Blizzard has presented the content of the new Season 28 in Diablo 3. We summarize the most important aspects from Patch 2.7.5 and take a look at the new season theme.
When does Season 28 start? That is still not quite clear. Patch 2.7.5 is to be ready for testing on the PTR server starting Tuesday, January 31. This test is expected to last for 7 days.
The testing period will therefore end on Tuesday, February 7. Since seasons in Diablo 3 traditionally start on a Friday, February 10 would be the likely start date for Season 28, which would replace the current Season 27.
In the past, there have been extensions to the PTR periods if Blizzard needed to further adjust the update based on tester feedback. Accordingly, it is possible that start dates may shift on short notice.
As soon as the official start date is known, we will keep you updated here at MeinMMO.
What is clear, however, is the theme under which the upcoming Season 28 will take place.
A season lasts for 3 months, during which the content can be used. But only if you create a new seasonal character.
Season theme of Season 28 in Diablo 3
What is the theme? Season 28 is called “Rites of Sanctuary” and revolves around an ominous altar, which unsuspecting citizens of New Tristram stumbled upon during a hunting trip.
This “Altar of Rites” has 26 seals and 3 legendary potion powers that players will discover upon their first arrival at the altar.
These altar runes function somewhat like a unique kind of skill tree. Once the first seal is unlocked, you can progress through the skill tree in different ways, depending on what fits your characters.
Each seal and each potion power grants you new abilities and bonuses, as well as the opportunity to unlock additional seals.
Here is an overview of all of them:
| Seal | Power |
| A | The duration of your kill streak timer and the reward bonus is doubled. |
| B | Fountains of Reflection persist for the entire season and are not removed by death. |
| C | Items have no level requirements. |
| D | + 200 damage |
| E | + 25 % projectile damage reduction |
| F | + 25% movement speed (Unlimited) |
| G | Increases damage against elites by 15%. |
| H | Picking up regeneration orbs grants a shield for 5% of your maximum health for 7 seconds. Maximum 5 stacks. |
| I | +25% melee damage reduction. |
| J | Increases the damage bonus of your highest elemental ability by 10%. |
| K | Increases damage against elites by 20%. |
| L | +10% damage |
| M | Doubles the number of death breath drops. |
| N | Critical hits grant: Mana: 15, Hatred: 5, Wrath: 5, Arcane power: 3, Fury: 3, Spirit: 5, Essence: 5. |
| O | Doubles the number of bounty tokens dropped when completing bounties. |
| P | Progress orbs from Nephalem and Greater Nephalem rifts are automatically collected. |
| Q | Reduces damage taken from elites by 25%. |
| R | +15% damage |
| S | Gain immunity to crowd control effects |
| T | Gain passability |
| U | Pets collect death breath |
| V | Elite groups drop an additional progress orb. |
| W | Increases damage to bosses by 25%. |
| X | Pets pick up common, magical, and rare items and dismantle them. |
| Y | Increases your chance to dodge by 15%. |
| Z | Doubles the chance to find a legendary item purchased from Kadala. |
| Potion AA | When you drink your health potion, you manifest one of three rune circles on the ground that grant increased damage, reduced cooldowns, or reduced resource costs. |
| Potion AB | When you drink your health potion, all enemies within 25 meters take 25% less damage. |
| Potion AC | When you drink your health potion, you gain a random shrine or pylon effect. |
| AD | When a primal item drops, a random second item also drops. |
How do you unlock the seals? To unleash the full power of the altar, you must gather various materials and offer them to the altar. The costs will become higher and the items will become rarer, the more seals and powers you unlock. This includes Primordial Ashes among others.
If you manage to unlock all seals, you will also receive a new cosmetic: the “Wings of Terror”.
What else is in the patch? The complete patch notes (in English) can be found here at Blizzard. In addition to the new altar, there will also be changes to known content. This includes various item adjustments, monk changes, and bug fixes.
What is a season anyway? In Diablo 3, seasons regularly take place in which additional content is unlocked to keep the gaming experience fresh. This can usually be used for three months before the next season starts. However, this only applies to newly created seasonal characters.
What do you think of the prospects of Season 28? Can you make use of the Altar of Rites? Tell us in the comments and exchange ideas with other players.
Meanwhile, the wait for Diablo 4 continues. If you want to bridge the wait, you can find 10 current alternatives to Diablo.
