Unexpected Diablo 4 Patch Enhances Crafting, Weakens Three Aggravating Bosses

During the Diablo 4 Season 1 reveal, Blizzard surprised players with a new patch, 1.0.4, that is now available across all platforms. This patch brings a multitude of bug fixes to improve gameplay, UI, quests, dungeons, and more.

However, hidden at the end of the patch notes are three significant gameplay tweaks that should have received more attention. These changes address some complaints from hardcore players and offer improvements for everyone. Firstly, Helltide Chests now have a chance to drop Unique items, including the six rarest items in Diablo 4.

Helltide Chests appear at the end of Helltide Events, one of the endgame activities in Diablo 4. Blizzard recently increased the XP gained from opening these chests and made Helltide bosses more likely to drop better loot. Today’s change further enhances these improvements.

Another issue that endgame players may have encountered is the cap for crafting materials. Previously, the limit was set at 9999, which many hardcore players had already reached. With the new patch, the limit has been raised to 99999, providing a much larger pool for everyone.

Lastly, patch 1.0.4 reduces the health of three troublesome bosses: Vhenard, Brol, and Cyhrach. Brol, in particular, has been a challenging obstacle for first-time players, but all three bosses have proven to be annoying for many players in Diablo 4.

For more information about the rest of the patch notes, please read below:

Gameplay bug fixes

• Fixed an issue where the damage multiplier for Enhanced Frozen Orb was not being applied correctly.
• Fixed an issue where enemies with the Vortex affix would deal damage through Immunity.
• Fixed an issue where the Elixir of Expertise was reducing resource cost by 10% instead of the displayed 20%.
• Fixed an issue where the damage bonus from the Paragon Subdue Glyph would be applied to any target instead of only Vulnerable targets.
• Fixed an issue where the Barbarian’s Whirlwind ability would briefly stop channeling when a Cooldown skill was cast.
• Fixed an issue where the guaranteed Overpower buff from the Barbarian’s Earthstriker’s Aspect would be consumed upon gaining any other buff.
• Fixed an issue where the player character would freeze when using the Rogue’s Shadow Step skill outside the range of the intended target.
• Fixed an issue where the player could not rotate when casting a Channeled Skill with a one-hand weapon and no off-hand item equipped.
• Fixed an issue where the Cursed Scrolls in Fields of Hatred had a lower cooldown than displayed.
• Fixed an issue where Aspects that deal flat damage imprinted through the Codex of Power scaled incorrectly.
• Fixed an issue where the Necromancer’s Shadow Mages were not applying extra shadow damage through the Shadowblight Key Passive.
• Fixed an issue where Cheat Death effects would not trigger if the player died while mounted.

Quests and dungeons bug fixes

• Fixed an issue where a traversal wouldn’t appear during The Blind Eye quest, blocking progression.
• Fixed an issue where the Mother’s Judgement enemy would spawn before the player entered the encounter during the Whispers from the Past quest.
• Fixed multiple issues where Quest progress would be blocked if the player used a Town Portal during specific sequences.
• Fixed various other issues that prevented progression for multiple Quests.
• Fixed an issue where the Forgotten Depths dungeon had one fewer prisoner to release than intended.
• Fixed an issue where teleporting to Wejinhani during the Witch of the Wastes quest would force the player to drop the Vial of Quicksilver.
• Fixed an issue where the Cultist’s Refuge, Howling Warren, and Luban’s Rest dungeons couldn’t be completed if the Butcher appeared and was not killed.
• Fixed an issue where Treasure Goblins slain in a Nightmare Dungeon with the Death Pulse Affix would deal significantly more damage than intended.
• Fixed an issue where the Mirage quest couldn’t properly be completed.

UI bug fixes

• Fixed an issue where the QR code used for account linking on console was improperly sized.
• Fixed an issue where the Imprint cost for Legendary Aspects would be inaccurately displayed.
• Fixed an issue where players on Console would be unable to navigate the Shop after using the Buy More Platinum button.
• Fixed an issue where the Upgrade Glyph tab wouldn’t close after moving away from the Awakened Glyphstone.
• Fixed an issue where a Skill unlocked by item contribution did not have an Assign Skill button in its tooltip.
• Fixed an issue where trading a partial stack while using a controller would display a full stack in the tooltip.
• Fixed an issue where the Weekly Reward Cache for defeating a World Boss would display as available if there was an active Whisper for defeating the boss, even when the Cache had already been claimed previously.

Miscellaneous bug fixes

• Fixed an issue where the NPC Arlo couldn’t be interacted with.
• Fixed an issue where the Fields of Hatred Killer Cosmetic Set was missing helmets for Druid, Necromancer, and Rogue.
• Fixed an issue where the cost of the Sturdy Saddle Cosmetic from the Stable Vendor would scale with the player character’s Level.
• Fixed an issue where players could lure the Seething Abomination boss to a location where they could damage it, but it couldn’t damage them.
• Fixed an issue where Mount Cosmetics would not properly display if applied while actively mounted.
• Fixed an issue where the camera would pan from the point of death back to the respawn point instead of instantly moving for players in Local Co-Op.
• Fixed an issue where the player and NPC would disappear during a dialogue sequence if the player was actively under the effect of a Conduit shrine.
• Various Localization fixes.
• Various other interface and accessibility improvements.
• Further stability, performance, and visual improvements across all platforms.
• Fixed an issue where transmogs on off-hand Items for Sorcerers would reset upon performing any Inventory action.