A twisted experiment awakens irresistible dark urges, along with the lingering, putrid odor of Fresh Meat. The Season of Slaughter arrives March 11 at 10 a.m. PST, granting you the power to transform into The Butcher, a force only partially under your control. Feed your hunger with Kill Streaks as you rampage through activities to claim Uniques and Bloodied Items that push your power to brutal new heights.
For players who haven’t pre-purchased Lord of Hatred, play as the Paladin for free up to Level 25 and experience the righteous might of Sanctuary’s holy warrior
Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2.6.0 Public Test Realm (PTR). We’ve included feedback from the PTR throughout this article. Additional changes made since the PTR’s conclusion are highlighted in blue.
Patch 2.6.0 Early Download
Patch 2.6.0 is available for early download on March 9 at 10 a.m. PT on the following platforms:
- Battle.net
- Xbox
- PlayStation
Codex
Become the Butcher
Unleash Your Rage with Killstreak System
Rain Crimson with Bloodied Items
Carve Through Slaughterhouses
Unlock Slaughter with Bloodied Sigils
New Unique Items
Glimpse the Divine in the Paladin Free Trial
Rip and Tear, DOOM: the Dark Ages Collab
Earn new Items from Season Rank
Feast Your Eyes on Twitch Drops
Carve Through the Season of Slaughter Reliquary
Community Guides for Season of Divine Intervention
2.6.0 Patch Notes
Become The Butcher
For the first time in Diablo history, assume the form of an iconic adversary: The Butcher.
Succumb to your dark urges as The Butcher. Feed your endless appetite for slaughter and earn Seasonal currency with a hotbar full of Butcher-fied skills.
As The Butcher, you wield brutal powers that for decades have inspired terror. Cleave through monsters, charge fearlessly into the fray and unleash a hail of hooks to drag your prey to a bloody end.
A Taste of Power Seasonal Questline
Starting in Gea Kul on the Seasonal Realm, begin A Taste of Power to uncover the dark path and claim the power of this walking abomination. This questline is but a sampling of the carnage you’ll experience while playing as The Butcher.
Grisly Metamorphasis
There are several ways to be come the king of slaughter. Earn Meaty Offerings, a new consumable item which can be used on Shrines of Slaughter in a new Helltide event. Activating this gory shrine draws enemies in Helltide to your location, kill them expeditiously to feed your gory rewards.
In Fields of Hatred, a Ceremony of Slaughter completely replaces typical PvP combat in this zone. This new event turns the battlefield into a race for supremacy. Every kill fuels your Savagery—a kill-based progression system that pushes you toward ultimate power. When the Ceremony concludes, The Butcher’s Idol rises for the fiercest contender. Take it to become the Butcher and turn the entire area into your personal killing ground.
Slaughterhouses arrive as another way to transform into the Butcher, read on to discern their grisly connotations.
Massacring enemies as the Butcher will earn you Fresh Meat, a new resource that can be used to earn more Bloodied Items.
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Unleash Your Rage with the Killstreak System
Indulge in bloodthirsty carnage to grow progressively stronger—maintain a fast, efficient slew of kills to increase your power and earn rewards.
The Killstreak system changes the way you play across every activity in Diablo IV. Slaughter your enemies in quick succession to begin your Killstreak. As your killstreak begins, a pop-up will start tracking your kill count.
After it begins, you have a short window before your Killstreak starts to decay. Continue your Killstreak with merciless pace, refresh your Killstreak timer with additional kills, direct damage, or on initial damage-over-time application.
Killstreaks are marked by five distinct tiers based off current streak’s total:
- Killstreak
- Carnage
- Devastation
- Bloodbath
- Massacre
When the timer bar fully depletes, the Killstreak is over. Experience and seasonal reputation are gained at the end of a Killstreak, a pop-up will indicate the amount of seasonal reputation and experience gained. These are based on the total number of monsters slain during the Killstreak, with a bonus based on the Killstreak Tier reached.
Stay alive if you hope to reap your rewards. The bigger the slaughter, the better the bonus.
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Rain Crimson with Bloodied Items
A warrior consumed by bloodlust can become the embodiment of unbridled rage if they know how to direct and sustain their rampage.
Based on PTR feedback, we made several adjustments to bring Bloodied Items more in line with the power of Chaos Armor from Season of Infernal Chaos and Sanctification bonuses.
Bloodied Items are a new Item Quality you can harness in combination with your Killstreaks to heighten the bloodshed.
Bloodied Items have affixes which scale in power based off your current Killstreak Tier. Any item that can drop can potentially appear as Bloodied. This Item Quality tag is non-exclusive, and an item can be both Ancestral and Bloodied.
