[Update: Patch 2.6.9 is now live on the PTR. Changes include new Necromancer and Demon Hunter sets, skill changes for the Necromancer, and Legendary item changes. The update arrives on PTR a full week after it was originally planned to deploy–according to Blizzard, “additional QA time” was required to address bugs and other issues.]
Original story follows…
Blizzard is issuing a new update to Diablo 3 in the public test realm (PTR) to put it through its paces before it becomes widely available. The 2.6.9 patch was originally going to begin its testing run on Thursday, May 21, but according to an update on the Blizzard forums, the patch has actually been delayed to the week of May 24 (that’s this week) to allow for “additional QA time” to fix bugs and other issues. As of May 28, there’s been no further word on when the PTR update will arrive and word on the official Diablo account on Twitter has been scarce. We’ll report back whenever a release date is shared.
Those who participate in the test will be able to check out some new gear for Demon Hunter and Necromancer, with some special items to help speed you on your way. It should help to make the wait for Diablo 4 a little easier, especially as we still don’t know when the game is actually going to release.
The main draw of the patch is the two near gear sets, one for Demon Hunter and one for Necromancer. The Demon Hunter set is called Gear of Dreadlands, and if you manage to collect all six pieces, your primary skills do 10,000% more damage. Necromancer gets the Masquerade of Burning Carnival, which gives you a 3300% Bone Spear damage buff every time you consume a corpse.
Both classes also get a bunch of new other buffs and adjustments, and there are some skill changes for both Necromancer and Witch Doctor.
As usual, Blizzard recommends that you pick one particular specialty to assure you have time to really kick the tires. As an example, if you’re a Wizard player, Blizzard recommends you check out whatever changes would impact Blizzard so that your feedback can be tailored to your expertise. The company also recommends stocking up on Puzzle Rings and Bovine Bardiches before it starts.
You can check out the full patch notes below, but take note that Blizzard has amended them with the following statement:
“Update on May 21: We’ve found some issues during PTR deployment that are needing some additional QA time. We are actively working on solutions, and Patch 2.6.9 PTR is delayed until further notice. We will get back to you as soon as possible, and thank you for understanding.”
Diablo 3 Patch 2.6.9 Notes
Seasons
- The elements have deemed you worthy. With you as their champion, the burning hells will face the Trials of Tempests!
- Your character will occasionally (every 2 minutes) channel an elemental power which unleashes into the environment for a limited time:
- Meteors rain from the skies around you.
- Breathe lightning.
- A wall of flame engulfs everything.
- Release twisters of pure energy.
- Crush your foes under the weight of rolling snowballs.
- Two unique new rewards, a portrait frame and a pet, will be granted to players who complete the Season 21 Journey.
- New Demon Hunter Set: Gears of Dreadlands
- 2-Piece Bonus
- Gain a Momentum stack when attacking with a Primary skill. Each Momentum stack lasts 2 seconds at a maximum duration of 10 seconds. Your Primary skills deal 10% more damage per stack of Momentum.
- 4-Piece Bonus
- Casting Strafe against enemies will automatically shoot your last used primary skill, and also give 60% damage reduction while strafing and for 5 seconds after. While casting Strafe, you move faster per stack of Momentum.
- 6-Piece Bonus
- Your primary skills deal 10000% more damage
- Leonine Bow of Hashir
- Bolas have a 30% 100% chance on explosion to pull in all enemies within 24 yards, and also deal 100-150% increased damage.
- Emimei’s Duffel
- Bolas now explode instantly and deal 150-175% increased damage.
- The Ninth Cirri Satchel
- Hungering Arrow has 20-25% is guaranteed to pierce and also deals 450-600% increased damage.
- Odyssey’s End
- Enemies snared by your Entangling Shots take 20-25% 100-150% increased damage from all sources.
- Hunter’s Wrath
- Your primary skills attack 30% faster and deal 45-60% 150-200% increased damage.
- Holy Point Shot
- Impale throws 2 additional knives and deals 75-100% increased damage.
- New Necromancer Set: Masquerade of Burning Carnival
- 2-Piece Bonus
- Your Simulacrums no longer take damage, gains all runes, and its cooldown is refreshed when you die.
- 4-Piece Bonus
- While you have a Simulacrum, damage is reduced by 50%. Damage you take is split with your Simulacrums as well.
- 6-Piece Bonus
- Your Bone Spear deals 10,000% increased damage. Simulacrums gain triple this bonus.
- Grasps of Essence
- When an exploded corpse damages at least one enemy, Your Corpse Explosion deals 75-100%150-200% increased damage for 6 seconds, stacking up to 5 times.
- Haunted Visions
- Simulacrum now drains 5%1% of your maximum life every second and lasts twice as long forever. They can now duplicate Grim Scythe instead of Skeletal Mage.
- Razeth’s Volition
- Skeletal Mage gains the effect of the Gift of Death and Singularity runes. You gain 35-50% damage reduction if your Essence is not full.
- Jesseth Arms
- 2-Piece Set Bonus: While your skeletons are commanded to attack a target, you deal 400% increased damage.
- Grace of Inarius
- 4-Piece Set Bonus: Bone Armor grants an additional 2%3% damage reduction per enemy hit.
- Pestilence Master’s Shroud
- 6-Piece Set Bonus: Each corpse you consume grants you an Empowered Bone Spear charge that increases the damage of your next Bone Spear by 3300%. In addition, Corpse Lance and Corpse Explosion damage is increased by 1650%3300%.
- Shield of Fury
- This effect may stack up to 2010 times.
General
- Stone of Jordan
- Added power: All elemental damage bonuses to skills are now equal to your highest elemental bonus to skills.
- Reaper’s Wraps
- Added a 2-second internal cooldown to the Health globe effect.
- Mantle of Channeling
- Now works with the Necromancer’s Siphon Blood.
- Convention of Elements
- Added “non-static” to the wording of the legendary power’s description. The functionality is unchanged
- Necromancer
- Final Service
- No longer consumes pets.
- Bone Prison
- Simulacrums now benefit from this passive skill.
- Serration
- Simulacrums now benefit from this passive skill.
- Corpse Explosion
- Damage increased from 350% to 1050%.
- Witch Doctor
- Spirit Barrage
- The Spectres from the Phantasm rune no longer benefit from pet bonuses.
- General
- Fixed a rare issue where players could enter a locked party and become unable to enter games or change game settings
- Necromancer
- Fixed an issue where Skeletal Mages were not attacking certain creatures
Source: Read Full Article
Bug Fixes
- Spirit Barrage
- Final Service
Skill Changes
Crusader
- 2-Piece Bonus
Necromancer
- 2-Piece Bonus
Items
Demon Hunter
- Your character will occasionally (every 2 minutes) channel an elemental power which unleashes into the environment for a limited time: