Diablo 4 1.1 Patch Notes: Season 1 Update & All Latest Features
by Venkatesh P | Updated Jul 17, 2023
What is Diablo?
The Diablo series is an esteemed franchise of action role-playing dungeon crawler video games. It was initially developed by Blizzard North and later continued by Blizzard Entertainment following the closure of the North studio in 2005. The series comprises four main games: Diablo, Diablo II, Diablo III, and Diablo IV. Notable expansions, such as Hellfire, Lord of Destruction, and Reaper of Souls, further expand the game universe. Additionally, the series explores additional story elements through various media forms, including books and comics.
Set within the dark fantasy realm of Sanctuary, the Diablo series features a diverse array of characters, primarily encompassing humans, angels, demons, and monsters. The first three games predominantly take place in similar geographical areas, featuring notable locations like Tristram and the region surrounding Mount Arreat.
Moreover, the series explores the realms of the High Heavens and the Burning Hells, which have significant connections to Sanctuary. The central focus of the series revolves around the ongoing conflict between the human inhabitants of Sanctuary and the demonic forces led by Diablo, the overarching antagonist. Occasionally, the humans receive assistance from angels, notably the Archangel Tyrael.
The remarkable popularity and success of the video game series have led to the publication of several books that delve into different timelines of the Diablo universe. These books offer a comprehensive exploration of the lore. Additionally, there are comics that provide engaging stories set within the world of Sanctuary.
As of April 8, 2020, the Diablo series has achieved impressive sales, with nearly 100 million copies sold worldwide.
Diablo 4 1.1 Patch Notes
Diablo 4 patch 1.1 – what we want to see from the next big update
While Diablo 4 patch 1.1 preps the game for Season of the Maligant's arrival, that doesn't mean more tweaks and changes shouldn't be on the table
Diablo 4 patch 1.1 brings the first major content update since launch
Ahead of Season of the Malignant’s arrival next week, we run through the most prescient changes needed for when Diablo 4 patch 1.1 gets released.
The recent Developer Update live stream for Diablo 4 was chock full of details and information with regards to how Activision Blizzard plans to make the transition to Diablo 4 Season 1 as smooth as possible. However, as part of that same stream, team members also let slip that a new update for the game would be coming as early as Tuesday, July 18, in advance of the debut season’s arrival; in effect confirming that Diablo 4 patch 1.1 is just around the corner.
As is typically the case before the full patch notes are released, however, we still don’t know exactly what changes and updates Diablo 4 patch 1.1 will bring, but that doesn’t stop us from being able to speculate with some educated guesses. It helps that the Diablo 4 community is a lot more vocal than most others, with fans already taking to the Blizzard forums to voice their anticipation of the patch notes.
The upcoming update is already confirmed to easily be the game’s biggest since launch, given that its main purpose is to prep players for Diablo 4 Season 1. With that said, here’s what we want to see from Diablo 4 patch 1.1 ahead of the debut season .
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Diablo 4 patch 1.1: a fix for limited inventory space
In a game like Diablo where you’re constantly picking up new loot and swapping it in and out, a good inventory management system is essential. At present, the current inventory space cap in Diablo 4 is 33 slots, which sounds like a lot but regularly fills up quickly when you consider that, say, a gem takes up the same amount of space as a weapon or crucial piece of gear. It just doesn’t make sense.
We’d like to see this addressed quickly in Diablo 4 patch 1.1 because it would make picking up new gear less of a chore, requiring less time spent in menus, and the removal of the constant need to teleport back to a town to sell off unwanted gear. Luckily, this is something Activision Blizzard has noted is a big demand from the community, so let’s hope a fix – possibly by dedicating a separate tab to gems – comes as part of next week’s patch.
Diablo 4 patch 1.1: increased rarity for Legendary Aspects
While it might seem strange to complain about rare loot being too easy to obtain, the Diablo 4 community understands more than most that it’s important to maintain an incentive to keep on playing. That’s why another fix we hope Diablo 4 patch 1.1 implements when it goes live next week is that the rarity of Legendary Aspects is increased – if only to make finally obtaining them a true celebration worth having.
Activision Blizzard is already on record as recognising that certain Legendary Aspects (buffs applicable for each character class) drop too easily, and we saw this very recently with Diablo 4's rarest Unique Items being discovered by players mere days after being detailed by the developers. If the studio isn’t in a position to outright add new Legendary Aspects and items that are rarer than the ones currently in the game, hopefully the patch adds more totally new ones that are a lot tougher to see drop.
Diablo 4 patch 1.1: more well-rounded character class builds
It only takes a brief look on the Diablo 4 Reddit forums to see players’ complaints about the fact that there’s generally only one or two builds per character class viable for surviving the endgame. And it being so obvious which character class builds are better than others somewhat takes the fun out of exploring each one’s Skill Tree on your own. Whether you play Druid, Sorcerer, Barbarian, Necromancer or Rogue, there’s a handful of builds that, at present, you’d be silly not to utilise.
One particular reddit thread has a player voicing their concerns about this very issue, expressing how there are “1-2 builds for each class that you never would have considered playing before because they were awful”, which Activision Blizzard could address by balancing the Active Skills of each class better.
It’d be a bog job – likely one too big for one update alone to address – but it’s still something we’d like to see tackled in Diablo 4 patch 1.1 when it arrives.
Diablo 4 Season 1 Update
Diablo 4 Season 1, referred to as "Season of the Malignant," is scheduled for release on July 20th at 10 am PDT, 12 p.m. CT, 1 p.m. ET, and 6 p.m. GMT, and will span a duration of three months. This eagerly anticipated update will introduce new gameplay features specific to the season, captivating questlines, challenging endeavors, and a refreshing shift in the game's meta.
