Diablo 3: Patch 1.0.4! Good move, Blizzard.

Diablo 3: Patch 1.0.4!

The much needed relief has finally come. The once ever so rage quit ridden world of Sanctuary has finally been blessed by the gods over @ Blizzard Entertainment. Inferno Difficulty itself had become an internet meme, just because of the pure ridiculous amount of dedication and endurance it took for any one player to farm through Inferno. The multifarious  Deadmau5 had his own issues with the game and later ended up taking some of his rage out on the EDM community… However, amidst all the stressful air and constant defeat, the game has finally come to a place of harmony. Every class has been buffed, every difficulty moderated, drop rates increased, affixes fixed and… level cap increased(sort of)!

Diablo 3 now features 100 Paragon Levels!

For those of us less learned:

par·a·gon/ˈparəˌgän/

citation

These Paragon Levels are only available to heroes who have already reached level 60. They function much like normal levels do by increasing core stats, however they also increase MF and GF by 3% each level. Leveling is much like the 1-60 adventure, however there is no quest bonus EXP and there is a much steeper curve of XP for Paragon Levels in general. Lyrlirra’s notes read “Experience is awarded from killing mobs and completing combat challenge streaks ie. Killing Blow, Masscre, etc…”

I’ll mention the Barbarian buffs in detail as that is what I mainly play.

“Barbarian

• Active Skills
  • Ancient Spear
    • Now also roots the target in place for 1.5. seconds
    • Will now default to Basic Attack if on cooldown
  • Bash
    • Fury generated increased from 6 to 8
    • Weapon damage increased from 150% to 165%
    • Skill Rune – Onslaught
    • Weapon damage increased from 22% to 25% per reverberation
    • Skill Rune – Punish
    • Bonus damage per stack increased from 6% to 8%
    • Skill Rune – Instigation
    • Bonus Fury generated reduced from 6 to 4
  • Cleave
    • Weapon damage increased from 120% to 140%
    • Skill Rune – Reaping Swing
    • Proc coefficient increased from 0.667 to 0.8
    • Skill Rune – Broad Sweep
    • Weapon damage increased from 156% to 175%
    • Proc coefficient increased from 0.5 to 0.8
    • Skill Rune – Gathering Storm
    • Proc coefficient increased from 0.5 to 0.8
  • Hammer of the Ancients
    • Weapon damage increased from 200% to 325%
    • Skill Rune – Rolling Thunder
    • Weapon damage increased from 155% to 275%
    • Skill Rune – Smash
    • Weapon damage increased from 270% to 406%
    • Skill Rune – The Devil’s Anvil
    • Proc coefficient reduced from 1 to 0.08
  • Leap
    • Can now be used while immobilized by crowd control effects (such as Jailer)
    • Note: Leap will not break CC effects, but that it can still be used while under the effect
  • Overpower
    • Skill Rune – Crushing Advance
    • Can no longer trigger On Hit procs
    • Amount of damage reflected increased from 30% to 35%
  • Rend
    • Weapon damage increased from 210% over 3 seconds to 700% over 5 seconds
    • Skill Rune – Lacerate
    • Weapon damage increased from 271% over 3 seconds to 903% over 5 seconds
    • Skill Rune – Bloodbath
    • Weapon damage increased from 60% over 3 seconds to 100% over 5 seconds
  • Seismic Slam
    • Weapon damage increased from 155% to 240%
    • Skill Rune – Shattered Ground
    • Weapon damage increased from 202% to 288%
    • Skill Rune – Cracking Rift
    • Weapon damage increased from 255% to 340%
  • Weapon Throw
    • Weapon damage increased from 100% to 130%
    • Will now default to Basic Attack if the player runs out of Fury
    • Skill Rune – Mighty Throw
    • Weapon damage increased 130% to 169%
  • Whirlwind
    • Weapon damage increased from 110% to 145%
    • Skill Rune – Volcanic Eruption
    • Weapon damage increased from 143% to 188%”

- Pasted from <http://us.battle.net/d3/en/forum/topic/6368188147>

If you’ll notice, the increases on some of these skill damages is massive! Some have a measly 30% increase while others gain 100-200% damage increase with certain runes.

These changes have made the difference between this:

Barbarian Larzuk stands defeated in a pool of blood among his enemies.

And THIS:

Barbarian Larzuk stands upon his fallen enemies.

In line with these Paragon Levels, the class buffs, mob de-buffs and drop rate increases comes a feeling of sanity. As of today, Tuesday, August 21st I can farm Inferno ACT II solo on my Barbarian, a feat which has yet to be foreseen as a reality in any day before this day. Group farming/leveling is equally as fun and rewarding as solo adventures. To any soul who has left Diablo 3 in a fit of rage over Inferno, this is Blizzards plea to bring you back into the world of Sanctuary to battle demons head on with your fellow heroes.

Check the official patch notes here. Definitely a TLDR looking article, but worth the read. You should at least read your main class’s buffs and the Paragon Level details.

See you on the battlefield, hero.