The Diablo 4 patch notes for Season of the Malignant have arrived, and they are insanely long. My job here today is going to be to try to summarize the highlights for you here in case you don’t want to read 6,600 words, but even this is going to be pretty long as a result. As expecting, there are huge nerfs and buffs across all classes, plus new Uniques and Aspects that are live now, even ahead of season 1.

The topline: Barbarian Hammer of the Ancients, Druid Werewolf Shred, Necromancer Bone Spear and Sorcerer Ice Shard have all been hit pretty hard. However, in most classes it’s about 90-95% buffs to other skills compared to nerfs. The bigger nerfs come to neutral things like Vulnerable and Critical Hit damage.

So, let’s get started with the class changes, which is what everyone is here for.

BARBARIAN NERFS

• Fixed an issue where Iron Maelstrom could be cast more than 3 times rapidly casting War Cry.
• Fixed an issue where stacking the Berserk Ripping, Skullbreaker, and Anemia aspects would allow the player to deal extreme amounts of damage.
• Fixed an issue where the outer edge of the quakes granted to Hammer of the Ancients via The Aspect of Ancestral Echoes was dealing far more damage than intended.
• Power Charge Cooldown reduction capped to 3 targets for max of 9 seconds
• Hamstring now only slows healthy enemies but Slow amount increased from 10/20/30% to 20/40/60%
• Cut to the Bone Bleeding damage bonus to Vulnerable reduced from 6/12/18% to 5/10/15%

BARBARIAN BUFFS

• Violent Double Swing’s Vulnerable duration up from 1 to 2 seconds
• Furious Upheaval damage bonus per stack up from 3% to 5%
• Tactical Ground Stomp up from 25 fury generated to 40
• Enhanced Death Blow damage bonus to bosses up from 100% to 150%
• Enhanced Steel Grasp Vulnerable duration up from 2.5 to 3 seconds
• Enhanced Rupture damage up to 30% to 45%
• Warrior’s Rupture Attack speed bonus up from 20% to 30% and duration up from 4 to 5 seconds.
• Fighter’s Rupture healing increased from 15% to 18% max life.
• Wrath Glyph bonus now affects all damage not just core skills
• Relentless Berserker Aspect duration up from 1 to 2 seconds
• Battle-Mad Aspect Beserking duration up from 1-2.5 seconds to 2-3.5 seconds
• Brawler’s Aspect damage up from 1-1.3 to 1.5-1.8
• Aspect of Burning Rage damage increased from .08-.14 to .22-.28
• Aspect of the Iron Warrior Damage Reduction up from 15-25% to 18-28%
• Slaking Aspect Lucky Hit Chance up from 30-50% to 40-60%
• Aspect of Ancestral Echoes Lucky Hit Chance up from 40-50% to 50-60%
• Weapon Master’s Aspect Lucky Hit Chance up from 32-50% to 37%-55%
• Gohr’s Devastating Grips now explodes every 2 seconds or after it ends, and its hit cap has been removed
• Fields of Crimson Bleeding damage bonus increased from 10% to 15%

DRUID NERFS

• Fixed an issue where Stormclaw’s Aspect allowed Shred to do extreme amounts of damage.
• Stormstrike Damage Reduction reduced from 25% to 15%.
• Prime Grizzly Rage now grants Unstoppable for 6 seconds instead of while active.
• Masochistic now also requires a Lucky Hit chance of 75%.

