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Diablo 3 Season 13 Preview and Starter Builds - Odealo

Diablo 3 Season 13 Preview and Starter Builds - Odealo

Season 13 is starting soon. Find out what are the sets awarded to each class in Haedrig Gifts, and what are the best builds in S13

Diablo 3 Season 13 Preview
& Starter Builds

PTR is already underway for Season 13. Sadly there are no patch notes yet, and no new content is expected in Season 13. This is good for two main reasons, which are:

  1. You get an opportunity to test out other powerful builds you did not get a chance to play Season 13. Since the class balancing was far-reaching in 2.6.1 all of the class sets are worth trying out;
  2. We may expect a big content update in Season 14 or 15. Even a new DLC expansion like Necromancer is possible, which may include a new playable Druid class (shortly we are going to publish an article with all the hints from Blizzard about this)

Season 13 will launch on Friday, February 23 at:

  1. 5:00 p.m. PST in North America
  2. 5:00 p.m. CET in Europe
  3. 5:00 p.m. KST in Asia

Since there will be most likely no new content we have decided to focus on Starter Sets for Season 13.  This refers to sets gifted to players after completing Chapters II, III and IV of Season Journey. We will answer the following questions:

  1. What are the best starter builds in Season 13?
  2. What are the quests in Season 13's Journey?
  3. What are the Season 13 rewards?

Table of contents

  1. Season 13 Starter Sets and Builds
  2. Season 13 Journey Preview and rewards

Season 13 Starter Sets

Diablo 3 Classes Season 13

Since there are no patch notes and possibly no class-balancing will take place in Season 13, we expect that Power Tiers will not change for any of the classes either. Luckily all of the Starter sets in Season 13 are very powerful, with as many as three classes have their strongest set available in Haedrig Gifts. These are Wizard, Monk, and Demon Hunter. Other classes also look very promising, with sets that provide a good foundation for powerful builds.

Season 13 Haedrig's Gift

When creating your first seasonal character and completing Chapters II, III and IV on your Seasonal Journey, you will be awarded Haedrig's Gifts. You can get a total of 3 Haedrig's Gifts, and each Gift will contain two pieces of one of the sets for your character class. The set is predefined and changes every season. Also, you can get it only once per season - for the first character that completes the selected Journey Chapters.

Haedrig's Gifts are awarded for completing:

  1. Chapter II - hands + head
  2. Chapter III - feet + shoulder
  3. Chapter IV - all remaining set parts for your class

Diablo 3 Barbarian

BARBARIAN

Starter Set
Might of the Eearth set that grants the following bonuses:Might of the Earth set that grants the following bonuses:
  • Reduces the remaining cooldown of Earthquake, Avalanche, Leap and Ground Stomp by 1 second for every 30 Fury spent by the Barbarian (2/6)
  • Causes an Earthquake whenever the Barbarian lands after using Leap. Leap gains the effect of the Iron Impact rune, in addition to any other, and the duration of Armor bonus is increased by 150% (4/6)
  • Increases the damage of Earthquake, Avalanche, Leap, Ground Stomp, Ancient Spear and Seismic Slam by 5600% (6/6)
PROS
  • Very high damage, both single target, and AoE
  • One of the best sets for its' class that got massively buffed in Patch 2.6.1
  • GR100+ viable
CONS
  • Moderate mobility
  • Reliant on Cooldown Reduction
Recommended build
Earth SetEarthquake "Leapquake" Barbarian

Diablo 3 Crusader

CRUSADER

Starter Set
Invoker SetThorns of the Invoker set that grants the following bonuses:
  • Thorns damage now hits all enemies in a 15-yard radius around the Crusader. Each time an enemy is hit with Punish or Slash, or an attack is blocked, Thorns damage is increased by 140% for 2 seconds (Crusader Only) (2/6)
  • Take 50% less damage for 20 seconds after casting Bombardment (4/6)
  • The attack speed of Punish and Slash are increased by 50%, and these skills deal 5400% of effective Thorns damage to the first enemy hit (6/6)
PROS
  • Very high single target DPS
  • One of the most durable builds in Diablo 3 
  • GR100+ viable
CONS
  • Moderate mobility
  • Low AoE damage
  • Not suitable for speed farming (Bounties, Rifts) and team-play
Recommended build
Invoker SetThorns Invoker Crusader

Diablo 3 Demon Hunter

DEMON HUNTER

Starter Set
Shadow SetThe Shadow's Mantle set that grants the following bonuses:
  • While equipped with a melee weapon, all damage is increased by 1200% (Demon Hunter Only) (2/6)
  • Shadow Power gains the effect of every rune and lasts forever (4/6)
  • Impale deals an additional 50,000% damage to the first enemy hit (6/6)
PROS
  • Very high single target damage
  • Good solo GR pushing Demon Hunter build with a GR110+ capability
  • Allows the easiest clearing of Chapter IV of the Season Journey out of all the other Starter Sets
  • Good mobility
CONS
  • Moderate mobility
  • Moderate AoE damage
Recommended build
Shadow SetShadow Impale Demon Hunter

