Summary
- Patch 1.2 for Diablo 4 introduces quality-of-life improvements addressing player frustrations, including accessibility options and UI improvements.
- Changes to gems in Patch 1.2 make them no longer take up space in the backpack and require players to work with jewelers to apply them.
- Mounts in Diablo 4 have been enhanced with increased speed, better responsiveness, and improved navigation.
Alongside Diablo 4's second Season, the Season of Blood, developers for the game are releasing numerous quality-of-life changes with Patch 1.2 that address some of the frustrations that have been brought up over the past several months. Many of these much-needed improvements have been in the works since shortly after the original launch of Diablo 4 in June. These changes and updates cover everything from technical accessibility to the density of monsters.
The start of Diablo 4's Season of Blood will bring many content changes to introduce the seasonal storyline of vampire hunting, complete with a limited-time set of vampiric powers. This makes it a good time to unveil other major updates to the game for quality-of-life changes which generally work towards improving Diablo 4 to make it the best it can be. Though full patch notes for Patch 1.2 can be found on the Blizzard website, here is a rundown of the best changes for the game.
10 Accessibility And UI Improvements, Including Steamer Mode
Streamer mode has been created for Diablo 4, allowing for information such as the Battle.net username and character name to be hidden from the screen to protect streamers' identities. Developers also are working to make the game more accessible by providing new cursor contrast colors, screen reader options, and more. Additionally, everyone will be able to enjoy better filters and organization for the Stash and Inventory.
9 Working With Gems Is Completely Different
Gems will no longer take up valuable space in the character's backpack, but also will no longer be able to be applied to weapons while out adventuring. Diablo 4 gems are now going to drop from enemies as gem fragments, which will be stored within the Materials tab and must be taken to a Jeweler to be worked with. Gem fragments will also drop more frequently from Whisper Caches, although less frequently from the common method of looting enemies.
8 Horses Are Faster And Smarter
Mounts have a significant buff with Diablo 4's Patch 1.2 and are more responsive and intelligent. The base movement speed has been increased by 14% on all mounts, and the speed boost from Spur will last 50% longer. Horses should now be less prone to getting stuck on terrain and will automatically jump over some objects better. Also, once a character has dismounted, they are able to get back on their way again quicker with a new reduction in the cooldown timer.
7 Seasonal Characters Can Skip The Campaign And Unlock Waypoints
Players will still be required to create a brand-new character on a Seasonal Realm to access the Season of Blood story content, but now, even if a player has not completed the Diablo 4 campaign they will have the option to skip straight to the new seasonal questlines. This does not apply to Hardcore, but any regular character on a Seasonal Realm will have the new option if they desire just to see the limited-time content. If a character does this, they will begin with ten of the waypoints already unlocked.
6 Unfortunate Hardcore Deaths Can Be Prevented
When playing in Hardcore mode, if a player has planned ahead they now have better odds of escaping death from disconnect. As long as a Scroll of Escape is in the character's inventory when a Hardcore player becomes disconnected from the game while they are in combat, they can be saved. As soon as the game registers a disconnect, the character will automatically use the scroll to teleport to a safe location.
5 Dungeons Are Less Cumbersome
Dungeons are one of the most engaging aspects of Diablo 4, and Patch 1.2 makes them even more fun by adding procedurally generated dungeon layouts to keep them fresh and adding Endcaps to make sure the dungeons don't have as much necessary backtracking. This is particularly improved by having dungeons programmed to have all crucial objectives placed on a critical path for the dungeon, hopefully reducing time spent running back through empty hallways as much as possible.
4 Five New Endgame World Bosses And Better Chances For Rewards
Five new World Bosses are being added to Diablo 4 with Patch 1.2, providing more endgame objectives for players. The health and damage of World Bosses has been increased, however, but there will be greater quality of rewards as well. Each Boss will have specific Unique items and cosmetics that drop only for them, and have a chance to drop Uber Uniques. The time between spawns is reduced from six hours to three and a half, and the announcements that one will be spawning now come an hour prior to its arrival rather than 30 minutes.
3 New Legendary Aspects, Unique Items, And Paragon Glyphs
With Diablo 4's Season of Blood, there are 12 new Unique items, seven Legendary Aspects, and two new Paragon Glyphs per class for a total of 10 new Paragon Glyphs added. Among the Legendary Aspects are:
- Aspect of Slaughter - Generic Mobility Aspect for Boots and Amulets
- Aspect of Elements - Generic Offensive Aspect for Amulets, Gloves, Rings, and Weapons
- Wanton Rupture Aspect - Barbarian Offensive Aspect for Amulets, Gloves, Rings, and Weapons
- Raw Might Aspect - Druid Offensive Aspect for Amulets, Gloves, Rings, and Weapons
- Aspect of Artful Initiative - Rogue Offensive Aspect for Amulets, Gloves, Rings, and Weapons
- Aspect of the Long Shadow - Necromancer Offensive Aspect for Amulets, Gloves, Rings, and Weapons
- Battle Caster's Aspect - Sorcerer Offensive Aspect for Amulets, Gloves, Rings, and Weapons
2 Nightmare Dungeon Affixes Have Been Altered
Ten of the Nightmare Dungeon Affixes have been updated, in addition to allowing Nightmare Sigils to teleport characters straight into the Nightmare Dungeons. Among the Affixes that have been altered is Death Pulse, which received many complaints from players who were killed in one shot by treasure goblins or other weak characters due to the Affix. Now, Death Pulse will no longer be multiplied on monsters that already explode on death, and death pulses cannot happen repeatedly on top of each other when not in an open area.
1 Leveling Is Faster And Less Frustrating
With Patch 1.2, leveling will be greatly boosted to be roughly 40% faster due to increased experience gains from monsters and adjustments to incenses and elixirs. Incenses will now add bonuses to XP gain and will not disappear in a character's demise and resurrection. XP bonuses from elixirs and Seasonal Blessings are increased and made to adjust based on World Tiers. Finally, experience rewards for finishing individual Whispers and opening Helltide Chests in Diablo 4 have been heavily increased as well, to help characters get to the higher levels quicker.
Source: Blizzard
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