DRUID BUFFS

• Fixed an issue where seeking Tornados produced by Stormchaser’s Aspect would not deal damage.
• Fixed an issue where Ravens’ passive damage did not improve after the skill was upgraded.
• Fixed an issue where Rabies would deal no damage while standing very close to an enemy.
• Fixed an issue where Provocation passive stacks wouldn’t update properly after adding more points to it.
• Fixed an issue where the automatic transformation from Insatiable Fury would cause the Ursine Strength key passive to not proc consistently.
• Enhanced Claw Attack Speed bonus increased from 10% to 15%.
• Boulder damage increase from 33% to 46%.
• Savage Trample Spirit gain increased from 20 to 40.
• Prime Lacerate healing increased from 3% to 5%.
• Cataclysm Lightning damage increased from 64% to 77%, and Tornado damage from 19% to 23%.
• Supreme Cataclysm Vulnerable duration increased from 2 to 3 seconds.
• Prime Cataclysm duration increased from 2 to 4 seconds.
• Provocation threshold required for guaranteed Overpower reduced from 35/30/25 to 24/20/16 seconds.
• Prickleskin Thorns increased from .1 to .15.
• Iron Feather Maximum Life increased from 10% to 14%.
• Bolster Fortify increased from 10% to 15% of Maximum Life.
• Overload damage increased from .2 to .25.
• Spirit Glyph’s bonus now affects all damage instead of just Core Skills.
• Aspect of the Calm Breeze Lucky Hit chance increased from 5-10% to 7-12%.
• Balanced Aspect Maximum Spirit increased from 30-50 to 60-80.
• Aspect of the Tempest damage bonus increased from 7-15% to 10-18%.
• Skinwalker’s Aspect healing increased from .05-.1 to .07-.12.
• Symbiotic Aspect of the Stampede damage bonus increased from 10-20 to 16-26%.otic Aspect Cooldown reduction reduced from 4-8 to 3-5.
• Insatiable Fury Werebear Skill Ranks increased from 2 to 3.
• Mad Wolf’s Glee Werewolf Skill Ranks increased from 2 to 3.

NECROMANCER NERFS

• Fixed an issue where Bone Spear cast through Chilling Wind from an Elite enemy would increase the number of generated Echoes for that cast.
• Fixed an issue where cancelling Blood Mist when it’s already off Cooldown would immediately recast it.
• Enhanced Blood Lance damage reduction for piercing reduced from 15% to 10%.
• Evulsion bonus damage to Vulnerable reduced from 6/12/18% to 5/10/15%.
• Splintering Aspect Bone Shard damage bonus reduced from 50-100% to 30-60%.
• Aspect of Grasping Veins Critical Strike Damage bonus reduced from 30-60% to 20-40%.
• Blood-bathed Aspect Echo damage reduction reduced from 70-60% to 60-50%.

NECROMANCER BUFFS

• Initiate’s Decompose Slow increased from 30% to 50%.
• Paranormal Sever casts required for Vulnerable reduced from 4 to 3.
• Enhanced Blood Surge Healing increased from 2.5% to 3% of Maximum Life.
• Bone Prison initial Essence gained increased from 15 to 25.
• Golems move faster and unhindered through enemies when their Cooldown is activated.
• Supreme Blood Wave leaves behind Blood Orbs earlier in its path.
• Raise Skeleton, Corpse Explosion, and Corpse Tendrils range for auto-targeting Corpses on mouse and keyboard increased by 50%.
• Raise Skeleton Skeletal Priest bonus damage increased from 20% to 30%.
• Raise Skeleton Skeletal Priest healing increased from 10% to 15%.
• Transfusion Minion healing increased from 15/30/45% to 20/40/60%.
• Drain Vitality Lucky Hit Chance increased from 25% to 30%.
• Amplify Damage increased from 3/6/9% to 4/8/12%.
• Necromancer’s minions will now automatically re-summon after respawning during a World Boss fight.
• Skeleton Warrior Defenders Upgrade Thorns inherited increased from 40% to 50%.
• Shadow Skeleton Mage Upgrade attacks required for an additional shadow bolt reduced from 5 to 4.
• Bone Skeleton Mage Upgrade Fortify amount increased from 11% to 20%.
• Iron Golems Upgrade attacks required for Slam attack reduced from 5 to 4.
• Essence Glyph’s bonus now affects all damage instead of just Core Skills.
• Aspect of Plunging Darkness bonus damage increased from 50-100% to 75-125%.
• Coldbringer’s Aspect blizzard cooldown reduced from 10 to 8 seconds.
• Aspect of Hungry Blood chance to fire a Blood Lance increased from 10-20% to 13-23%.
• Blood-soaked Aspect damage increased from .15-.2 to .24-.31.
• Aspect of Ultimate Shadow damage increased from .16-.22 to .43-.48.
• Osseous Gale Aspect bonus Bone Storm duration increased from 4-8 to 5-10 seconds.
• Aspect of the Damned damage bonus increased from 30-40% to 40-50%.
• Aspect of Reanimation Skeletons damage bonus increased from 20-30% to 30-40%.
• Bloodless Scream Essence gained increased from 2-5 to 7-10.
• Deathless Visage damage increased from .25-.35 to .28-.38.

