![Image](https://i.imgur.com/ZEHiv0x.png)
Disclaimer: this topic is a teaser and everything is subject to change. The full patch notes are released 2 days prior to new season.
Class Rebalance
Multiple unpopular builds have been improved
Now that most of the builds had their primary issues addressed after multiple changes to stats balance, we are taking a slightly different approach this time, and it is to improve builds which aren't necessarily weak but are not popular among the playerbase. For example, when two builds are similar in power and capabilities, but one is much harder to play or pull off (itemwise). In these cases we try to make the harder build more rewarding and stronger (instead of easier) and improve itemization, if those don't turn out to be sufficient we have to look into simplifying or revamping the mechanics.
The upcoming patch will feature improvements to builds such as:
- Elemental Sorceress: mana costs greatly reduced across the board as they were choking damage output from spells which was especially noticeable in the early and midgame. Next we have a bunch of new mechanics added to most elemental trees, including a new skill accessible to all elemental casters. Finally, There will be some power boosts to some of the farming skills.
- Naginata Assassin: a very strong build that is however one of the most skill-switch intensive in the game. New changes include improving endgame potential and adding more relaxed playstyle alternatives so people have a ground to work their way up. Last but not least, the Frysturgard monopoly is ended, so Naginata build will receive buffs in expense of balancing Fryst, which means, this build will continue to be as strong but all other builds using a different naginata will become stronger. These changes will be further complemented with the addition of the Halberd.
- Ways Assassin: the damage from ways was greatly buffed across many patches, however this was not enough to revive assassin builds which revolve around 2 or 3 ways as their primary damage source. Two ways require to settle at 50% efficiency from all-pierce combo, while three ways generally requires giving up weapon damage and leech, so the survability and damage are not in a great place for a build which requires such expensive items as well. The solution is to provide a pierce cushion from investing points into ways and improve some of the skills that go well with them.
- Holy Caster Paladin: another build which is fairly strong. On one hand, Solar Flare's duration can now be increased with skill points and the animation is less visually annoying. In addition, mild buffs to some of the skills, now has the ability to use non-dragon spells during the Dragon's Oath and there are new powerful items to make the build more exciting.
- Werewolf Druid: the changes to werewolf include damage boosts, better and more consistent defenses, ability to regenerate stamina, and a large list of changes to items to make cold piercing more accessible as well as new items too. One of them is a powerful mana-based sword that allows the druid to focus their damage purely on mana. It seems new tools are being created by the children of Scosglen, it is rumored that Baal is planning to invade Sanctuary... and druids won't stand for it.
![Image](https://i.imgur.com/YIEPQjT.png)
New Items
New base weapon, many new unique items and new affixes to existing uniques
As always we are looking into adding new build-enabling items as well as improving itemization for builds which are lacking it. The upcoming patch features over 10 new uniques but also changes to existing items that were too plain.
- Some of the new build-enabling uniques: Azgar's Crystal,Azgar's Crystal
Giant Sword (Sacred)
One-Hand Damage: 42 to 45
Two-Hand Damage: 65 to 67
(Druid Only)
Required Level: 100
Required Strength: 480
Item Level: 130
Strength Damage Bonus: (0.16 per Strength)%
While in Werewolf Form:
Adds 50% of Current Mana as Cold Damage
100% Attack Speed
150% Bonus to Attack Rating
-100% to Enemy Cold Resistance
Maximum Cold Resist +(2 to 5)%
Cannot Be Frozen
Socketed (4)Stormpick,Stormpick
Flail (Sacred)
One-Hand Damage: (108 - 122) to (129 - 145)
Required Level: 100
Required Strength: 486
Item Level: 120
