Diablo 3’s update 2.7.7 is making its way to the PTR, giving us our first look at how its release date will change the action-RPG. Its patch notes reveal that Blizzard intends to bring back two recent seasonal themes as permanent additions, which should make this older version of Sanctuary more exciting to explore.
Arriving on the PTR between December 5 and December 12, Diablo 3’s update 2.7.7 patch notes also bring several class and balance changes that aim to adjust the bonuses provided by the Altar of Rites while also targeting multiple class abilities.
Diablo 3 Update 2.7.7 Patch Notes
Blizzard has now locked down Diablo 3’s update 2.7.7 release date to January 9, 2024, a few days before Season 30 goes live.
- Diablo 3 update 2.7.7 PTR release date: December 5, 2023
- Diablo 3 update 2.7.7 release date: January 9, 2024
If you’re eager to sink your teeth into specifics numbers, check out the full patch notes below, as detailed by Blizzard in the post covering all the changes slated for Diablo III’s Season 30.
New Permanent Features: Rites of Sanctuary and Visions of Enmity
Back by popular demand, the Rites of Sanctuary and Visions of Enmity Season themes have become a permanent fixture of Diablo III. While we are extremely excited to make these features always available, to ensure your time slaying demons remains balanced, we had to make some adjustments to the bonuses provided by the Altar of Rites. When existent alongside Visions of Enmity, continual Season themes, and adjustments to Class balance, we felt the game’s balance would benefit from adjustments to Rites of Sanctuary. Here’s what has changed:
- Force
- Decreased damage to +100 from +200.
- Shadow
- Decreased Missile Damage Reduction to 5% from 25%.
- Exodus
- Decreased Movement Speed (Uncapped) to +10% from +25%.
- Command
- Increased damage against Elites reduced to 5% from 15%.
- Tenacity
- Increased damage reduced to 5% from 20%.
- Reverence
- Reduces damage taken from Elites by 5%, previously 25%.
- Numb
- 25% Decreased Melee Damage Reduction to 5% from 25%.
- Nature
- Highest elemental skill damage bonus increased by 5%, previously 10%.
- Prowess
- Increased damage against Elites reduced to 5% from 20%.
- Roar
- Damage done to Bosses increased to 5% from 50%.
- Elegance
- Chance to Dodge increased by 5%, previously 15%.
- Malice
- Decreased to +5% Damage from +30% Damage.
- Father
- Power pylon has been removed from random Shrine effect.
- Mother
- Triune of Love Circle now increases damage by 50%, previously 100%.
Developer’s Note: In pursuit for all of Diablo III’s systems to feel both fun and challenging, the Altar of Rites adjustments were made to maintain a sense of progression throughout playing while not coming into conflict with other features.
- Empowered shrine has been removed from the random Shrine effect of the Father Seal from Altar of Rites.
Feature Changes
- Chilltara now has a 20% drop rate of Gibbering Gemstone.
- Whisper of Atonements can now be salvaged for 1–3 Forgotten Souls.
- Orek's Dream encounter rate buffed from 1 to 4%.
- Gelatinous Sire goblins no longer spawn from the Goblin Shrine inside Echoing Nightmares.
Class Balance Changes
Striking a middle ground between fun and balanced is our top priority when it comes to Classes. As we mentioned in our Season 29 article, going forward, a series of iconic themes from Seasons past will be reintroduced roughly every 3 months. The below Class balances changes were made to ensure each Class remains both fun and balanced as powerful Season themes return to Diablo III.
Developer’s Note: Over time, we have seen some builds gain a massive amount of power, leaving other builds behind and in need of updates. The Wizard’s Meteor has dominated the battlegrounds of Sanctuary for far too long, as well as some other Sets. We believe to have found a good avenue for each build to perform in and have improved Sets across each class to work towards this goal.
Barbarian
- Might of the Earth
- Increased the damage of Earthquake, Avalanche, Leap, Ground Stomp, Ancient Spear and Seismic Slam to 37,500% from 20,000%.
- The Legacy of Raekor
- Hitting enemies with Furious Charge or Weapon Throw increases the damage of your next Ancient Spear by 2,500% from 5,500% and causes it to release multiple spears from its target. This effect stacks and each spear throw consumes a maximum of 5 stacks.
Crusader
- Roland's Legacy
- Increased the damage of Shield Bash and Sweep Attack to 40,000% from 17,500%.
- Aegis of Valor
- Increased the damage of Fist of the Heavens and Heaven's Fury to 15,000% from 20,000%.
- Akkhan's Manacles
- Blessed Shield damage is increased by 400-500% for the first enemy it hits. Additionally, this bonus continues and is reduced by 50% for each subsequent non Shattering Throw target.
- Blade of Prophecy
- Condemned enemies also trigger Condemn's explosion and the damage of Condemn is increased by 600-800%.
- Faithful Memory
- Each enemy hit by Falling Sword increases the damage of Blessed Hammer by 60-80% for 10 seconds. Max 10 stacks. Each stack of this buff can now stack between uses instead of resetting.
