It seems as though Blizzard has taken some harsh strikes against the Sorcerer class in Diablo 4 in the latest update patch notes. Although there are many things that have improved the class, certain Sorcerer nerfs have upset players. If you want to know all the Diablo 4 Season of the Malignant Sorcerer changes, buffs, and nerfs, continue reading.
All Sorcerer changes and bug fixes in Diablo 4 Season of the Malignant
Some players were taking advantage of an Aspect bug that let them deal more damage. Now this isn’t possible anymore, which has disappointed some Sorcerers. Otherwise, Blizzard squashed a few other Sorcerer bugs for the Diablo 4 Season of the Malignant.
- Fixed an issue where the Firebolt Enchantment effect did not contribute to the Combustion key passive.
- Fixed an issue where the passive stacks generated by Align the Elements could partially reset in an unexpected way.
- Fixed an issue where casting Deep Freeze would prevent the Ice Shard Enchantment effect from triggering.
- Fixed an issue where Aspect of Control was applying its damage bonus 3 times for Staggered bosses.
- Fixed an issue where the Gravitational Aspect was appearing weaker on two-handed weapons or amulets.
- Fixed an issue where the Enchantment effect for Chain Lightning had no visual tracking bonus and could also unexpectedly drop off.
- Fixed an issue where Incinerate would immediately cost 30 mana when cast in addition to the consistent channeling mana cost. Incinerate now properly only costs mana as it is being channeled.
If you originally abused the Aspect of Control’s damage bug, that sadly won’t be a feature in Season of the Malignant. On the bright side, the other bug fixes focus on things that hindered players. Although, if you don’t intend to use Aspect of Control, these bug fixes are pretty okay.
Screenshot by PC Invasion
All Sorcerer buffs in Diablo 4 Season of the Malignant
There are plenty of major buffs available to Sorcerers in Diablo 4’s first Season. Overall, these buffs are large in number, but less impactful in the long run. But as a Sorcerer myself, I’m glad to see some changes to the Hydra Enchantment Mana threshold, and damage increased with Charged Bolts.
Skills
- Enhanced Charged Bolts damage increased from 24% to 30%, and now benefits from Skill Ranks.
- Destructive Charged Bolts Damage Reduction increased from 20% to 25%.
- Destructive Incinerate Damage Reduction increased from 20% to 25%.
- Ice Blades cast clean up has been tightened, allowing players to act after its cast sooner.
- Firebolt initial damage increased from 10% to 18%.
- Wizard’s Firewall maximum increased Mana Regeneration increased from 25% to 35%.
- Wizard’s Blizzard Core Skill Mana cost reduction increased from 10% to 20%.
- Supreme Deep Freeze Cooldown Reduction increased from 50% to 100%.
Passives
- Elemental Dominance now also affects Mastery Skills instead of just Core Skills.
- Potent Warding duration increased from 3 to 9 seconds.
- Protection Barrier duration increased from 2 to 3 seconds.
- Align the Elements Damage Reduction per second increased from 1/2/3 to 3/6/9.
- Mana Shield Damage Reduction increased from 5/10/15% to 7/14/21%.
- Fiery Surge Mana Regeneration increased from 10/20/30% to 15/30/45%.
Paragon
- Destruction Glyph now affects all damage instead of just Core Skills.
Enchantments
- Spark Enchantment chance to form Crackling Energy increased from 10% to 14%.
- Frozen Orb Enchantment chance to be cast increased from 20% to 30%.
- Incinerate Enchantment cooldown reduced from 18 to 14 seconds.
- Hydra Enchantment Mana threshold reduced from 300 to 200.
Legendary Aspects
- Aspect of Efficiency Mana cost reduction increased from 10-20% to 15-25%, and now also affects Mastery Skills.
- Aspect of Armageddon damage increased from .205-.25 to .35-.4.
- Aspect of Shattered Stars damage increased from .15-.2 to .2-.25.
- Serpentine Aspect Hydra duration reduction reduced from 30-20% to 20-10%.
- Glacial Aspect Ice Spikes damage increased from .2-.3 to .25-.35.
- Aspect of the Frozen Tundra Ice Spikes damage increased from .25-.35 to .3-.4.
- Aspect of the Frozen Wake Ice Spikes damage increased from .2-.3 to .25-.35, and Chill increased from 10% to 15%.
- Aspect of Biting Cold chance to apply Vulnerable to Frozen enemies increased from 25-35% to 30-40%.
- Encased Aspect Life and Mana restore per second increased from 10-20% to 20-30%.
- Stable Aspect chance for a free cast increased from 5-10% to 7-12%.
- Aspect of Splintering Energy chance to spawn an additional Lightning Spear increased from 11-20% to 41-50%.
- Aspect of the Unbroken Tether chance for additional Chain Lightning chains increased from 25-35% to 30-40%.
Items
- Gloves of the Illuminator Fireball damage reduction reduced from 65-75% to 55%-65%.
- Esu’s Heirloom Critical Strike Chance from Movespeed increased from 15-25% to 20-30%.
- Esadora’s Overflowing Cameo chance to release a lightning nova increased from 10% to 15%.
Screenshot via Blizzard
All Sorcerer nerfs in Diablo 4 Season of the Malignant
Even though the amount of buffs seem massive, some of the nerfs harshly affect fire Sorcerers. Significant damage was reduced to burning enemies, which is a bad thing for players who relied on fire abilities. Luckily, for Sorcerers who’d rather use ice or lightning skills, these nerfs may be fine by you. Also, Critical Strike damage was pretty nerfed throughout the patch notes.
Passives
- Devouring Blaze bonus Critical Strike damage reduced from 10/20/30% to 7/14/21%.
- Devouring Blaze bonus Critical Strike damage to Immobilized reduced from 25/50/75% to 10/20/30%.
Legendary Aspects
- Glacial Aspect Ice Spikes bonus damage to Frozen reduced from 25% to 15%.
All in all, you can read these Diablo 4 Season of the Malignant patch notes very differently depending on which Sorcerer build you enjoy. If you plan to play a fire Sorcerer during Season one, you may want to consider being a lightning or ice Sorcerer instead. Also, you won’t be able to rely so much on the Aspect of Control or Critical Strike damage anymore.
Diablo 4Â is available on Battle.net.