ROGUE NERFS

• Siphoning Strikes now also requires a Lucky Hit chance of 75%.

ROGUE BUFFS

• Fixed an issue where Shadow Step wouldn’t trigger the Aspect of Uncanny Treachery if the target was killed.
• Fixed an issue where Advanced Penetrating shot would not knock down other players in PvP play.
• Fixed an issue where Twisting Blades would not come back when the ability killed a Bloated Corpsefiend enemy.
• Fixed an issue where the Dash skill would not move the full distance if targeting an enemy while using a controller.
• Fixed an issue where the Eldritch Bounty Paragon node granted bonus resistances incorrectly.
• Fixed an issue where the Awakened Glyphstone wouldn’t spawn for Rogue players using Improved Barrage.
• Advanced Rapid Fire duration increased from 3 to 5 seconds.
• Caltrops cast speed increased by 15%.
• Enhanced Cold Imbue Lucky Hit Chance increased from 30% to 40%.
• Enhanced Smoke Grenade damage bonus increased from 15% to 20%.
• Methodical Dash maximum Cooldown reduction increased from 3 to 4 seconds.
• Concealment Stealth duration increased from 4 to 5 seconds.
• Enhanced Dark Shroud’s chance to not be consumed increased from 10% to 14%
• Supreme Death Trap Cooldown reduction increased from 10 to 12 seconds.
• Victimize Lucky Hit Chance increased from 30% to 35%.
• Rugged Damage Reduction against Damage over Time effects increased from 5/10/15 to 6/12/18.
• Mending Obscurity healing per second while Stealthed increased from 3/6/9% to 4/8/12%.
• Aftermath Energy restored increased from 25/50/75 to 30/60/90.
• Combat Glyph’s bonus now affects all damage instead of just Core Skills.
• Eldritch Bounty Legendary Node duration increased from 6 to 9 seconds.
• Preparation’s Ultimate Cooldown reduction increased from 4 to 5 seconds.
• Aspect of Volatile Shadows damage increased from .1075-.193 to .2-.27.
• Icy Alchemist’s Aspect Chill increased from 15% to 25%.
• Shadowslicer Aspect damage increased from 25-35% to 80-100%.
• Toxic Alchemist’s damage increased from 0.080-0.13 to .11-.16.
• Vengeful Aspect Lucky Hit Chance increased from 30-50% to 40-60%.
• Aspect of Imitated Imbuements duration increased from 5 to 9 seconds.
• Aspect of Stolen Vigor healing increased from .02-.06 to .04-.08.
• Aspect of Lethal Dusk Life of Kill duration increased from 4 to 6 seconds.
• Aspect of Noxious Ice bonus damage increased from 10-25% to 14-29%.
• Aspect of Elusive Menace Dodge chance increased from 1-5% to 3-7%.
• Skyhunter’s Energy gain increased from 15-25 to 20-30.
• Grasp of Shadow Lucky Hit Chance increased from 20-30% to 24-34%.

SORCERER NERFS

• Fixed an issue where Aspect of Control was applying its damage bonus 3 times for Staggered bosses.
• Devouring Blaze bonus Critical Strike damage reduced from 10/20/30% to 7/14/21%.
• Devouring Blaze bonus Critical Strike damage to Immobilized reduced from 25/50/75% to 10/20/30%.
• Glacial Aspect Ice Spikes bonus damage to Frozen reduced from 25% to 15%.
• Gloves of the Illuminator Fireball damage reduction reduced from 65-75% to 55%-65%.

