Diablo Immortal Update: Year of the Snake Event & Class Balance Changes

ECHO Gaming Staff January 19, 2025 Gaming Diablo 1 month ago

TL;DR: Latest Diablo Immortal leaks: A new 'Year of the Snake' event introducing the 'Immortal Secret Realm' (possibly an iteration of Elder Rifts), plus notable Barbarian and Demon Hunter balance updates.

Hello, fellow adventurers! In this article, we’ll explore some of the recent leaks for Diablo Immortal, focusing on what's rumored to be coming soon. According to these unconfirmed details, players may see a new event, class balance changes, and an intriguing new area or mechanic. While the information comes from translations that are not yet verified, it’s always fun to speculate about potential additions to the game.

As with all leaks, remember to treat them with caution until Blizzard provides official patch notes. Let’s take a closer look at what might be in store.

New Event: Year of the Snake

First up is the Year of the Snake event, which brings fresh challenges and is said to reward players with a 60-day limited-use item called the [Secret Realm Portal Device]. Activating this device opens a portal to the mysterious Immortal Secret Realm.

The “Immortal Secret Realm” may simply be a unique spin on the Elder Rift system. While specific details are sparse, the leaks suggest players can use a keystone within this realm to attempt a “Direct Guard” challenge, possibly streamlining the encounter. After clearing the realm once, participants can apparently keep revisiting it, making it an efficient opportunity for repeated runs.

Barbarian Changes:

The Barbarian class looks to undergo several modifications, including:

During Battlegrounds and the Rite of Exile, the Idol can no longer be advanced or halted by a Barbarian in Undying Rage, reducing its ability to manipulate the objective.
The absorption (pull) effect granted by the legendary item “Hive of Terror” when using Whirlwind is enhanced, potentially improving crowd control or survivability.
The circular barrier generated by the legendary item “Wheel of Destruction” can now be destroyed, but it absorbs a certain portion of the Barbarian’s max health before shattering.
The lightning spear from the legendary item “Thunderbolt” has been buffed in damage, but the imprisonment duration it inflicts on enemies is slightly reduced.

These alterations may feel subtle to some, but they could have significant implications for the Barbarian’s PvP and PvE playstyle.

Demon Hunter Changes:

Meanwhile, the Demon Hunter is also slated for a handful of buffs and tweaks:

The legendary item “Painful Shadow” extends the effective range of the Demon Hunter’s stationary shooting stance, favoring long-range engagements.
The projectile launched by “False Prophet” travels farther, improving overall attack reach.
The armor-piercing damage bonus from “Feast of the Flame Man” is increased, providing extra DPS potential.
The piercing attack of “Cold Restraint” deals greater damage, making the Demon Hunter more lethal at range.
The explosive shot effect of “Twisted Fate” is boosted, offering stronger burst damage.

Taken together, these changes should help Demon Hunters keep the pressure on from a distance while dealing higher overall damage.

Complaints / Quality of Life Improvements

Leaked details also hint at several quality-of-life updates and UI improvements:

Auto-Battle Display: The remaining weekly auto-battle timer may now appear on-screen, helping players keep track of usage.
Equipment Library & Armory Upgrades:
- Players can opt to save or exclude gems, runes, and other items in their current armory plan, offering more build flexibility.
- A new button allows easier saving or overwriting of set (green) equipment, simplifying gear management.
- If a legendary slot is empty in a Warband plan, the currently equipped item will be used as a placeholder. Missing green pieces will trigger an automatic inventory search for the best-scoring item with the same set name.

Though these reported features remain unofficial, they show a continued effort to streamline Diablo Immortal’s gear and convenience systems.

That’s the rundown of the latest rumors and leaks about upcoming additions and adjustments to Diablo Immortal. As always, until Blizzard officially confirms these details, take them with healthy skepticism. Still, it’s exciting to see how the game might continue to evolve. Stay tuned for any further developments, and happy adventuring!