- Denial
- Each enemy hit by your Sweep Attack increases the damage of your next Sweep Attack by 100–125%, stacking up to 5 times between uses. Each stack lasts up to 5 seconds.
Demon Hunter
- The Shadow's Mantle
- Impale’s additional damage increased to 120,000% weapon damage from 75,000% to the first enemy hit, and to 40,000% from 25,000% to subsequent enemies.
- Embodiment of the Marauder
- Your primary skills, Elemental Arrow, Chakram, Impale, Multishot, Cluster Arrow, Companions, Vengeance, and Sentries now deal 9,500% increased damage, previously 12,000%, for every active Sentry.
Monk
- Raiment of a Thousand Storms
- Your Spirit Generators increase the weapon damage of Dashing Strike to 60,000% for 6 seconds and Dashing Strike increases the damage of your Spirit Generators by 14,000%, instead of 6,000%, for 6 seconds.
- Uliana's Stratagem
- Increased the damage of your Exploding Palm from 9,000% to 12,500% and your Seven-Sided Strike detonates your Exploding Palm.
- Kyoshiro's Blade
- When the initial impact of your Wave of Light hits 5 or fewer enemies, previously 3, the damage is increased by 200-250%.
Necromancer
- Pestilence
- Each corpse you consume grants you an Empowered Bone Spear charge that increases the damage of your next Bone Spear by 6,000% from 3,300%. In addition, Corpse Lance and Corpse Explosion damage is increased by 6,000% from 3,300%.
- Each enemy you hit with Bone Spear, Corpse Lance, and Corpse Explosion reduces your damage taken by 3%, up to a maximum of 75%. Lasts 15 seconds.
- Inarius
- Bone Armor also activates a swirling tornado of bone, damaging nearby enemies for 1000% weapon damage and increasing the damage they take from the Necromancer to 19,000% from 10,000%.
- Trag'Oul's Avatar
- Your Life-spending abilities deal 6,250% increased damage, previously 10,000%, and your healing from skills is increased by 100%.
- Masquerade of the Burning Carnival
- Bone Spear cast by you and your Simulacrums deals 5,500% increased damage, previously 9,000%. Simulacrums gain triple this bonus.
- Bloodtide Blade
- Death Nova deals 300-400% increased damage for every enemy within 25 yards, up to 10 enemies, previously 25 enemies.
- Grasps of Essence
- When an exploded corpse damages at least one enemy, your Corpse Explosion deals 150-200% increased damage for 6 seconds, stacking up to 4 times, previously 5 stacks.
- Corpsewhisper Pauldrons
- Corpse Lance damage is increased to 50-75% from 20-30% for 3 seconds when you consume a corpse. Max 20 stacks.
Witch Doctor
- Raiment of the Jade Harvester
- Soul Harvest reduces damage taken by 50% for 12 seconds and consumes your damage over time effects on enemies, instantly dealing 26,000 seconds worth of remaining damage, previously 10,000.
- Helltooth Harness
- After casting Wall of Death, gain 37,500% increased damage, previously 17,500%, for 15 seconds to your primary skills, Acid Cloud, Firebats, Zombie Charger, Zombie Dogs, Gargantuan, Grasp of the Dead, Piranhas, and Wall of Death.
- Mundunugu's Regalia
- Spirit Barrage deals 17,500% increased damage, previously 20,000% plus an additional % equal to 5 times your Mana Regeneration/Second.
- Spirit of Arachyr
- The damage of your creature skills is increased by 11,500%, previously 25,000%. Creature skills are Corpse Spiders, Plague of Toads, Firebats, Locust Swarm, Hex, and Piranhas.
- Zunimassa's Haunt
- Enemies hit by your Mana spenders take 13,000% increased damage, previously 15,000%, from your pets for 8 seconds.
Wizard
- Delsere's Magnum Opus
- Enemies affected by your Slow Time and for 5 seconds after exiting take 20,000% increased damage, previously 12,500%, from your Arcane Orb, Energy Twister, Magic Missile, Shock Pulse, Spectral Blade, Electrocute, and Arcane Torrent abilities.
- Tal Rasha's Elements
- Attacks increase your damage by 1,000%, previously 2,000%, for 8 seconds. Arcane, Cold, Fire, and Lightning attacks each add one stack. At 4 stacks, each different elemental attack extends the duration by 2 seconds, up to a maximum of 8 seconds.
- The Smoldering Core
- Lesser enemies are now lured to your Meteor impact areas. Meteors deal 40-50% increased damage on consecutive hits to the same target. This stacks up to 3 times, previously 10.
- The Twisted Sword
- Energy Twister damage is increased by 125-150% for each Energy Twister you have out up to a maximum of 3, previously 5. The Raging Storm rune is automatically applied to Energy Twister and allows the tornado to merge with 3 additional Energy Twisters.
That covers everything you need to know about Diablo III’s update 2.7.7 patch notes, release date, and its featured returning content.
Diablo III and its Reaper of Souls expansion are available on PC, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS5, PS4, PS3, and Nintendo Switch. For more demon slaying across Sanctuary, check out when we can expect from Diablo 4’s third season to kick off.
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