Diablo 4 Patch 1.3.0a: Enhancements and Fixes for Season of the Construct
Hey there, gamers! It’s time to dive into the latest update for Diablo 4, patch 1.3.0a. Blizzard has rolled out this patch to address some bugs and make changes to the new features in the game’s third season, Season of the Construct. Let’s take a closer look at what’s been improved and how these changes will enhance your gaming experience.
Powering Up the Seneschal Companion
One of the pain points players encountered in Season 3 was the lack of power in the Seneschal Companion. Blizzard has heard your concerns and made some tweaks to address this issue. While the power of the companion hasn’t been directly adjusted, leveling it up has become easier. The game now provides more sources for Governing and Tuning Stones, which determine the strength of the companion’s attacks.
So, how exactly has Blizzard made it easier for you to level up the Seneschal Companion? Well, now both types of stones can be acquired by completing Whispers. Additionally, finding a max level Governing/Tuning Stone will grant you 150-200 Shattered Stones. Moreover, the Son of Malphas boss always drops two to three Governing/Tuning Stones, while Seneschal Stone Caches always drop two stones.
To make engaging with the system even smoother, crafting either stone now costs a fixed amount of 200 Shattered Stones and 20 Iron Chunks, regardless of their level. Furthermore, the XP required for leveling up either stone has been reduced, ensuring that they level up consistently alongside you.
Bigger Challenges, Better Rewards
Next up, let’s talk about boss fights. The Echo of Malphas boss was draining resources unnecessarily, and players were frustrated about having to use their Pearls of Warding to fight this boss instead of using them for their intended purpose of gaining Zoltun’s Warding. To address this issue, Blizzard has introduced a new item called Igneous Cores.
From now on, if you want to summon Malphas, you’ll need to use Igneous Cores. However, to balance things out, Malphas has become more challenging, but it also offers better rewards. Here’s what you need to know:
- The level of Echo of Malphas has been raised from 85 to 100.
- The health pool of Echo of Malphas has been increased by 30%.
- Igneous Cores have a chance to drop from Vault Heralds and are guaranteed to drop from Son of Malphas in World Tier 4.
- The drop rate of Unique Stones from Malphas has increased from 0.25% to 0.5%.
- Unique Stones now have a 3% chance of dropping from the chest after defeating the boss.
- Defeating Echo of Malphas will now reward more Legendary items, and Item Level 925 items will drop more often.
Quality of Life Changes and Fixes
Aside from these major changes, Blizzard has also made some quality of life improvements and fixes in the patch. Vaults and overworld event Arcane Tremors have received several enhancements. For example, a single Pearl of Warding now grants ten stacks of Zoltun’s Warding instead of three. You can also have up to 999 stacks of the same buff, compared to the previous limit of 300.
To make your gaming experience smoother and less punishing, Blizzard has increased the grace period for losing Warding stacks from one second to 1.5 seconds when hit by multiple traps. They have also reduced the hitbox of floor-based Elemental Grate and Spike hazards by 15%, and decreased the projectile speed of Elemental Dart hazards by 20%. Additionally, the hitbox of Elemental Pillars’ spout has been reduced by 15%.
Now, here’s some good news for loot enthusiasts! At the end of a Vault, you’re now guaranteed to find a chest that will always drop a Legendary item. From level 26 onwards, there’s also a 35% chance of finding another Legendary item. Moreover, Heralds of Malphas now have a 100% chance of dropping a Legendary item (level 26+), with a 15% chance of dropping an additional one. And don’t worry, the annoying Knockback effect Obelisk Hazards previously had has been removed. Phew!
Lastly, the patch includes several bug fixes, such as displaying the Gatehall on the map for PlayStation players, allowing interaction with the Brazier during the Drums of the Vault quest, and resolving the visibility issue of the Beckoning Thunder Horse cosmetic for Druid players. Blizzard has also made stability and performance improvements to enhance your overall gameplay experience.
Conclusion: Embrace the Enhanced Diablo 4 Experience
With patch 1.3.0a, Blizzard has listened to the feedback from the Diablo 4 community and made significant improvements to enhance your Season of the Construct adventure. The changes to the Seneschal Companion and the Echo of Malphas boss fights will make them more engaging and rewarding. The quality of life enhancements and bug fixes will provide a smoother gameplay experience, ensuring you can focus on the thrill of the game without unnecessary frustrations.
So, fellow gamers, it’s time to dive back into Diablo 4 and experience the game’s latest updates. Enjoy the enhanced features, conquer challenging bosses, and revel in the loot-filled adventures that await you. Remember, the world of Sanctuary needs your heroic deeds!