Diablo 2: Resurrected launches first ladder, changes over 330 things to the classes – patch notes for patch 2.4

Diablo 2: Resurrected fans are finally getting what they’ve been waiting for since the release of the remaster. The first ladder started today with patch 2.4 on April 29, 2022 and brings tons of changes with it. MeinMMO reveals what you need to know about the update.

What is the ladder? What modern games the seasons are called in Diablo 2 Ladder. Here you can compete against other players on a leaderboard and try to be among the first to max out your class or beat the toughest bosses.

Fans have been waiting for the ladder since it was released in September 2021, as it is the reason for many to play Diablo 2 in the first place. After several postponements, the time has finally come today. The ladder has been playable on PC, Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch since 2:00 a.m. German time. You have the option of four game modes:

• Standard/Softcore for Diablo 2 without Lord of Destruction
• Hardcore for Diablo without Lord of Destruction
• Standard/Softcore for Diablo 2 with expansion
• Hardcore for Diablo with expansion

The normal mode remains. Ladder characters become regular characters after the season. You can find everything about the ladder in our overview.

Why should I play the ladder? Certain content such as special items are only available in the ladder. So if you want to try new builds or explore more of the game, you need to play the ladder.

In addition, the ladder offers an incentive to start again from 0 and experience Diablo 2 again. Because every character has to be leveled again.

The accompanying Patch 2.4 also offers hundreds of changes for all classes, changing your companions and items.

Balance changes to classes, mercenaries, and sets

This changes in the classes: Patch 2.4 is basically a balancing patch for all classes in Diablo 2 and is the biggest yet. Each class gets at least two dozen adjustments.

However, most of these changes are minor tweaks such as a few percent more or less damage. However, the developers have also adjusted the synergies of several skills or changed their functions.

For example, the Amazon’s “Impale” can no longer be interrupted and the popular sorceress’s “Inferno” can now be released, no longer snaps to a target. You can find all the changes in the official patch notes from Blizzard.

What else is changing? The mercenaries, which are an integral part of every build, also become stronger. You can hire mercenaries in the cities of each act and they will support you in battle. All mercenaries got stronger and there were some other adjustments:

• Archers (Act 1) can now carry Amazon bows and have more abilities.
• Desert Mercenaries (Act 2) have a stronger thorn aura.
• Iron Wolves (Act 3) have more health, defensive stats, and other spells.
• Barbarian Warriors (Act 5) can now receive Barbarian skill bonuses from equipment. They also have more health and the best defensive stats of any mercenary.
• A new barbarian warrior with two weapons can now be hired.

Some class sets have also been adjusted and are now stronger. This should make them possible options for the already popular builds of the game. There are also some bug fixes and changes to the areas that scale up on Hell.

Uber Diablo, the hardest boss in the game, now counts the summon differently. To summon him, Stones of Jordan must be sold as usual. However, the amount is now tracked individually for each mode.

Also, once Uber Diablo is summoned, all players in a region get access, not just the server instance anymore. With the command /uberdiablo you can query the current status.

New rune words and recipes for the Horadric Cube

What are the new rune words? Runewords are powerful items that you can craft yourself. To do this, you have to use runes in the correct order in an actually weak item with enough socket slots. Tip: You can easily find basic items in the cow level.

There are a total of 7 new runewords that you can craft for the first ladder. They complement the list of all runewords in Diablo 2, but are only available in the ladder:

• Plague (Cham + Shael + Um) on swords, claws, and daggers
• Patter (Tal + Ort + Thul) on claw weapons
• Unyielding Will (Fal + Io + Ith + Eld + El + Hel) on swords
• Wisdom (Pul + Ith + Eld) on headboards
• Possession (Zod + Ist + Lem + Lum + Io + Nef) on Staves
• Flame (Nef + Pul + Vex) on headboards
• Nebula (Cham + Shael + Gul + Thul + Ith) on bows and crossbows

In addition, Insight can now be used on bows and crossbows. Infinity, Obedience, and Pride work on spears and amazon spears.

What new recipes are there? With the ladder you have new possibilities to use your horadric cube. There are 4 of your recipes with the following functions:

• Craft exceptional version of set weapon
• Craft elite version of set weapon
• Craft exceptional version of set armor
• Craft elite version of set armor

We have already introduced you to the 4 new Horadric Cube recipes in detail and also explain how to make them in the guide. You can also find all the recipes for the Horadric Cube in Diablo 2 here.

Will you play the ladder? Which changes do you like the most? Tell us in the comments!

Once you’ve played the first season of Diablo 2 and secured your spot on the leaderboard, you’ll be able to continue your Diablo adventure straight away. Because on June 2nd a new part of the popular series will be released. Appropriately enough, it even plays directly after Diablo 2 and before the successor Diablo 3:

Diablo Immortal reveals release date and announces PC version: “Will be the biggest Diablo yet”