After about 60 hours of gameplay since the launch of Season 23 in Diablo 3, MeinMMO editor Patrick Freese can say that the significant companion changes were essential. Read here why the update was so important for single players.
What happened in Diablo 3? New seasons regularly launch in Diablo 3, but Season 23 did something different. Instead of just bringing temporary gameplay changes that disappear after the season, the new chapter started with a foundational patch and changes to companions that will remain. These are the biggest changes in Diablo 3 in years.
I have been playing Diablo 3 for many years and have already gathered over 1800 hours of gameplay. Since Season 23, I have found much more incentive to play the game, especially as a solo player.
Why are the changes so good?
What has changed? At the start of Season 23, Blizzard announced that they would revise the companions. These are the NPCs (Templar, Scoundrel, and Enchantress) who assist you on your adventures when you hire them. Before the changes, companions could carry only 6 items each. The developers increased the equipment slots to 14 – now companions can wear sets and items whose bonuses affect your character.
How does this affect things? All farming with Cain’s and Sage’s Set on the companions gets improved. Cain’s set gives you a 25% chance that at the end of a Nephalem Rift, a second key for a Greater Nephalem Portal will drop from the Rift boss. The Sage set (Journey of the Wisens) ensures that the amount of Death’s Breath you receive as loot from enemies is doubled.
When I now run through Nephalem Rifts, my companion has both sets activated (Thanks, Ring of Royal Grandeur) while I don’t have to change anything about my build. Previously, I had to forgo specific items just to equip one of the sets (Cain’s or Sage’s). If I now complete elite troops with my companion in this combination, I earn double the amount of Death’s Breath. And at the end of the rift, I have a chance for more GR keys.
That’s why it’s so much fun: As a solo player, it is now much easier to farm the important materials. Thanks to the improved companions, there is no need to switch up my set, but I can benefit from the bonuses that the Scoundrel, Templar, or Enchantress transfer to my character. It’s convenient and makes farming effective.
In recent years, it has been a frustrating burden for me to switch sets and search for materials. Now it simply runs alongside. And all this without a group – it is just a lot of fun. Furthermore, you can continue to optimize your sets and get as much damage as possible out of a character while the companions are equipped with support abilities and supportive legendary bonuses.
Conclusion: What Diablo 3 Needed
The revised companions are an essential step for Diablo 3. Even though the game is already 9 years old, this brings new life to it. A delayed quality-of-life change for which I am thankful.
In recent seasons, it has repeatedly been shown that players from the community want to keep changes to Kanai’s Cube permanently. It was also about having more variety in sets for the meta and farming. Blizzard explained why they couldn’t do that. But with the improved companions, a good compromise has been reached that Diablo 3 needed.
How do you like the changes to the companions after you’ve had 4 weeks to test? Do you agree that Diablo 3 really needed this change, or do you feel that the train has left for you long ago, and you can’t be excited about it? Let us know in the comments here on MeinMMO and discuss with other players.
