[GameSpot] - Diablo 3 Patch 2.7.3 Introduces Season 26 Content

[343iBot]

Blizzard has released patch 2.7.3 for Diablo 3 which features the long-awaited season 26, as well as the new activity Echoing Nightmares.

Echoing Nightmare is the first activity to be added to the game and takes the form of a challenge event that will make players test their abilities in a series of trials in order to "stay in the fight as long as possible". As usual, a new season means new rewards, but this time the developer is making it so awards originally available from season 14 are returning for players who missed out along the way.

Boots and pants slots are being added for the exclusive Conqueror Set and a series of portrait frames themed around Tal Rasha will be available too. New End of Journey rewards that were introduced in season 17 will also return, with two new cosmetic ones for those who complete the entirety of the Season journey, including the Rakkis Remembrance portrait and the Toothsome Trooper pet.

Patch 2.7.3 will also allow players who have not yet earned a total of five stash tabs via the Season Journey to unlock an additional one by completing a series of tasks at the Conqueror tier, such as "Complete Greater Rift 60 solo" and "Reforge a Legendary or Set item." The blog post contains the full details of each task required.

Additionally, new Seasonal Conquests are available which will also be rotated. Returning conquests for the Season of Greed are Avarice and Avarita, where every gold piece you find will count, while On a Good Day and I Can’t Stop will reward high ranking Legendary Gems, and more.

Diablo 3 players will also be rewarded with a new Class Set courtesy of Haedrig’s Gift for completing certain chapters in the Season Journey. Those who complete chapters two, three, and four will be rewarded with three Haedrig’s Gifts, and each one will contain a few pieces for the players' Class Sets.

Diablo 3 update 2.7.3 patch notes:

Greater Rift

Orek's Dream: Greater Rifts have a small chance to roll as Orek's Dream. These dreamlike rifts have a curated list of maps and monster compositions.

• 3 maps have been added and 2 maps have been removed from the Greater Rift pool.
  • Added: Fields of Misery, Desolate Sands and Briarthorn Cemetery
  • Removed: Sewers of Caldeum, and Hidden Aqueducts
• The probability of Greater Rift maps has been adjusted.
• The probability of monster groups has been adjusted.
• The following monsters have been adjusted to grant more progression and EXP within Greater Rifts:
  • Blazing Guardians
  • Smoldering Guardians
  • Frost Guardian
  • Noxious Guardian
  • Shock Guardian
  • Blood Clan Spearman
  • Dark Moon Clan Impaler
  • Moon Clan Impaler
  • Blood Clan Impaler
  • Ice Clan Impaler
  • Hell Witch
  • Vile Temptress
• Players can speak to Orek to close an active Greater Rift. This option is only available when in a single-player game.
• Further increased the progression granted by some monsters in Greater Rifts.
• Additionally, increased the progression granted by Fallen Shaman, Fallen Conjurer, Fallen Prophet and Fallen Firemage.
• Updated visual effects upon entering an Orek's Dream.
• Updated the Orek's Dream vignette to be more pronounced.

Items

Barbarian

• Legacy of Raekor (4-piece Bonus): Furious Charge gains the effect of every rune and deals 1000% increased damage. For every 1% Life you are missing, the damage of your Ancient Spear is increased by 2%.
• Legacy of Raekor (6-piece Bonus): Hitting enemies with Furious Charge or Weapon Throw increases the damage of your next Ancient Spear by 5500% and causes it to release multiple spears from its target. This effect stacks and each spear throw consumes a maximum of 5 stacks.
• Arreat's Law: Weapon Throw and Ancient Spear deal 150-200% increased damage.
  • Weapon Throw generates up to 25 50 additional Fury based on the distance of the enemy hit. The generated Fury can go above the maximum cap by 200 Fury.
  • Ancient Spear refunds up to 25 50 Fury based on the distance of the enemy hit and resets your Fury cap to its base maximum.
• The Three Hundredth Spear: Increase the damage of Weapon Throw and Ancient Spear by 150-200%. The attack speed of Weapon Throw is increased by 200%.
• Skular's Salvation: Increase the damage of Ancient Spear by 150-200%. If your Ancient Spear - Boulder Toss hits 5 or fewer enemies, the damage is increased by 100%.

Crusader

• Thorns of the Invoker: The attack speed of Punish and Slash are increased by 100% and deal 67,500% of your Thorns damage.
• Norvald's Fervor: Gain 200% increased damage while using Steed Charge and for 5 seconds after it ends.

Monk

• All Mystic Allies spawned by Inna's Mantra 6-piece bonus now have their duration refreshed with each attack.
• Mystic Ally - Fire Ally: Mini allies now have Passability.
• Mystic Ally - Earth Ally:
  • Earth Ally boulders speed has been increased. Boulders always leash to the player regardless of how many monsters are on screen.
  • Prevented Earth Ally boulders from being slowed by missile dampening.
• Bindings of the Lesser Gods: Enemies hit by your Cyclone Strike take 150%-200% more damage from your Mystic Ally for 5 seconds.

Bug Fixes

• Prevented players from changing difficulty while an Echoing Nightmare is active.
• Fixed a bug where Boon of the Hoarder allowed gold to drop in Echoing Nightmares.
• Fixed a bug where Orek's Dream vignette sometimes goes away on Shrouded Moors and Festering Woods when entering anything other than level 1.
• Fixed a bug that caused Orek's Dream opening VFX to display inconsistently.

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