Necromancer’s Shadow Rises: Season 9 PTR Changes Explained

[Tonyshuangbai]

These targeted buffs reinforce Blizzard’s intention to preserve the Barbarian’s identity as a heavy-hitter while correcting long-standing issues with skill viability. With more damage and improved crowd control, Barbarians are poised to reclaim their dominance on the front lines when Season 9 launches.

Necromancer’s Shadow Rises: Season 9 PTR Changes Explained
The Necromancer in Diablo 4 is receiving subtle yet impactful changes in Season 9, with a clear focus on synergy improvements and endgame viability. Datamined information from the PTR reveals tweaks that affect how the class leverages its Shadowblight mechanic and Aspects, particularly the Blighted Aspect Diablo 4 Boosting.

The most significant change is to the Blighted Aspect, which previously granted a large 35–55% damage boost after hitting enemies ten times with Shadowblight. In Season 9, this is being reworked to a stacking mechanic: every consecutive hit now adds a 15–25% damage boost per hit, resetting six seconds after the first. This rewards faster, more aggressive gameplay.

This new dynamic encourages players to pursue high-hit frequency builds, such as Bone Splinters or fast-casting Corpse Explosion strategies. The shift away from a flat bonus to a ramping bonus gives players more reason to focus on cooldown reduction and attack speed.

While fewer Necromancer skills are being directly modified than those of the Sorcerer or Barbarian, this Aspect change is likely to ripple across the class’s core build archetypes, especially those using minions to apply Shadowblight passively.

The update also hints at Blizzard’s commitment to rewarding precision and aggression, a trait often overlooked in tanky or passive builds. This new version of Blighted Aspect supports more dynamic play and aligns well with fast-paced dungeon clearing.

As Season 9’s PTR unfolds, Necromancer mains will want to pay close attention to how this change plays out in tandem with other item tweaks and potential minion balancing. Shadow-focused builds are likely to become the new go-to setup buy Diablo 4 gold.