Diablo 3's Next Patch Brings New Legendaries, Goblins, and Bounties

Blizzard has outlined the contents of the next big Diablo III patch, and the focus is squarely on adding new things to do and new or modified items to find.

The 2.2.0 update remains in the works but will be arriving "soon" on Public Test Regions for players to try out. Three new six-piece sets--Unhallowed Essence, Wrath of the Wastes, and Delsere's Magnum Opus, all pictured below--are being introduced, and seven existing sets are being updated with new bonuses.

For players more interested in Legendary items, 15 new Legendary powers are being added to a combination of existing items and new Legendary items (including armor, rings, and gems). Blizzard's preview includes a look at two such powers, including one that causes an Avalanche when using the Barbarian's Ground Stomp skill. The other increases the damage done by the Demon Hunter's Rain of Vengeance.

Nephalem and Greater Rifts are getting new layouts, which should help to avoid the experience of running through those from becoming too familiar. New Rifts include those based on Act I's Festering Woods, Act II's Stinging Winds, and Act III's Fields of Slaughter. These map layouts will be randomized, further mixing up the experience of completing Rifts.

Adventure mode is the recipient of more than 20 new bounties spread across Acts II, IV, and V. All acts will be receiving a new type of bounty, Exploration, that essentially boils down to exploring an area to find NPCs who need assistance or enemies who need to be slain.

Throughout the game, you'll also be able to encounter three new types of Treasure Goblins: one that splits into smaller goblins (the disgusting-sounding Gelatinous Sire), one that has allies to protect it (the Insufferable Miscreant), and one that sounds as if it drops lots of gold (the Gilded Baron).

Lastly, aside from a change in the format used for the game's files (something that will only impact PC and Mac versions), Blizzard is adding a cosmetics window. This will allow you to take cosmetic-only items with you into the field without having to take up room in your inventory.

Some other small, unspecified changes will also be coming as part of 2.2.0. A release date for the final version on PC, Mac, Xbox One, or PS4 has not yet been announced.

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