Diablo 3 Monk

MONK

Starter Set
Monkey Kings GarbMonkey King's Garb set that grants the following bonuses:
  • Damage taken is reduced by 50% while Sweeping Wind is active (2/6)
  • Sweeping Wind spawns a decoy every tick next to the last enemy the Monk hit. The decoy taunts nearby enemies and then explodes for 1000% damage for each stack of Sweeping Wind currently active within 10 yards (4/6)
  • Lashing Tail Kick, Tempest Rush, and Wave of Light have their damage increased by 1000% for each stack of Sweeping Wind the Monk currently has (6/6)
PROS
  • The best Monk set for both speed farming and solo GR pushing
  • Very high damage, both single target, and AoE
  • Good mobility
  • GR115+ capability
CONS
  • Heavily reliant on Spirit regeneration and Resource Cost Reductions
Recommended build
Sunwuko SetSunwuko Wave of Light Monk


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Diablo 3 Necromancer

NECROMANCER

Starter Set
Inarius SetGrace of Inarius set that grants the following bonuses:
  • Bone Armor damage is increased by 1000% (2/6)
  • Bone Armor grants an additional 2% damage reduction per stack (4/6)
  • Bone Armor, while active, also creates a swirling tornado of bone, damaging nearby enemies for 1000% damage and increasing the damage they take from the Necromancer by 3750% (6/6)
PROS
  • Most versatile Necromancer build which allows a wide variety of items and skills to be used
  • Not as heavily reliant on Land of the Dead bonuses compared to other Necromancer builds
  • Good AoE
CONS
  • Moderate mobility
  • Worst Necromancer set in terms of high GR pushing
Recommended build
Inarius SetInarius Corpse Explosion speed farming Necromancer

Diablo 3 Witch Doctor

WITCH DOCTOR

Starter Set
Jade HarvesterRaiment of the Jade Harvester set that grants the following bonuses:
  • When Haunt lands on an enemy already affected by Haunt, it instantly deals 560 seconds worth of Haunt damage (2/6)
  • Soul Harvest gains the effect of every rune and reduces the cooldown of Soul Harvest by 1 second when casting Haunt or Locust Swarm (4/6)
  • Soul Harvest consumes up to 1650 seconds of the damage over time effects on all affected targets, instantly dealing the remaining damage of the consumed duration, and reduces all damage taken by 50% for 12 seconds (6/6)
PROS
  • Very high single target and AoE damage
  • Good mobility
  • GR110+ viable
CONS
  • one of the most difficult builds to master in Diablo 3
  • requires experience in playing in melee range with a somewhat squishy character
Recommended build
Jade Harvester SetJade Harvester Soul Harvester Witch Doctor

Diablo 3 Wizard

WIZARD

Starter Set
Firebird's FineryFirebird's Finery set that grants the following bonuses:
  • If the character dies, a Meteor will fall from the sky to revive them (60 seconds cooldown) (2/6)
  • Dealing Fire damage with one of the Wizard skills causes the enemy to take 1000% damage as Fire per second for 3 seconds. This effect can be repeated a second and third time through different skills. If an enemy is burning due to three different skills simultaneously, the enemy will Ignite, dealing 3000% damage per second until they die (4/6)
  • The Wizard gains +200% increased damage and 3% reduced damage taken for each enemy that is Ignited with 3 different skills. This effect can stack up to 20 times. An Ignited Elite monster grants full 20 stacks (6/6)
PROS
  • The most potent Wizard set in terms of high GR pushing
  • GR115+ viable
  • suitable as a DPS character in high GR groups
CONS
  • Moderate mobility
Recommended build
Firebird SetFirebird's Channelling Meteor Wizard


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Season 13 Journey Preview and rewards

Season Journey consists of 9 Chapters. After completing each Chapter (except for the first one) players receive Seasonal rewards. The rewards can be collected only once per Season. It is still unclear which Bosses have to be slain for specific Chapters, but you will have to kill most of them,

CHAPTER I
  1. Complete a Nephalem Rift
  2. Reach level 50
  3. Kill 2 Bosses on any difficulty (it is still unknown which Bosses)
  4. Complete 5 bounties
  5. Socket 5 gems
  6. Upgrade Blacksmith, Jeweler, and Mystic to level 10

This chapter is very easy. All of the missions can be completed at any game difficulty level. 