Strength Damage Bonus: (0.11 per Strength)%
+1% Lightning Spell Damage per 2% Gold Find
25% Cast Speed
+50% Damage to Undead
Adds 375-625 Lightning Damage
+(131 to 160)% Enhanced Damage
Maximum Lightning Resist +(2 to 4)%
Physical Resist (6 to 15)%
+100 Life after each Kill
Socketed (6)The DefenderThe Defender
Long Sword (Sacred)
One-Hand Damage: (139 - 187) to (185 - 244)
Required Level: 100
Required Strength: 270
Item Level: 105
Strength Damage Bonus: (0.11 per Strength)%
+100% Bonus Fire Damage to Retaliate
Adds (40 to 70)-(80 to 120) Damage
(50 to 100)% Bonus to Attack Rating
5% Life stolen per Hit
+(120 to 160)% Enhanced Damage
+(10 to 20) to Retaliate
(10 to 20)% to Strength
Physical Resist 5%
Requirements -50%
Socketed (6) - Other new uniques for existing builds: Fire Hydra,Vaetia's Wall,Vaetia's Wall
Tower Shield (Sacred)
Defense: (4603 - 5157) to (5543 - 6210)
Chance to Block: -1% + Class%
(Sorceress Only)
Required Level: 100
Required Strength: 460
Required Dexterity: 471
Item Level: 105
-1% Base Block Chance
-(11 to 15)% to Enemy Elemental Resistances
+(4 to 8) to Vengeful Power (Sorceress Only)
+(4 to 8) to Warp Armor (Sorceress Only)
+(4 to 8) to Snow Queen (Sorceress Only)
+(4 to 8) to Living Flame (Sorceress Only)
+(141 to 170)% Enhanced Defense
Maximum Mana +(11 to 25)%
Maximum Elemental Resists +(0 to 1)%
Requirements -20%
Socketed (4)Sash of the Frozen Seas,Sash of the Frozen Seas
Sash (Sacred)
Defense: (2036 - 2329) to (2064 - 2362)
Required Level: 100
Required Strength: 500
Item Level: 105
-75% Mana Drain in Werewolf Form
30% Attack Speed
Winter Avatar Cooldown Reduced by 0.4 seconds
+(501 to 1000) to Attack Rating
-(6 to 15)% to Enemy Cold Resistance
+(101 to 130)% Enhanced Defense
+(51 to 250) to Mana
+100 Life on Melee Attack
Socketed (2)Trang-Oul's BreathTrang-Oul's Breath
Mask (Sacred)
Defense: (1316 - 2256) to (1405 - 2409)
Required Level: 100
Required Strength: 600
Item Level: 105
Dragon Breath: Reduces Weapon Physical Damage by 25%
+(1 to 2) to All Skills
+(15 to 40)% to Physical/Magic Spell Damage
+(40 to 140)% Enhanced Defense
+250 to Mana
Maximum Fire Resist +(1 to 2)%
Maximum Cold Resist +(1 to 2)%
Socketed (4) - Changes to existing items include: Xorine's Ring,Xorine's Ring
Ring
Required Level: 80
Item Level: 80
+1 Projectile to Punisher
10% Chance to cast level 19 Punishers on Kill
(51 to 100)% Bonus to Attack Rating
-(3 to 5)% to Enemy Poison ResistanceThe Redeemer,The Redeemer
Grand Scepter (Sacred)
One-Hand Damage: 36 to 40
Required Level: 100
Required Dexterity: 449
Item Level: 120
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.11 per Dexterity)%
Fire Elementals Inherit Your Fire Spell Damage
5% Chance to cast level 36 Lava Pit on Death Blow
+(3 to 4) to Amazon Skill Levels
25% Cast Speed
+50% Damage to Undead
+(20 to 30)% to Fire Spell Damage
-(20 to 25)% to Enemy Fire Resistance
+(51 to 60) to Energy
+(50 to 75) Life after each Kill
2% Reanimate as: Random Monster
Socketed (3)Felblood,Felblood
Amulet
Required Level: 10
Item Level: 1
Metal Solace: Also Regenerates Totem Life
+(1 to 2) to Necromancer Skill Levels
5% Life stolen per Hit
+4 to Life (Based on Character Level)
3% Reanimate as: Random MonsterStarhawkStarhawk
Warp Blade (Sacred)
One-Hand Damage: 49 to 86
(Sorceress Only)
Required Level: 100
Required Dexterity: 400
Item Level: 105
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.13 per Dexterity)%
Innate Tri-Elemental Damage: (45.0% of Dexterity)
Area Effect Attack
25% Chance to cast level 50 Magic Missiles on Melee Attack
+(3 to 5) to Sorceress Skill Levels
50% Attack Speed
Adds 400-500 Magic Damage
-(25 to 35)% to Enemy Elemental Resistances
10% Chance to Avoid Damage
Socketed (6) - And of course: Pax MysticaPax Mystica
Staves
'Tir'
Runeword Level: 10
+1 to All Skills
+7% to Spell Damage
+(2 to 5) to Blink
Elemental Resists +(11 to 15)%
(11 to 13)% Magic Find
For the first time since the launch of Median XL over a decade ago, we are finally introducing a new regular base type: the Halberd. This new weapon is a Naginata subtype which is easier to find but has slightly less damage. This will give more options to Naginata assassin, including a new Tiered version, a Sacred Unique version and a stolen rarer unique version, Zular.
