Diablo 4 Season 9 Release Date, New Items, Class Changes, Horadric Spells & More

The Diablo 4 2.3.0 PTR Campfire Chat reveals plenty of content about the next season. Before adjusting your builds and farming strategy, it is helpful to know about the D4 Season 9 (PTR) release date, new items, features, and changes.

Diablo 4 Season 9 Release Date, Season 8 End Date & 2.3 PTR Start Date

Diablo IV Season 9 (Sins of the Horadrim) is set to be released on July 1, 2025 (Tuesday). It will kick off at 10:00 AM PST. The current Season 8 (Belial's Return) will end just before Season 9 starts. That means you will need to wrap up your activities in Season 8 before July 1, 2025. It's important to note that when Season 8 ends, all characters and items from this season will move to the Eternal Realm.

Before Season 9 officially launches, players can test out new features in the Public Test Realm (2.3.0 PTR). This D4 S9 PTR will start at 10:00 AM PST on May 27, 2025 (Tuesday), and last until June 3, 2025 (Tuesday), at the same time. During this period, players can create new character builds to explore the new features and items. Once D4 Season 9 starts, you will need to make a new character again and choose your favorite class to start with.

Diablo 4 Season 9 New Content & Changes

Horadric Spells (New Power)

Horadric Spells, also known as Horadric Powers, are a brand new way to boost your character’s abilities; they work similarly to Boss Powers and Witch Powers. Each spell can be customized with three elements: Catalysts, Infusions, and Arcana. You can get them from the vendor Mrak in 2.3.0 PTR and earn them from the Seasonal Questline once S9 starts. 

• Catalysts are the power base and can be activated by using specific action bar skills. Five types of Catalysts are available in the game, including Celestial Surge, Disintegrate, Propulsion, Cosmic Anomaly, and Astral Pillar. 

• Infusions can change the type of damage or DOT that Catalyst deals, you can also upgrade Infusions to rank 5 for extra benefits.

• Arcana can change the base power of Horadric spells. They come in different rarities (Magic, Rare, Legendary) and can change your Catalyst.

New Horadric Jewels

Horadric Jewels are similar to gems from earlier seasons. They provide extra armor and resistances, plus unique benefits. Some jewels have special effects like boosting your stats or providing extra protection. You can find Horadric jewels starting from Torment One.

Horadric Strongrooms

Strongrooms are mini-dungeons hidden within Nightmare Dungeons. You can enter these dungeons to collect Horadric Attunement by defeating enemies. This attunement improves rewards from mini bosses at the end of the strongrooms. There are also special tests inside to maximize your attunement.

Escalating Nightmares and Escalation Sigils

Escalating Nightmares is an endgame activity that links three Nightmare Dungeons together, each one harder than the previous one, and offers better rewards. To start an Escalating Nightmare, players need Escalation Sigils, which can be found in Horadric Caches after completing Strongrooms on Torment I or higher. Each dungeon has its own unique challenges, with both positive and negative effects that stack as you progress. After defeating the final boss of each dungeon, you'll be transported to the next one. In addition, Nightmare Dungeons will now have new affixes that change the gameplay experience. These can make enemies tougher or introduce new challenges.

New Boss: Astaroth

The Astaroth boss has been revamped with new mechanics. His look will still be familiar, but Astaroth will not be a part of the usual boss ladder, so he might have unique loot and rewards you can farm in the new season. When you fight with Astaroth, he will dismount and split into two terrifying bosses.

New Items (Uniques)

Similar to past seasons, lots of new items will be introduced to Season 9 for each class, such as boots, gloves, weapons, helms, amulets, and more. You can also expect new Legendary Aspects for different characters.

• Barbarian: Hooves of the Mountain God (Ancestral Unique Boots) 

• Druid: Rotting Lightbringer (Ancestral Unique Two-Handed Mace) 

• Necromancer: The Hand of Naz (Ancestral Unique Gloves) 

• Rogue: Deathmask of Nirmitruq (Ancestral Unique Helm) 

• Sorcerer: Ophidian Iris (Ancestral Unique Amulet) 

• Spiritborn: Balazan’s Maxtlatl (Ancestral Unique Pants) 

Class Changes

Diablo IV Season 9 PTR will also bring with it a load of class changes and balancing. Overpower has seen a large nerf. The maximum extra damage you can deal from Overpower has been reduced by 80%, so you won't be able to rely on this skill for massive bursts of damage as they did before. However, basic skills are being buffed; their effectiveness has increased from two to three times their previous amount. What you should know is that the cap for maximum resistance has been updated. Players can now achieve up to 75% base resistance without needing max-level gear. This change improves survivability, especially in tougher encounters.