We interviewed the Diablo 3 expert and streamer “Leviathan” about the new Season 23 and Patch 2.7.0. Read here why groups will still be strong in the new season and what exactly is changing for solo players.
What’s happening in Diablo 3? The new Season 23 of Diablo 3 is just about to start. It is accompanied by Patch 2.7.0, which features the biggest changes in years to Blizzard’s hack and slash. Because the companions are being fundamentally revised. When taken into combat by players, they are now really useful. This makes playing in Season 23 very attractive for solo players. But how strong will they be?
This is what to expect here: MeinMMO spoke in an interview with Leviathan (YouTube / Twitch). An expert who has been playing Diablo 3 since its release. We asked him what makes this season so special and how it will affect the meta. The second part of the interview with Leviathan will follow in the coming days. It will be about class balance and which 3 classes are likely to dominate the Season 23 leaderboard.
This is Leviathan
MeinMMO: Could you introduce yourself briefly?
Leviathan: I am Leviathan and have been a content creator since the early days of Diablo 3. I started with the Diablo franchise just before the release of Lord of Destruction for Diablo 2. Since then, I haven’t been able to let go of it.
I became more a part of the Diablo community at the release of Diablo 3 when I searched in the forums for tips on Barbarian builds and helped others. Eventually, you could hear me in podcasts. I loved talking about the game.
When Seasons for Diablo 3 began in 2014, I decided to start streaming and create YouTube content. With both projects, I aim to share knowledge. Since then, I have participated in many other projects. Collaborations, fan sites, and opportunities with Blizzard themselves to promote the love for Diablo in the community.
MeinMMO: How many hours of playtime have you accumulated in Diablo 3 in total?
Leviathan: In the over 9 years since Diablo 3 has existed, I have accumulated more than 10,000 hours of playtime. It’s hard to give an exact number of hours because I spent some time on the PTR, played on various console versions, and switched between EU and NA servers.
It’s definitely a lot! Especially Season 22 was a very short season for me, as the technical alpha of Diablo Immortal came up and took over my life, so this time I have just under 300 hours.
Leviathan claims to be super competitive. He loves climbing the ranks and pushing boundaries. His major milestones include:
– Achieving rank 2 as a Demon Hunter in solo hardcore (just 12 seconds away from rank 1)
– Reaching over 4,000 Paragon levels solo in Season 20
– Completing Season 8 without deaths. Played 100 % solo and finished third on the solo Crusader leaderboard
All his milestones can be read in this Google Document
Why your speed farming will improve
MeinMMO: Patch 2.7.0 fundamentally revises companions in Diablo 3. What do you think, how much will this impact the meta?
Leviathan: It’s really fascinating to see that Blizzard is now revising the companions, even though they have been in the game since launch and have only received a few updates since then. The Emanate system should be great for solo players!
[Emanate is the ability in English where your characters receive the legendary powers of your companions’ gear]
Farming with Cain’s and Sage’s Set on the companions will be improved. Especially with Cain’s. That means more keys for Greater Rifts after each Nephalem Rift. Very efficient solo players will then spend even more of their time in Greater Rifts. As a result, Paragon levels should continue to rise.
Then the Nemesis Bracers and The Flavor of Time will also be on the Emanate list. This should improve solo speed farming in Greater Rifts, making runs faster and more consistent. That’s yet another factor that will lead to even higher Paragon levels during the season.
Moreover, both of these Emanate powers will help players reach their highest Greater Rifts. Guaranteed elite enemies and doubled duration of pylons will be useful and it helps that you don’t have to equip them yourself.
The revamped companion skills should also contribute to builds with more damage, utility, and free cheat deaths, indicating a better efficiency overall.
Will groups also be strengthened by the solo changes?
Leviathan: The interesting thing is that the [revamped] skills will naturally help solo players. However, inventive groups will find ways to incorporate the Ashara Set into their support builds. This summons all companions into battle, even when playing in a group, and allows the new abilities of the companions to be included.
I’m curious whether Blizzard will agree with that or if they will ultimately change the Ashara Set.
MeinMMO: Should Ashara’s Set be nerfed: Do you think solo players are potentially stronger than group players in Season 23 because of the improved followers?
Leviathan: Definitely not! Apart from Ashara’s Set, group play is by far the most efficient way to play in Season 23. This revision of the companions will help solo players to catch up [to group players]. But there remains a gap between solo and group play.
If Blizzard ever plans to support solo players more in this regard, they would need to find a way to increase the experience that players gain in solo play. Whether that works through companions or other means.
How do you like the interview and the insights from the expert Leviathan? Please share your thoughts on the statements here with us on MeinMMO in the comments.
Will you be playing solo or in a group during Season 23?
