Finally, fans of Diablo 2: Resurrected are getting what they have been waiting for since the release of the remaster. The first ladder started today with patch 2.4 on April 29, 2022, bringing a ton of changes. MeinMMO reveals what you need to know about the update.
What is the ladder? What seasons are to modern games is called the ladder in Diablo 2. Here, you can compete against other players on a leaderboard and try to be among the first to reach max level with your class or defeat the toughest bosses.
Fans have been waiting for the ladder since its release in September 2021, as it is the reason many play Diablo 2 at all. After several delays, it is finally here. Since 2:00 AM German time, the ladder has been playable on PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch. You have the option to choose from four game modes:
- Standard/Softcore for Diablo 2 without Lord of Destruction
- Hardcore for Diablo without Lord of Destruction
- Standard/Softcore for Diablo 2 with expansion
- Hardcore for Diablo with expansion
The normal mode remains in place. Ladder characters will become regular characters after the season. You can find everything about the ladder in our overview.
Why should I play the ladder? Certain content like special items is only available in the ladder. So if you want to try new builds or explore more of the game, you need to play the ladder.
Additionally, the ladder offers an incentive to start from scratch and experience Diablo 2 again. Because every character must be leveled up anew.
The accompanying patch 2.4 also offers hundreds of changes for all classes, altering your companions and items.
Balance changes to classes, mercenaries, and sets
What changes for the classes: Patch 2.4 is essentially a balance patch for all classes in Diablo 2 and the largest one so far. Each class receives at least two dozen adjustments.
Most of these changes are, however, minor tweaks, like a few percent more or less damage. However, the developers also adjusted the synergies of several skills or changed their functions.
For example, the “Impalement” of the Amazon can no longer be interrupted, and the “Inferno” of the popular Sorceress can now be cast freely, no longer locking onto a target. You can find all the changes in the official patch notes from Blizzard.
What else is changing? The mercenaries, which are integral to every build, are also getting stronger. You can recruit mercenaries in the towns of each act, and they support you in battle. All mercenaries have been strengthened, and there have been several other adjustments:
- Amazon Archers (Act 1) can now equip Amazon bows and have more abilities.
- Desert Mercenaries (Act 2) have a stronger Thorns aura.
- Iron Wolves (Act 3) have more health points, defensive values, and other spells.
- Barbarian Warriors (Act 5) can now receive bonuses for Barbarian skills through equipment. They also have more health points and the best defensive stats of all mercenaries.
- A new two-weapon Barbarian Warrior can now be hired.
Some class sets have also been adjusted and are now stronger. This aims to make them viable options to the already popular builds in the game. Additionally, there are several bug fixes and changes to the areas that scale higher on “Hell”.
For Uber-Diablo, the toughest boss in the game, the summoning process is now calculated differently. To summon him, the Stones of Jordan need to be sold as usual. However, the quantity will now be tracked individually for each mode.
Moreover, all players in a region will gain access once Uber-Diablo is summoned, no longer just the server instance. With the command /uberdiablo you can check the current status.
New Rune Words and Recipes for the Horadric Cube
Which new rune words are there? Rune words are powerful items that you can create yourself. To do this, you need to insert runes in the correct order into a normally weak item with enough sockets. Tip: You can find base items easily in the cow level.
In total, there are 7 new rune words for the first ladder that you can craft. They complement the list of all rune words in Diablo 2, but are only available in the ladder:
- Pest (Cham + Shael + Um) on swords, claw weapons, and daggers
- Prasseln (Tal + Ort + Thul) on claw weapons
- Unyielding Will (Fal + Io + Ith + Eld + El + Hel) on swords
- Wisdom (Pul + Ith + Eld) on headgear
- Obsession (Zod + Ist + Lem + Lum + Io + Nef) on staves
- Flame (Nef + Pul + Vex) on headgear
- Fog (Cham + Shael + Gul + Thul + Ith) on bows and crossbows
Furthermore, Insight can now be applied to bows and crossbows. Infinity, Obedience, and Pride work on spears and Amazon spears.
What new recipes are there? With the ladder, you have new options for using your Horadric Cube. There are 4 new recipes with the following functions:
- Create exceptional versions of set weapons
- Create elite versions of set weapons
- Create exceptional versions of set armor
- Create elite versions of set armor
We have already introduced the 4 new recipes of the Horadric Cube in detail and also explain in the guide how to create them. You can also find all recipes for the Horadric Cube in Diablo 2 on our website.
Will you play the ladder? What changes do you like the most? Let us know in the comments!
If you played the first season of Diablo 2 and secured a spot on the leaderboard, you can continue your Diablo adventure directly. Because on June 2, a new part of the popular series is coming out. The game, fittingly, even takes place directly after Diablo 2 and before the successor Diablo 3:
Diablo Immortal reveals release date and announces PC version: “Will be the biggest Diablo yet”
