Dubbed As the Worst Patch to Any Video Game

Blizzard recently released the 1.1 patch notes for Season of the Malignant in Diablo 4, but players are not pleased with the changes. The patch contains over 6,600 words detailing buffs, nerfs, and adjustments to the game’s classes and neutral elements. Unfortunately, four out of five classes have seen the strongest builds nerfed, including Hammer of the Ancients for the Barbarian, Bone Spear for the Necromancer, Ice Shards for the Sorcerer, and Shred for the Druid. The Sorcerer class, in particular, has been hit hard by these nerfs, leading to disappointment among the community.

The Neutral Nerfs Are A Huge Blow to All Classes

In addition to the class-specific nerfs, Blizzard also implemented neutral nerfs to elements such as Critical Hit Damage, Vulnerable, and Cooldown Reduction. The developers stated that players were too strong for their own good, which prompted these changes. While players may notice decreased damage output, survivability has also taken a hit. Reductions to Aspects, such as the one that boosts armor on hit, have made characters more vulnerable, and resistances seem less effective. The Barbarian’s Hammer of the Ancients builds have suffered significant damage reduction, making it easier to get hit during World Events.

The Sorcerer Class is Weaker Than Ever

One of the major concerns raised by the community is the impact of these changes on the already struggling Sorcerer class. Core damage skills like Devouring Blaze have been nerfed, making the Sorcerer even weaker. The class already had survivability issues, but the 1.1 patch has turned it into a fragile glass cannon.

Asmongold Speaks Up

Noted RPG player, MMO creator, and Twitch streamer Asmongold has also expressed his dissatisfaction with Blizzard’s changes in Diablo 4. He believes that everything has become worse, with leveling being slower and helltides being lackluster. Asmongold criticized Blizzard for failing to address existing problems with the game in the 1.1 patch. Balancing issues have been a significant concern since the game’s launch last month, and unfortunately, the latest update did not fix these issues. Many of Asmongold’s viewers share his sentiments, especially regarding complaints about necro builds, stash space, and resurrection.

Season of the Malignant Isn’t Looking Too Hot

In response to the negative feedback, Blizzard is organizing a Campfire Chat on July 21, 2023, to address player concerns. Joe Shely, the game director for Diablo 4, has acknowledged that nerfs are necessary, but players feel that the extent of these changes was unexpected. Fans of the franchise are considering leaving the game if the main issues are not resolved. The nerfs to general aspects and classes are seen as terrible, but the adjustments made to Helltides have further fueled player anger. The launch of Season of the Malignant has been rough, and players hope that future patches will rectify these problems.