The final patch notes for Patch 2.6 have just been revealed! There are many exciting changes to the 8 (9 really) Runewords that were available for testing on the recent PTR. A lot of new information on Terror Zones, Sundering Charms and some great balance changes have been added in Patch 2.6 which will go live on February 15 at 10AM PST (7PM CET, 3AM KST on February 16).
Ladder Season 3 Details
Ladder Start Times
As announced previously, Ladder Season 3 will start on February 16th (17th for Europe and Asia). As Diablo 2 Resurrected allows for cross play between the regions Americas, Europe, and Asia, the Ladder starts at the same time for everyone. Taking into account the different time zones of course...
| Americas | Europe | Asia |
| February 16 at 5PM PDT | February 17 at 2AM CEST | February 17 at 9AM KST |
Ladder Setup
As always, the ladder is split into the four game-modes of Diablo 2 Resurrected:
| Version | Description | |||
| Classic Ladder | The normal version of Ladder play that encompasses playing with four acts. | |||
| Hardcore Classic Ladder | The hardcore (only 1 life) version of Ladder play that encompasses playing with four acts. | |||
| Expansion Ladder | The normal version of Ladder play that encompasses playing five acts, as it includes the “Lord of Destruction” expansion content. | |||
| Hardcore Expansion Ladder | The hardcore (only 1 life) version of Ladder play that encompasses playing five acts, as it includes the “Lord of Destruction” expansion content. | |||
At the end of the Ladder, all Characters will be transferred to Non-Ladder.
New Runewords
The recent PTR allowed us to test out 8 (9) new Runewords that are introduced with Patch 2.6. Some of these Runewords receive some interesting changes. They will only be available on Ladder and Single Player!
Changed
Here is a side-by-side comparison of the PTR and final versions of the new Runewords that are being adjusted. Changes are highlighted in orange.
Cure
| Stats (Helmets) | ||
| 'ShaelIoTal' Required Level: 35 Level 1 cleansing Aura When Equipped +20% Faster Hit Recovery +75-100% Enhanced Defense +10 to Vitality Increase Maximum Life 5% Poison Resist +40-60% Poison Length Reduced by Socketed (3) |
Hearth
| Stats (Helmets) | ||
| 'ShaelIoThul' Required Level: 35 +20% Faster Hit Recovery +75-100% Enhanced Defense +10 to Vitality Increase Maximum Life 5% Cold Resist +40-60% Cold Absorb +10-15% Cannot Be Frozen Socketed (3) |
Hustle
| Stats (Armors) | ||
| 'ShaelKoEld' Required Level: 39 20% Faster Hit Recovery +6 to Evade +10 to Dexterity All Resistances +10 50% Slower Stamina Drain Socketed (3) |
Hustle
| Stats (Weapons) | ||
| 'ShaelKoEld' Required Level: 39 5% Chance to cast Level 1 Fanaticism Aura when equipped +30% Increased Attack Speed +75% Damage to Undead +50 Attack Rating Against Undead +10 to Dexterity Socketed (3) |
Mosaic
| Stats (Claws) | ||
| 'MalGul Required Level: 53 When a finisher is executed this way, it now refreshes the expiration timer of the stack* +2 to Martial Arts (Assassin Only) +20% Increased Attack Speed +200-250% Enhanced Damage 20% Bonus to Attack Rating +8-15% to Fire Skill Damage +8-15% to Cold Skill Damage +8-15% to Lightning Skill Damage Prevent Monster Heal Socketed (3) |
We assume that your charges never run out as long as you are using a finisher move every 14 seconds.
Metamorphosis
| Stats (Helmets) | ||
| 'IoChamFal' Required Level: 67 Werewolf strikes grant Mark for 180 seconds Mark of the Wolf: Increase Maximum Life 40% Werebear strikes grant Mark for 180 seconds Mark of the Bear: +25% Attack Speed +5 to Shape Shifting Skills (Druid Only) +50-80% Enhanced Defense +25% Chance of Crushing Blow +10 to Strength +10 to Vitality All Resistance +10 Cannot Be Frozen Socketed (3) |
Crushing Blow was moved to the base stats of the Runeword which makes it less interesting for pre-buffing on other characters.