Rewards: none

CHAPTER II
  1. Complete a Nephalem Rift on the Expert difficulty level
  2. Reach level 70
  3. Kill 2 Bosses on Hard difficulty and on level 60 or above (it is still unknown which Bosses)
  4. Unlock Kanai's Cube
  5. Fully equip follow (can be equipped with items of any rarity and level)
  6. Upgrade all artisans to level 12
  7. Craft a level 70 item at Blacksmith and Jeweler
  8. Enchant and Transmogrify an item at Mystic (you can enchant a socket on a weapon and complete the Chapter's IV mission at the same time)

Rewards: Haedrig's Gift (head+hands), 2 Conqueror transmogrification items

S13 Transmogs   

CHAPTER III
  1. Complete a Nephalem Rift on Master difficulty level
  2. Buy an item from Kadala
  3. Kill 2 Bosses on Master difficulty and level 70 (it is still unknown which Bosses)
  4. Extract a legendary power in Kanai's Cube
  5. Craft an imperial gem
  6. Collect a bounty cache from each of the five Acts (you do not need to complete the bounties yourself, you can as well get invited by a friend to collect the rewards with him)

Rewards: Haedrig's Gift (feet+shoulder)

CHAPTER IV
  1. Complete a Nephalem Rift on Torment I difficulty
  2. Complete a level 20 Greater Rift solo
  3. Kill a Boss on Torment II and at level 70 (it is still unknown which Boss)
  4. Kill a Boss on Torment IV and at level 70 (it is still unknown which Boss)
  5. Upgrade a rare item to legendary (using Kanai's Cube)
  6. Reforge socket on a weapon (enchantment at Mystic)
  7. Kill all Keywardens in Act 1,2,3,4 on Torment IV difficulty level
  8. Learn 5 jewel-crafter designs and 5 blacksmith recipes (completing a game of bounties on level 70 grants enough recipes to complete these tasks)

Rewards: Haedrig's Gift (remaining parts), Portrait Frame, Blaine’s Bear pet 

Blaine’s Bear  

SLAYER
  1. Complete a Nephalem Rift on Torment V difficulty
  2. Complete a level 30 Greater Rift solo
  3. Kill 2 Bosses on Torment VII (it is still unknown which Bosses)
  4. Equip all three Cube slots
  5. Get legendary from Kadala
  6. Upgrade a legendary gem to rank 25
  7. Complete a set dungeon
  8. Kill Uber bosses in Realm of Regret and Realm of Putridness on Torment I difficulty

Rewards: Portrait Frame

CHAMPION
  1. Complete a Nephalem Rift on Torment X difficulty in under 6 minutes
  2. Complete a level 40 Greater Rift solo
  3. Kill 2 Bosses on Torment X difficulty level (it is still unknown which Bosses)
  4. Convert a set item (using Kanai Cube)
  5. Craft a flawless royal gem
  6. Upgrade 3 legendary gems to rank 35
  7. Master a set dungeon (completing a dungeon on mastery level is usually more difficult than simply completing it. The mechanics are pretty much the same for both levels though, will usually require several more attempts to have that completed)
  8. Kill Uber bosses in the Realm of Terror and the Realm of Fright on Torment X difficulty level

Rewards: Portrait Frame

DESTROYER
  1. Complete a Nephalem Rift on Torment XII difficulty in under 6 minutes
  2. Complete a level 50 Greater Rift solo
  3. Kill 2 Bosses on Torment XIII difficulty level (it is still unknown which Bosses)
  4. Extract 20 Legendary powers in Kanai's Cube
  5. Upgrade 3 legendary gems to rank 45
  6. Complete 1 conquest
  7. Craft a Hellfire Amulet

Rewards: Portrait Frame

CONQUEROR
  1. Complete a Nephalem Rift on Torment XIII difficulty level in under 5 minutes
  2. Complete a level 50 Greater Rift solo
  3. Kill a Boss on Torment XII in under 30 seconds (it is still unknown which Boss and what timeframe will be given)
  4. Kill Greed on Torment XIII
  5. Reforge a legendary item in Kanai's Cube
  6. Augment a legendary item with a rank 50 or higher legendary gem
  7. Upgrade 3 legendary gems to rank 55
  8. Complete 2 conquests

Conqueror is the recommended for any player that is yet to collect 4 additional Stash Tabs from Seasonal Journeys. This is the most useful reward from Season Journey

Rewards: Portrait Frame, Stash Tab

Extra Stash tab

GUARDIAN
  1. Complete a Nephalem Rift on Torment XIII in under 4 minutes
  2. Complete a level 70 Greater Rift solo
  3. Kill a Boss on Torment XIII in under x seconds (it is still unknown which Boss and what timeframe will be given)
  4. Extra 40 Legendary powers in Kanai's Cube
  5. Upgrade 3 legendary gems to rank 70
  6. Complete 3 conquests

Rewards: Portrait Frame (final version)

S13 Portrait Frame


Bounties and Horadric Caches are one of the most commonly traded assets in Diablo 3. Boosters usually complete all quests in Adventure mode games without collecting rewards from Tyrael. This allows them to invite other players solely for the purpose of getting valuable loot. You can find this type of services on Odealo market.

 

If you have any tips on how to get a good start in Season 13, feel free to share them in the comments below.

Pictures used in this article are the intellectual property of Blizzard Entertainment.