Available across platforms including PS5, PS4, Xbox, and PC, this update is expected to be a significant content expansion for Diablo 4. Notably, it will include a Battle Pass system that rewards players with various incentives upon completion of challenges and progression. While the comprehensive patch notes for this update have yet to be officially unveiled, Blizzard has been conducting internal testing on Patch 1.1 and 1.2 for Diablo 4. It is anticipated that Patch 1.1 will coincide with the commencement of Season 1.
Diablo 4 Gameplay
The fundamental gameplay mechanics of the series center around a progressive acquisition of stronger equipment through the defeat of increasingly challenging adversaries. Players engage in combat using unique skills tailored to their chosen character class, which can be further customized through equipment and talent trees.
This dynamic framework facilitates the advancement of the narrative and completion of quests. Enemies are categorized into distinct monster families characterized by thematic, combat-oriented attributes and specific locations. Each family encompasses diverse archetypes fulfilling various roles, allowing for strategic synergies among members. These distinctions are visually represented through distinct silhouettes, stances, and weaponry.
Creative director Sebastian Stepien articulated the intention to craft a more grounded storyline in comparison to Diablo III. Accordingly, the plot centers around the lives of ordinary individuals inhabiting Sanctuary, eschewing high-fantasy themes and political machinations.
The efficacy of playable characters in combat hinges upon their attributes and the enhancements provided by equipped items. Offensive attributes such as attack and critical chance amplify damage output, while defensive stats like elemental resistance and defense bolster resilience against incoming damage. Diablo IV introduces three novel attributes: Angelic, Demonic, and Ancestral Power. Angelic and Demonic Power influence the duration of beneficial and detrimental effects, respectively, whereas Ancestral Power heightens the likelihood of effects being applied to other entities.
Weapons and gear possess varying degrees of rarity, serving as a general indicator of their potency. The rarest items boast unique effects that transcend mere alteration of character parameters. Trading and crafting mechanics are slated to be included in the game, albeit with limitations imposed on the most powerful items, as revealed in an interview with lead game designer Joe Shely and senior producer Tiffany Wat. The introduction of limited-time seasons introduces shifts to legendary powers, thereby impacting the meta-game.
Microtransactions are incorporated in the form of cosmetic items. It is important to note that Diablo IV necessitates an internet connection and cannot be played offline.
Diablo 4 Character classes
A total of five character classes have been revealed for the game. The Barbarian, Sorcerer, and Druid classes were initially unveiled at BlizzCon 2019, with a fourth class, the Rogue, being announced at BlizzCon 2021. The most recent addition to the lineup, the Necromancer class, was announced in 2022.
The Barbarian, a familiar presence from Diablo II and Diablo III, possesses the unique ability to switch between weapons during combat. Voiced by Ray Chase and Laila Berzins, this class offers versatile combat options.
Returning from the first game and Diablo II, the Sorcerer is an elemental mage-type character proficient in wielding fire, ice, and lightning magic. Voiced by Joseph Balderrama and Maya Saroya, the Sorcerer brings powerful elemental abilities to the table.
The Druid, making a comeback from Diablo II, possesses the extraordinary capability to shift between human, werewolf, and werebear forms. Voiced by Andrew Morgado and Courtenay Taylor, this class harnesses the forces of nature, including earth and storm magics.
Also returning from the first game, the Rogue is a nimble and agile combatant who excels in both melee and ranged combat with a bow. Voiced by Andres Williams and Anna Koval, the Rogue offers a swift and deadly playstyle.
Finally, the Necromancer, a class known from Diablo II and Diablo III, specializes in dark magic, utilizing summoning abilities and devastating attacks. Voiced by Jesse Burch and Elle Newlands, the Necromancer brings a sinister edge to the roster.
Players have the freedom to customize the appearance of their characters, including selecting character portraits and choosing the skin color. Additionally, customization options extend to mount appearances. Skill trees are also present, allowing for personalized ability customization within each class.
Diablo 4 1.1 Patch Notes - FAQs
The Diablo series is a renowned franchise of action role-playing dungeon crawler video games. Developed initially by Blizzard North and continued by Blizzard Entertainment, it consists of four main games: Diablo, Diablo II, Diablo III, and Diablo IV. The games are set in the dark fantasy world of Sanctuary and revolve around the ongoing conflict between humans and demonic forces led by the antagonist Diablo.
Diablo 4 Season 1, also known as "Season of the Malignant," is set to begin on July 20th at various times depending on the time zone. The season will last for three months and will bring new gameplay features, questlines, challenges, and updates to the game's meta.
Diablo 4 patch 1.1 is expected to be a significant content update, preparing players for Season 1. Some changes that players hope to see include a fix for limited inventory space, increased rarity for Legendary Aspects, and more well-rounded character class builds. These changes aim to enhance gameplay and address community feedback.
Diablo 4 Season 1 will introduce new seasonal gameplay elements, quests, challenges, and meta adjustments. It will provide an opportunity for players to engage with fresh content and progress through the game in a competitive seasonal environment. The season will be available on various platforms, including PS5, PS4, Xbox, and PC.
Diablo 4 features a total of five character classes. The Barbarian, Sorcerer, and Druid classes were initially announced at BlizzCon 2019, with the Rogue class revealed at BlizzCon 2021. The Necromancer class, known from previous Diablo games, was announced in 2022. Each class offers unique abilities and playstyles, allowing players to choose their preferred approach to combat and exploration.