With Diablo 4‘s PTR update 2.4.0 now live, and until August 26, players can get a taste of what Season 10 will have in store before it officially starts on September 23. While the introduction of new Uniques and seasonal mechanics like Chaos Perks and Chaos Armor will likely define the Diablo 4 Season 10 meta, some of the balance changes made to Diablo 4‘s classes for the upcoming season are also revealing a clear picture of what builds will dominate the meta if the PTR update is anything to go by.
It was inevitable that some of Diablo 4 Season 9’s best builds would get nerfed in Season 10, and the PTR confirms that a few targets have been hit. The Druid’s Companion builds may be getting a new Unique with the Kilt of Blackwing, but a crucial skill in the build, Grizzly Rage, has been nerfed pretty hard. What’s worse is that Season 9’s impressive Hydra Sorcerer build is having some of its tools reworked to the point where it may not be the powerhouse players have enjoyed this season.
The balance update on the Diablo 4 PTR is still subject to change before Season 10 officially starts, so it’s possible the final nerfs to Hydra Sorcerer won’t be as drastic.
Hydra Sorcerer is Getting a Massive Nerf in Diablo 4 Season 10
In Diablo 4 Season 9, the Hydra Sorcerer was a standout build thanks to a combination of the powerful Ophidian Iris Unique and the buff to the Hydra skill that allowed summoned Hydras to attack immediately after spawning. The Hydra Sorcerer build could also be achieved without the need for an overreliance on Uniques, making it the perfect low skill floor/high skill ceiling build for Diablo 4 players in Season 9. However, the most important part of this build is being targeted for a nerf in Season 10, which threatens the entire build’s viability in the upcoming season.
Diablo 4 Season 10’s Changes to the Sorcerer’s Serpentine Aspect Limit Hydra’s Utility
The Serpentine Aspect pulls the Hydra Sorcerer build together with its ability to increase the damage dealt by the summoned Hydra by 1.5% [x] per Mana the player has when summoning, consuming all the player’s Mana in the process. With investments in Mana pool size, the damage this Legendary Aspect can provide to Hydras increases exponentially. However, according to the balance changes made on Diablo 4‘s PTR, the Serpentine Aspect’s damage output has been drastically reduced:
- Before: Hydra deals [0.50 – 1.50]%[x] increased damage per Mana you had when Summoned. Casting Hydra Consumes all of your Mana.
- Now: Hydra deals [0.30 – 0.50]%[x] increased damage per Mana you had when Summoned, up to 500 Mana. Casting Hydra Consumes all of your Mana.
Capping the amount of Mana that can go toward increasing Hydra’s damage while also decreasing the damage multiplier makes the trade-off of consuming all the Sorcerer’s Mana a lot less appealing. While it’s possible the Hydra Sorcerer will remain a viable build option in Diablo 4 Season 10, it’s unlikely to see the same amount of play as it has in Season 9.
Sorcerer’s Will Still Have Viable Build Options in Diablo 4 Season 10
If there’s one positive takeaway from the nerf to Hydra Sorcerers, it’s that Diablo 4 players will have more reasons to play Sorcerer builds other than Hydra in Season 10. There are still several build options that look to be solid for Season 10 Sorcerers, including Chain Lightning Sorcerer, which benefits from the new Galvanic Azurite Unique and a buff to the Overflowing Energy passive, both of which increase the amount of Lightning Damage they can deal to enemies. Blizzard Sorcerer could also be a viable option in Season 10 with the titular Blizzard skill buffing its 210% damage to 250% damage, making the build a solid option for Sorcerers looking to specialize in Ice Elemental skills.
Diablo 4
9/10
- Released
-
June 6, 2023
- ESRB
-
M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language
- Engine
-
Proprietary Engine
