Patch 1.0.8 brings with it a slew of new enhancements, many of which are aimed at players tired of farming Act III. We’ll still have to wait a while longer for the much anticipated changes to itemization, but in the meantime, here’s what to expect when the patch goes live:
Increases in Monster Density
Every act outside of Act III is receiving a huge boost to monster density. Rather farm in the Cathedral than the Keep Depths? Now you can. Small adjustments are still being made, but it’s safe to say that players will have at least a few more farming routes to choose from.
However, the change is not without its issues. See, Blizzard kind of did a 180. Acts I & II now have their share of viable farming areas, but the one act that everyone used to farm, Act III, was rendered partially obsolete, and it’s all because of one little change. Experience from Tormented Stingers was dropped by 75%. Because of this, it’s safe to say that the once heavily farmed Arreat Crater will become about as populated as Death Valley.
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With the launch of Patch 1.0.7, Diablo III players were finally given the opportunity to test their mettle in PvP combat. Thousands of new builds were proposed by the masses. Some worked; most failed. But through it all, only a handful of viable strategies emerged, and even then their effectiveness varied from situation to situation.
Barbarians in particular had a rough go of things. They lacked the range of a Demon Hunter, the utility of a Witch Doctor or Monk, and the crowd control of a Wizard. What they do bring to the table is extremely high damage mitigation and just enough all-around utility to get the job done. Yes, there is hope for our frenzied friends.
Your Barbarian will be more successful if you view Brawling as more of a chess match and less of a free-for-all. That’s not to say some classes, particularly the Witch Doctor, won’t still give you trouble, but with the tips outlined in this brief guide, you’ll find yourself capable of wearing most opponents into submission.
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You’ve managed to find the perfect balance of offensive and defensive skills, have the response time of a cheetah and know your rotation like the back of your hand, yet your Barbarian is still getting owned in Brawls. The problem probably lies in your gear. In PvE, players have found success through stacking mainly offensive stats like Critical Hit Chance, and Critical Hit Damage, and while these are nice to have, taking a fully offensive approach to Brawling will find your Barb running from the spawn point more than fighting.
This brief guide will take a look at some of the fundamental stats and benchmarks you should be aiming for in order to build a hearty Barbarian that doesn’t shatter like a cracked egg every time he is hit.
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Remember the early days of Diablo III, when Barbarians were considered the most underpowered class? Yes, back in the days when Act II of Vanilla Inferno was actually considered difficult, the outlook for the Barbarian was woeful at best. For many of us, those nights of spawning at the nearest waypoint are distant memories. In fact, today’s Barbarians reign as arguably the most effective Paragon leveling and farming class – only challenged recently by the Monk.
But now, with the launch of brawling, our beloved heroes of Arreat have once again been delegated to fifth place. Swarms of forums posts have been dedicated to how much Barbarians suck in PvP, and it doesn’t look like Blizzard is going to do anything about it.
Problem is most of these players are trying to keep up with other classes by playing Barbs like they are ranged fighters. A few stalwart heroes have found success using this technique, but for the most part, relying too heavily on skills like Weapon Throw is a recipe for disaster.
Barbarians are tanks, through and through, and should be treated as such. Therefore, I’ve comprised a build that caters to a Barbarian’s natural strengths: melee, armor, vitality and defense.
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With the release of Patch 1.0.7, thousands of avid Diablo III players will rediscover the long lost art of crafting. I say ‘long lost art’ because there really hasn’t been much benefit to crafting items since the game’s early days. But all of that is about to change, at least for some of you.
Patch 1.0.7 Recipes: The Good
First, the good news: The five new recipes will roll gear with extremely high core stats. How high? Potentially higher than anything currently available in the game. Furthermore, players will be able to choose which main stat their new item will feature. For instance, a Barbarian in need of more DPS can craft Archon Spaulders of Strength, while a Monk or Demon Hunter would likely opt for Archon Spaulders of Dexterity.
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Blizzard just announced that Patch 1.0.7 has gone live in the US! Here are some of the key updates…
PvP
Get your “Brawl” on
Dueling has been added in Patch 1.0.7 – supporting either 1v1 or a 2v2 free-for-all format. Players who wish to duel need to seek out Nek the Brawler, who can be found in any of the hubs in each of the 4 acts. Nek will port you to the Scorched Chapel where you will be able to slug it out with other players. See this post for more info on dueling in Diablo 3.
Damage received in the new “Brawl” system will be reduced by 30% for ranged classes (Wizards, Demon Hunters & Witch Doctors) & 35% for melee (Barbs and Monks).
There is also a new chat channel devoted to PvP.
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Now that Legendary weapons have been buffed to the point where they’ve become end-game viable, the question stands…“will we ever be able to dye our Legendaries..?”
Patch 1.0.7 will take a small step in that direction by allowing players to apply Vanishing Dye to gear that will accept it*, but that’s all we’re getting in this next patch.
*Vanishing Dye can be applied to items in the following slots: Head, Shoulders, Hands, Torso, Legs and Feet.
The following is a recent reply from a blue on the topic of allowing dye on Legendaries…
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Blizzard has recently announced that PvP will be introduced in Patch 1.0.7! Although we won’t see any sort of team-based arena system, dueling will be arriving in this next major content patch.
Diablo 3 Dueling System
Here’s a breakdown of how this new dueling system will work…
“Nek”
The dueling area is a separate map that players will be ported to by an NPC. Players interested in dueling others will speak to Nek the Brawler.
During the Patch 1.0.7 PTR, Nek could be found inside the inn at New Tristram, but he’s moved around since then. He’s not too difficult to find, but here are his 3 locations in the town hubs in case you were curious…
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Considered by many to be among one of the more powerful classes in Diablo III, the Wizard sports a play style designed for ranged attack lovers. Getting the right build to succeed in the game, especially on the intense Inferno difficulty, requires a build that will rapidly strike down opponents while quickly regenerating health due to the strength that your opponents gain at level 60. Fortunately for Wizards, such a build exists; in fact, there are three top builds to try and aim for in Diablo III.
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Patch 1.0.5 brought with it a slew of changes to the world of Sanctuary, the most notable being Uber bosses and the much sought after Hellfire Ring. Featuring a 35% boost to experience gained from slaying monsters, upwards of +200 (more with double rolls) to a main stat of your choice, and several other potentially useful random properties, the Hellfire Ring is the most powerful Paragon leveling item in Diablo III. Unfortunately, acquiring one is not an easy task. But with the help of this handy guide, you’ll learn vital strategies and tips that will make farming one a cinch.
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