- Blackleach Blade- powerful TU which allows to build play around aoe skills, exploiting slow and poison spread.Blackleach Blade
Halberd (4)
Two-Hand Damage: (13 - 17) to (15 - 20)
(Assassin Only)
Required Level: 6
Required Dexterity: 46
Item Level: 10
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.15 per Dexterity)%
Area Effect Attack
+(1 to 2) to Assassin Skill Levels
+100 Poison Damage over 2 seconds
+(31 to 70)% Enhanced Damage
-(26 to 30)% to Enemy Poison Resistance
Slow Target 10%
Maximum Life +(2 to 3)%
+(11 to 20) Life after each Kill
Socketed (2)
Two-Hand Damage: (46 - 59) to (56 - 72)
(Assassin Only)
Required Level: 26
Required Dexterity: 76
Item Level: 31
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.15 per Dexterity)%
Area Effect Attack
+(2 to 4) to Assassin Skill Levels
+250 Poison Damage over 2 seconds
+(71 to 120)% Enhanced Damage
-(31 to 35)% to Enemy Poison Resistance
Slow Target 15%
Maximum Life +(3 to 4)%
+(21 to 40) Life after each Kill
Socketed (4)
Two-Hand Damage: (121 - 132) to (148 - 160)
(Assassin Only)
Required Level: 47
Required Dexterity: 153
Item Level: 51
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.15 per Dexterity)%
Area Effect Attack
+(4 to 6) to Assassin Skill Levels
+500 Poison Damage over 2 seconds
+(121 to 140)% Enhanced Damage
-(36 to 40)% to Enemy Poison Resistance
Slow Target 20%
Maximum Life +(4 to 5)%
+(31 to 60) Life after each Kill
Socketed (5)
Two-Hand Damage: (159 - 184) to (197 - 229)
(Assassin Only)
Required Level: 57
Required Dexterity: 305
Item Level: 77
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.15 per Dexterity)%
Area Effect Attack
+(6 to 8) to Assassin Skill Levels
+1000 Poison Damage over 2 seconds
+(141 to 180)% Enhanced Damage
-(41 to 50)% to Enemy Poison Resistance
Slow Target 25%
Maximum Life +(5 to 6)%
+(41 to 80) Life after each Kill
Socketed (6) - Throatcutter- pure melee endgame weapon which is very powerful for bossing.
- Zular Khan's Tempest- this revamped unique had its missing oskill readded and slightly improved, and is now easier to find.Zular Khan's Tempest
Halberd (Sacred)
Two-Hand Damage: 71 to 100
(Assassin Only)
Required Level: 100
Required Dexterity: 558
Item Level: 105
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.15 per Dexterity)%
Area Effect Attack
10% Chance to cast level 1 Stormpike on Striking
Broadside Cooldown Reduced by 2 seconds
-30% to Enemy Elemental Resistances
+(25 to 30) to Way of the Raven (Assassin Only)
+(25 to 30) to Way of the Gryphon (Assassin Only)
+(25 to 30) to Way of the Spider (Assassin Only)
+(25 to 30) to Way of the Phoenix (Assassin Only)
+(51 to 100) Life after each Kill
Socketed (6)
![Image](https://i.imgur.com/3EblgpA.png)
Stay tuned...
Announcing the next major release
It's been almost a year since the largest release in Median history. We want to thank everyone who was a part of this journey and we continue to appreciate your support and patience. Time is short on our hands but we are working hard on implementing the features people are requesting the most. We are happy to announce that since the start of the development of this shorter holiday patch, work on a new major release has begun, and you will be hearing more about that soon.
Happy new year!