Bloodied Affixes come in three categories:
- Rampage:
- Increase in power based off current Killstreak Tier
- Ex: Killstreak: 7%[+] Move Speed per Killstreak Tier in your Killstreak
- Feast:
- Apply Combat bonuses based off total kills in your current Killstreak
- Ex: Every 40 Kills in your Killstreak, reset 1 random Cooldown
- These bonuses are constant and are not tied to Killstreak Tier
- Hunger:
- Customizes reward offerings, which scale with Killstreak Tiers
- Ex: Elite kills will drop Runes more frequently
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Carve Through Slaughterhouses
If you want the fantasy of playing as the ultimate purveyor of human charcuterie, Slaughterhouses is the perfect new activity for you. Step into this grisly gameplay which keeps you as the Butcher for the entire run. From the first step to the final blow, you’re unleashed upon your enemies to do one thing: slaughter everything in sight.
Considering this is your first taste of this bloodbath, some things are best left to be experienced firsthand…
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Unlock Slaughter with Bloodied Sigils
Evoke the power of the Burning Hells and set a fearsome combatant on your trail. Bloodied Sigils unlock your ability to increase the heat and increase the ferocity of gameplay while rewarding you handsomely for this increased effort.
Nightmare Dungeons, Infernal Hordes, and Lair Bosses each have Bloodied Sigils. Note: these potent Sigils only become available once you reach Torment I. When playing in Bloodied activities, enemy health bars will display the level difference between their current level and how difficult they are in the Bloodied content.
Bloodied Sigils
Each Bloodied Sigil carries a Bloodied Affix, Relentless Butcher. The infamous purveyor of human charcuterie hunts you endlessly, hounding your every move. Should you manage to fell the Butcher, he will immediately return. He will never cease!
This does not replace the existing chance for Butcher spawns. You may even face both Butchers at once. Expect the activity in the Bloodied Sigil to be around a Torment Tier higher in difficulty than your current Torment Tier.
Bloodied Sigils reward this significant challenge with guaranteed drops of Bloodied Items.
Bloodsoaked Sigils
For those who seek suffering and glory in equal measure, Bloodsoaked Sigils are the truest test of strength. Scaled to be roughly close in difficulty to Pit Tier 100, Bloodsoaked Sigils carry incredible challenge, with remarkable rewards.
Bloodsoaked Sigils reward you with guaranteed drops of multiple Bloodied Items.
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New Unique Items
Wield these tools of demonic dismemberment to beat back the Butcher and continue your slaughter. All new Uniques this Season are dropped by the new Butcher Lair Boss, who will remain as a permanent Lair boss after Season of Slaughter.
Blood-Mad Idol—Unique Amulet
- Affixes:
- 7-8% Critical Strike Chance
- 17.5-31.5% Damage Reduction while Injured
- Power:
- You are always Berserking but take 200%[x] increased damage as Burning over 8 seconds. While Burning, Berserking grants an additional 75-125% increased damage.
- Usable by: All Classes
Wendigo Brand—Unique Ring
- Affixes:
- 441-490 Physical Resistance
- Power:
- Every 15 kills in the last 30-60 seconds increases your damage dealt by 2%, and Maximum Health by 1%.
- Usable by: All Classes
Rustbitten Dirk—Unique Dagger
- Affixes:
- Power:
- Deal 50-100% increased damage to isolated enemies.
- Usable by: Sorcerer, Druid, Rogue, Necromancer
Wyrdskin—Unique Gloves
- Affixes:
- 7-8% Critical Strike Chance
- Power:
- Attacks apply Vulnerable to Distant Enemies, and Weakened to Close Enemies. Deal 10-30% increased damage to Enemies that are both Vulnerable and Weakened.
- Usable by: All Classes
Thousand-Eye Reaver—Unique One-Handed Axe
- Affixes:
- 7-8% Critical Strike Chance
- 36.5-50% Movement Speed on Elite Kill
- Lucky Hit: Up to a 40% Chance to Deal 900-2,400 Physical Damage
- Power:
- Moving grants Ferocity, and Maximum Ferocity is increased by 1-3. Ferocity also increases Movement Speed by 4-8% per stack.
- Usable by: Barbarian, Druid, Necromancer, Paladin.
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Glimpse the Divine in the Paladin Free Trial
Your opportunity to embody the blessed is upon you, wanderer. From March 11—18 at 10 a.m. PT, try the Paladin class for free for a limited time on Battle.net, Xbox, and PlayStation.
During the Free Trial, play as the Paladin up to Level 25 and experience the righteous might of Sanctuary’s holy warrior. Pre-purchase Lord of Hatred to carry your progress forward on the same character.