Unchanged
Three of the Runewords available on the PTR will receive no changes in the final version of Patch 2.6:
Bulwark
| Stats (Helmets) | ||
| 'ShaelIoSol' Required Level: 35 +20% Faster Hit Recovery +4-6% Life stolen per hit +75-100% Enhanced Defense +10 to Vitality Increase Maximum Life 5% Replenish Life +30 Damage Reduced by 7 Physical Damage Received Reduced by 15% Socketed (3) |
Ground
| Stats (Helmets) | ||
| 'ShaelIoOrtl' Required Level: 35 +20% Faster Hit Recovery +75-100% Enhanced Defense +10 to Vitality Increase Maximum Life 5% Lightning Resist +40-60% Lightning Absorb +10-15% Socketed (3) |
Temper
| Stats (Helmets) | ||
| 'ShaelIoRal' Required Level: 35 +20% Faster Hit Recovery +75-100% Enhanced Defense +10 to Vitality Increase Maximum Life 5% Fire Resist +40-60% Fire Absorb +10-15% Socketed (3) |
Skill Fixes and Adjustments
Patch 2.6 introduces some fixes to Skills that previously were not working as intended, while others received some well overdue adjustments:
General
- Auras from another player or a mercenary no longer remove passive bonuses granted by the same skill. Such as Flickering Flame's Resist Fire aura from a mercenary overwriting a Paladin's base Resist Fire from their own hard points in Resist Fire.
- This also fixes an issue where Paladin's Blessed Aim Aura would overwrite the Attack Rating increase granted by Amazon's Penetrate skill.
Assassin
- The Assassin's trap skills now benefit from -% to Enemy Resistance.
- Fixed an issue where missiles created from Martial Arts charge up skills would not gain the benefit of +% To Elemental Skill Damage modifiers.
Amazon
- Fixed an issue where Strafe was not applying bonus Attack Rating to attacks
- Fixed an issue where Strafe was still doing 75% weapon damage after a previous balance change.
- Fixed issue where the +% Attack Rating on Power Strike was not being applied.
- Fixed the tooltip for Multiple Shot to reflect the synergy bonus.
Sorceress
- Cold Mastery is now applied at 1/5 effectiveness after an immunity is broken.
- Fixed an issue where Fire Mastery's bonus to fire skill damage didn't apply to the additional fire damage granted by Enchant on ranged weapons.
- Updated the tooltip forEnchant to better reflect the skill's effects.
Druid
- Fixed an underlying issue that caused the Druid's Shockwave skill to do an unintended amount of damage.
Terror Zones and Sundering Charms
There are a number of changes coming to Terror Zones and Sundering Charms:
- Sundering Charms can now in Non-Ladder.
- Terror Zones and Sundering Charms become available in Single-Player!
The list of Terror Zones has been expanded and adjusted after feedback from the community:
- Kurast Sewers is removed
- Underground Passage is added to Dark Wood
- Black Marsh + The Hole has been added
- Barracks is added to Jail
- Ancient Tunnels has been added
- Great Marsh has been added
- Bloody Foothills and Frigid Highlands, both separate Terror Zones before, have been combined with Abbadon.
- Drifter Cavern is added to Glacial Trail
- Pit of Acheron is added to Arreat Plateau
Patch 2.4 Cube Recipes and Runewords
All Runewords and horadric cube recipes that were introduced in Patch 2.4 can now be created / used in Non-Ladder:
Runewords
Flickering Flame
Mist
Obsession
Pattern
Plague
Unbending Will
Wisdom
Horadric Cube Recipes
- Ral Rune + Sol Rune + Perfect Emerald + Normal Set Weapon
= Exceptional Version of Set Weapon - Lum Rune + Pul Rune + Perfect Emerald + Exceptional Set Weapon
= Elite Version of Set Weapon - Tal Rune + Shael Rune + Perfect Diamond + Normal Set Armor
= Exceptional Version of Set Armor - Ko Rune + Lem Rune + Perfect Diamond + Exceptional Set Weapon
= Elite Version of Set Weapon
Bug Fixes
A number of bug fixes are getting implemented with Patch 2.6. Check them out in Blizzard's blog post.
Maxroll D2R Team
We are excited and can't wait to dive into all of these upcoming changes in Patch 2.6. It adds a lot of variety and increases the playability of currently unused Skills. Our old build guides will be updated as necessary and new build guides will be added for you very soon! Enjoy this massive patch and feel free to experiment yourself!
The D2R Maxroll Team