SORCERER BUFFS

• Fixed an issue where the Firebolt Enchantment effect did not contribute to the Combustion key passive.
• Fixed an issue where the passive stacks generated by Align the Elements could partially reset in an unexpected way.
• Fixed an issue where casting Deep Freeze would prevent the Ice Shard Enchantment effect from triggering.
• Fixed an issue where the Gravitational Aspect was appearing weaker on two-handed weapons or amulets.
• Fixed an issue where the Enchantment effect for Chain Lightning had no visual tracking bonus and could also unexpectedly drop off.
• Fixed an issue where Incinerate would immediately cost 30 mana when cast in addition to the consistent channeling mana cost. Incinerate now properly only costs mana as it is being channeled.
• Enhanced Charged Bolts damage increased from 24% to 30%, and now benefits from Skill Ranks.
• Destructive Charged Bolts Damage Reduction increased from 20% to 25%.
• Destructive Incinerate Damage Reduction increased from 20% to 25%.
• Ice Blades cast clean up has been tightened, allowing players to act after its cast sooner.
• Firebolt initial damage increased from 10% to 18%.
• Wizard’s Firewall maximum increased Mana Regeneration increased from 25% to 35%.
• Wizard’s Blizzard Core Skill Mana cost reduction increased from 10% to 20%.
• Supreme Deep Freeze Cooldown Reduction increased from 50% to 100%.
• Elemental Dominance now also affects Mastery Skills instead of just Core Skills.
• Potent Warding duration increased from 3 to 9 seconds.
• Protection Barrier duration increased from 2 to 3 seconds.
• Align the Elements Damage Reduction per second increased from 1/2/3 to 3/6/9.
• Mana Shield Damage Reduction increased from 5/10/15% to 7/14/21%.
• Fiery Surge Mana Regeneration increased from 10/20/30% to 15/30/45%.
• Serpentine Aspect Hydra duration reduction reduced from 30-20% to 20-10%.
• Destruction Glyph now affects all damage instead of just Core Skills.
• Spark Enchantment chance to form Crackling Energy increased from 10% to 14%.
• Frozen Orb Enchantment chance to be cast increased from 20% to 30%.
• Incinerate Enchantment cooldown reduced from 18 to 14 seconds.
• Hydra Enchantment Mana threshold reduced from 300 to 200.
• Aspect of Efficiency Mana cost reduction increased from 10-20% to 15-25%, and now also affects Mastery Skills.
• Aspect of Armageddon damage increased from .205-.25 to .35-.4.
• Aspect of Shattered Stars damage increased from .15-.2 to .2-.25.
• Glacial Aspect Ice Spikes damage increased from .2-.3 to .25-.35.
• Aspect of the Frozen Tundra Ice Spikes damage increased from .25-.35 to .3-.4.
• Aspect of the Frozen Wake Ice Spikes damage increased from .2-.3 to .25-.35, and Chill increased from 10% to 15%.
• Aspect of Biting Cold chance to apply Vulnerable to Frozen enemies increased from 25-35% to 30-40%.
• Encased Aspect Life and Mana restore per second increased from 10-20% to 20-30%.
• Stable Aspect chance for a free cast increased from 5-10% to 7-12%.
• Aspect of Splintering Energy chance to spawn an additional Lightning Spear increased from 11-20% to 41-50%.
• Aspect of the Unbroken Tether chance for additional Chain Lightning chains increased from 25-35% to 30-40%.
• Esu’s Heirloom Critical Strike Chance from Movespeed increased from 15-25% to 20-30%.
• Esadora’s Overflowing Cameo chance to release a lightning nova increased from 10% to 15%.

Those are the classes, but there’s an entire section on neutral affixes and stats that should be read as well in the patch notes, as it will have huge ramifications for builds.

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