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Rip and Tear in DOOM: The Dark Ages Collab
For a limited time, DOOM: The Dark Ages descends upon Sanctuary with our most expansive earnable Reliquary yet. Achieve rewards like the Shield Saw cosmetic skin, Slayer’s Flail, the Head of the Cyberdemon back trophy, and more.
Earn Iconic Weapon Cosmetics in the DOOM Reliquary
Starting at 10 a.m. on March 11, cut down Elites and Champion Monsters to earn Dark Ages Currency and carve your path through the DOOM: The Dark Ages event Reliquary. Claim all rewards to unlock the Forsaken Gates Town Portal and leave your mark on Sanctuary.
Killing Lair Bosses has a chance to drop a DOOM chest, which contains existing Uniques that have DOOM Crucible transmogs!
Collect Free DOOM: The Dark Ages Emblems
Starting on March 11, at 12 p.m. PT, secure free emblems in the in-game Shop plucked straight from the Dark Ages.
- March 11, 12 p.m. PT – Dark Before the Dawn
- March 13, 12 p.m. PT – Grandeur of the Gutted
- March 15, 12 p.m. PT – Rip and Tear
Purchase Iconic Armor in the in-game Shop
Fend off demon hordes in threads fitting for the Doom slayer and take on all Hell with the armor to match. Starting on March 12 at 12 p.m. PT, don the cross-class Doom slayer armor, ride with the Mecha Dragon Serrat cat mount skin, and keep your Cacodemon pet close to your side.
Visit the in-game Shop to purchase these demon shredding threads.
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Earn new Items from Season Rank
As you endlessly defend Sanctuary from demonkind, you’ll earn rewards from Season Rank.
Completing the Rank 5 Capstone Dungeon and unlocking Rank 6 will reward you Bloody Billy the Pet. Remember that you do not need to complete all objectives in Rank 5 to earn Bloody Billy.
Season of Slaughter Season Blessings
Within Season Rank, you’ll have the ability to unlock Season Blessings and Smoldering Ashes. Smoldering Ashes can be earned as Chapter Rewards for completing objectives in the Season Rank. Once you’ve earned Ashes, they can be spent on these Seasonal Blessings:
- Urn of Butchery: Increase rate of Seasonal Reputation earned from all sources.
- Urn of Slaughter: Boosts the chances of finding additional Slaughterhouse Keys.
- Urn of Bloodied Keys: Boosts the chances of finding additional Bloodied Activity Keys.
- Urn of Meat: Boost the amount of Fresh Meat dropped from all sources.
- Urn of Glyphs: Grants a chance to earn an extra upgrade when improving glyphs.
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Feast Your Eyes on Twitch Drops
Celebrate the arrival of Season of Slaughter with grandiose Twitch Drops to mark the occasion.
Prepare for Season 12—connect your Battle.net Account with your Twitch account, then watch dedicated Streamers in the Diablo IV category to earn coveted Drops.
Earn the Singsplinter Two-handed bow cosmetic:
From March 11-25, watch at least 2 hours of eligible Diablo IV content while this Twitch Drop is active to earn the Singsplinter Two-handed cosmetic.
For frequently asked questions on Twitch Drops, see our blog here.
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Carve Through the Season of Slaughter Reliquarys
This Season brings an all-new Battle Pass Reliquary and several Premium Battle Pass Reliquaries to slay your way through.
The Season of Slaughter Battle Pass Reliquary—available to all—offers illustrious rewards such as the Helio the Gilded Mount, Blinding Sun Barding Mount Armor, and Way of the Gilding Stars Town Portal.
Deluxe Battle Pass Bundle
Gain instant access to the Apostle of the Guiding Stars armor set and more when you purchase the Deluxe Battle Pass for 2,800 Platinum. The bundle includes:
- The Apostle of the Guiding Stars armor set* immediate unlock for each Class
- Wings of the Firmament Back Trophy
- This cosmetic has resplendent reactive effects
- Alkaid Bear Pet
- Access to the Weapons, Beast, and Armor Reliquaries
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Community Guides for Season of Slaughter
If you need expert guidance in your character’s journey throughout the season, look to our community guides for tips and insights on builds for every class. From early-game leveling to endgame builds, they’ve got you covered.
Visit our trusted Community resources here:
After you’ve checked out these helpful game guides, head to Sanctuary, the Diablo IV Community Discord server, to engage in the conversation around this season.
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2.6.0 Patch Notes
To read the full list of Patch Notes for the 2.6.0 update, you can read our comprehensive notes here.
Grin as you cut down your foes—you can't spell slaughter without laughter.
—The Diablo IV Team