Summary
Diablo 4’s Vessel of Hatred expansion might have continued the base game’s story, but it could be considered a class-centered expansion more than anything else, thanks to the new Spiritborn class. For the most part, the story forDiablo 4’s Vessel of Hatred expansion has come under fire for subjectively failing to deliver on multiple fronts, but the Spiritborn class has mostly been praised for its versatility.
There are already plenty of powerful builds available for the newSpiritborn class inDiablo 4’s Vessel of Hatred expansion, some of which are leveling builds surrounding the Jaguar Guardian’s Rake skill and the Eagle Guardian’s Quill Volley skill, while others are endgame Centipede builds. However, one build is currently, and quite unexpectedly, dominating the meta inDiablo 4, further supporting any calls for the Spiritborn class to be nerfed. While the Spiritborn class as a whole may never be nerfed, it’s likely the Evade build that has become so popular recently may not be long for this world.
Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred’s Spiritborn Evade Build May Not Be Able to Dodge a Nerf
Vessel of Hatred’s Spiritborn Evade Build Is Highly Overpowered
In a nutshell, what makes the new Spiritborn Evade build so overpowered is the harmonious relationship it establishes between the Eagle Guardian Spirit Hall choice,the Quill Volley skill, specific Runewords, and the Spiritborn’s basic Evade skill. When the build is prepared correctly, Spiritborn players can essentially non-stop Evade their way to victory, all while casting an endless barrage of Quill Volleys at their enemies for waves upon waves of mass destruction. This ultimately leads to a supreme amount of survivability, as well as widespread area-of-effect attacks to keep enemies at bay.
While it’s possible to experiment with theSpiritborn Evade buildand tailor it a bit to player choice, there are certain combinations that work better than others. Firstly, and perhaps most importantly, the Spiritborn Evade build relies heavily on the Eagle Spirit Hall choice, which increases Movement Speed when players use any Eagle skill and then sends Storm Feather projectiles flying toward enemies when players Evade. Any enemies hit by the Storm Feathers are then Vulnerable, causing them to take even more damage. There is also an Affix that can be applied to players' boots that reduces the cooldown of Evade upon attacking, so players can essentially Evade constantly.
Several Vigor and Storm Feather damage-enhancing Aspects are also necessary for the build to function properly.
Vessel of Hatred’s Spiritborn Evade Build Will Likely Get Nerfed as It Grows in Popularity
Judging by how incredibly overpowered the Spiritborn Evade build currently is inDiablo 4, it’s likely it won’t be able to get by without a nerf at some point. Ahead ofVessel of Hatred’s rocky launch, Blizzard intimated that it expected the Spiritborn to be overpowered throughout Season 6, also implying that the class would remain largely untouched during the season. However, this particular build may be a bit more powerful than the developer expected, which could eventually lead to a significant nerf. This is especially true if the build continues to grow in popularity and more players are using it.
Exactly what might eventually be nerfed remains to be seen, as well as whether the nerf will actually happen. If the Spiritborn Evade build is targeted at any point and patches are implemented to reduce its effectiveness, it’s likely those patches will aim to diminish the synergetic relationship shared between certain Affixes and the Spiritborn’s Eagle Spirit Guardian. Despite the likelihood of the Spiritborn Evade build attracting a nerf, it could be that it somehow slips by without ever getting patched. However, based onDiablo 4’s history, that seems highly unlikely.
Diablo 4
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Diablo® IV is the ultimate action RPG experience with endless evil to slaughter, countless abilities to master, nightmarish dungeons, and legendary loot. Embark on the campaign solo or with friends, meeting memorable characters through beautifully dark settings and a gripping story, or explore an expansive end game and shared world where players can meet in towns to trade, team up to battle world bosses, or descend into PVP zones to test their skills against other players – no lobbies necessary – with cross-play, cross-progression, and couch co-op on Xbox.This is only the beginning for Diablo® IV, with new events, stories, seasons, rewards, and more looming on the horizon.
