 is the introduction of Infernal Hordes, a wave-based roguelike mode that will become a permanent fixture in Diablo 4's endgame. This new mode challenges players to face increasingly difficult waves of demons, with the option to ramp up the difficulty for better rewards.
According to Timothy Ismay, lead game producer:
Infernal Hordes is not just around for Season 5. This is now part of the whole experience of Diablo 4 as part of the endgame loop.
While Infernal Hordes will receive significant attention during Season 5, Blizzard plans to continue iterating on the mode in future updates to keep it relevant and engaging.
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| Experience the intensity of the new Infernal Hordes game mode in Diablo 4's Season 5 |
Massive Buffs to Unique Items
In response to feedback from Season 4, Blizzard is dramatically increasing the power of all unique items in Diablo 4. The goal is to make these items competitive with the game's rarest uber unique (now called mythic unique) items for specific builds.
Some examples of the buffs include:
- Howl from Below (Necromancer): Now boosts corpse explosion speed and damage
- Staff of Lam Esen (Sorcerer): 75% chance for charged bolts to cast twice
- Saboteur's Signet (Rogue): Causes larger, more powerful grenade explosions
Even mythic uniques are receiving substantial upgrades. The Harlequin Crest, a highly sought-after helmet, will now provide up to 54% cooldown reduction for all skills when fully upgraded.
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| Unleash the power of the newly buffed Harlequin Crest in Season 5 for greater dominance in battle |
New Items and Short Season Duration
Season 5 will introduce over 50 new legendary and unique items, primarily obtainable through the Infernal Hordes mode. This influx of new gear aims to shake up the meta and encourage players to experiment with new builds.
It's worth noting that Season 5 will be shorter than usual, running from August 6th to October 8th, leading directly into the release of the Vessel of Hatred expansion.
Players can learn more about the upcoming changes in the Diablo 4 Season 5 developer update, scheduled for August 1st at 11am PDT on Blizzard's official YouTube and Twitch channels.
With these sweeping changes to both endgame content and itemization, Season 5 looks to be a pivotal moment for Diablo 4, potentially addressing some of the community's biggest concerns while setting the stage for the game's first major expansion.