The new Themed Seasons we've been getting in
Diablo 3 of late have turned out to be pretty popular. And don't look to be stopping anytime soon, with
Blizzard noting that they will continue alongside the arrival of new Legendary Powers and even Set Items. Which means the now 7 Year Old action-RPG has a few more tricks up its sleeve.
With Season 18 set to begin this weekend, on August 23, it presents the Season of the Triune. A new buff, available from Level 1 onward that periodically has different summoning circles appear across the battlefield.
Triune of Love (Power): Players in the circle receive a 100% damage bonus while active
Triune of Determination (Resource Reduction): Players in the circle receive a 50% discount on resources spent while active
Triune of Creation (Cooldown Reduction): While standing in an active circle, any skills currently on cooldown come off of cooldown more quickly
For the ability and skill focused Diablo 3 this will no doubt add a new player to strategy and potential builds from the get-go. Having periodic cooldown and resource cost reduction will no doubt factor into the decision making when it comes to what skills and items to equip.
Also coming is a new Legendary Gem that will no doubt shake-up the endgame possibilities.
Legacy of Dreams
While you have no set bonuses equipped, every Legendary item you have equipped increases your damage dealt by 3.75% and reduces your damage taken by 2%. (Max level 99).
Rank 25: This bonus is doubled for Ancient items.
This turns last season's Legacy of Nightmare's buff into a more interesting and permanent addition to the game.
Interestingly a Crafted Sets (green) are being given an overhaul, meaning that they're actually usable and definite choices prior to high-level play.
Captain Crimson's Trimmings
(2) Set Bonus
Regenerates 6000 Life per Second
Reduces cooldown of all skills by 20%.
Now also reduces Resource Costs by 20%
(3) Set Bonus
Damage dealt is increased by your total percentage of Cooldown Reduction
Damage taken is reduced by your total percentage of Resource Cost Reduction
Aughild's Authority
(2) Set Bonus
Reduces damage taken by 15%
Increases damage dealt by 30%
(3) Set Bonus
Reduces damage from elites by 30%
Increases damage against elites by 30%
Cain's Destiny
(2) Set Bonus
Attack Speed increased by 8%
+50% Experience. (5.0% at level 70)
(3) Set Bonus
When a Greater Rift Keystone drops, there is a 25% chance for an extra one to drop.
On top of this several existing Legendary Items have been given a rework:
Flavor of Time
New Legendary Power: Pylon effects last twice as long.
Note: Only wearers of this item gain this effect. This is intended.
The Executioner
New Legendary Power: Attacks will slay enemies with less than (5-10%) health.
Stone Gauntlets
New Legendary Power: Getting attacked will slowly turn you to stone... (You gain 50% more armor, but your movement speed is reduced by 15% and attack speed is reduced by 20%. This effect stacks up to 5 times)
Echoing Fury
New Legendary Power: Slaying enemies engulfs the wielder into a Frenzy. (Killing enemies increases your attack speed by 15% and movement speed by 5%. This effect stacks up to 5 times)
Squirt's Necklace
New Legendary Power: While not taking damage, your damage is increased by up to 100% and damage taken is increased by up to 50%.
Messerschmidt's Reaver
New Legendary Power: Reduce the remaining cooldown of one of your skills by 1 second when you slay an enemy.
Plus a brand new Legendary for Barbarians called
Mortick's Brace that gives Wrath of the Berserker the effect of every rune.
All great stuff, and with more on the horizon we'll be checking in on Diablo 3 each Season - probably right up until the eventual release of Diablo 4. That is, assuming that game's reveal is scheduled for BlizzCon 2019 with a say late 2020 release on the cards.
For more info on Diablo 3's Season 18 and the full Patch Notes -
head here.