Disclaimer: this topic is a teaser and everything is subject to change. The full patch notes are released 2 days prior to new season.

Class Rebalance

Elemental Sorceress : mana costs greatly reduced across the board as they were choking damage output from spells which was especially noticeable in the early and midgame. Next we have a bunch of new mechanics added to most elemental trees, including a new skill accessible to all elemental casters. Finally, There will be some power boosts to some of the farming skills.







: mana costs greatly reduced across the board as they were choking damage output from spells which was especially noticeable in the early and midgame. Next we have a bunch of new mechanics added to most elemental trees, including a new skill accessible to all elemental casters. Finally, There will be some power boosts to some of the farming skills. Naginata Assassin : a very strong build that is however one of the most skill-switch intensive in the game. New changes include improving endgame potential and adding more relaxed playstyle alternatives so people have a ground to work their way up. Last but not least, the Frysturgard monopoly is ended, so Naginata build will receive buffs in expense of balancing Fryst, which means, this build will continue to be as strong but all other builds using a different naginata will become stronger. These changes will be further complemented with the addition of the Halberd.







: a very strong build that is however one of the most skill-switch intensive in the game. New changes include improving endgame potential and adding more relaxed playstyle alternatives so people have a ground to work their way up. Last but not least, the Frysturgard monopoly is ended, so Naginata build will receive buffs in expense of balancing Fryst, which means, this build will continue to be as strong but all other builds using a different naginata will become stronger. These changes will be further complemented with the addition of the Halberd. Ways Assassin : the damage from ways was greatly buffed across many patches, however this was not enough to revive assassin builds which revolve around 2 or 3 ways as their primary damage source. Two ways require to settle at 50% efficiency from all-pierce combo, while three ways generally requires giving up weapon damage and leech, so the survability and damage are not in a great place for a build which requires such expensive items as well. The solution is to provide a pierce cushion from investing points into ways and improve some of the skills that go well with them.







: the damage from ways was greatly buffed across many patches, however this was not enough to revive assassin builds which revolve around 2 or 3 ways as their primary damage source. Two ways require to settle at 50% efficiency from all-pierce combo, while three ways generally requires giving up weapon damage and leech, so the survability and damage are not in a great place for a build which requires such expensive items as well. The solution is to provide a pierce cushion from investing points into ways and improve some of the skills that go well with them. Holy Caster Paladin : another build which is fairly strong. On one hand, Solar Flare's duration can now be increased with skill points and the animation is less visually annoying. In addition, mild buffs to some of the skills, now has the ability to use non-dragon spells during the Dragon's Oath and there are new powerful items to make the build more exciting.







: another build which is fairly strong. On one hand, Solar Flare's duration can now be increased with skill points and the animation is less visually annoying. In addition, mild buffs to some of the skills, now has the ability to use non-dragon spells during the Dragon's Oath and there are new powerful items to make the build more exciting. Werewolf Druid : the changes to werewolf include damage boosts, better and more consistent defenses, ability to regenerate stamina, and a large list of changes to items to make cold piercing more accessible as well as new items too. One of them is a powerful mana-based sword that allows the druid to focus their damage purely on mana. It seems new tools are being created by the children of Scosglen, it is rumored that Baal is planning to invade Sanctuary... and druids won't stand for it.

New Items

Some of the new build-enabling uniques: Azgar's Crystal

Giant Sword (Sacred)

One-Hand Damage: 42 to 45

Two-Hand Damage: 65 to 67

(Druid Only)

Required Level: 100

Required Strength: 960

Item Level: 125

Strength Damage Bonus: (0.26 per Strength)%

Adds 40% of Current Mana as Cold Damage

100% Attack Speed

Ignore Target's Defense

-50% to Enemy Cold Resistance

Slain Monsters Rest in Peace

Regenerate Mana +100%

Maximum Cold Resist +4%

Cannot Be Frozen

Requirements +100%

Socketed (4)

Azgar's Crystal Stormpick

Flail (Sacred)

One-Hand Damage: (108 - 122) to (129 - 145)

Required Level: 100

Required Strength: 486

Item Level: 120

Strength Damage Bonus: (0.18 per Strength)%

+1% Lightning Spell Damage per 2% Gold Find

25% Cast Speed

+(131 to 160)% Enhanced Damage

+50% Damage to Undead

Adds 750-1250 lightning damage

Maximum Lightning Resist +(2 to 4)%

Physical Resist (6 to 15)%

+100 Life after each Kill

Socketed (6)

Stormpick The Defender

Long Sword (Sacred)

One-Hand Damage: (139 - 187) to (185 - 244)

Required Level: 100

Required Strength: 270

Item Level: 105

Strength Damage Bonus: (0.18 per Strength)%

+(120 to 160)% Enhanced Damage

Adds (40 to 70)-(80 to 120) damage

(50 to 100)% Bonus to Attack Rating

5% Life stolen per Hit

+(10 to 20) to Retaliate

(10 to 20)% to Strength

Physical Resist 5%

Requirements -50%

Socketed (6)

The Defender

Other new uniques for existing builds: Fire Hydra

Flail (Sacred)

One-Hand Damage: 47 to 56

Required Level: 100

Required Strength: 486

Item Level: 130

Strength Damage Bonus: (0.18 per Strength)%

Dragon Wyrms Fire Two Bolts

Wyrm Count Reduced by 5

+(2 to 4) to Paladin Skill Levels

+50% Damage to Undead

-33% to Enemy Fire Resistance

(21 to 25)% to Vitality

+(201 to 250) to Energy

Maximum Fire Resist +(3 to 5)%

Fire Resist +100%

Cannot Be Frozen

Socketed (6)

Fire Hydra Vaetia's Wall

Tower Shield (Sacred)

Defense: (4603 - 5157) to (5543 - 6210)

Chance to Block: -1% + Class %

(Sorceress Only)

Required Level: 100

Required Strength: 411

Required Dexterity: 471

Item Level: 105

-1% Base Block Chance

-(11 to 15)% to Enemy Elemental Resistances

+(6 to 13) to Living Flame (Sorceress Only)

+(6 to 13) to Snow Queen (Sorceress Only)

+(6 to 13) to Warp Armor (Sorceress Only)

+(6 to 13) to Vengeful Power (Sorceress Only)

+(141 to 170)% Enhanced Defense

Maximum Mana (11 to 25)%

Maximum Elemental Resists +(0 to 1)%

Requirements -20%

Socketed (4)

Vaetia's Wall Sash of the Frozen Seas

Sash (Sacred)

Defense: (2036 - 2329) to (2064 - 2362)

Required Level: 100

Required Strength: 452

Item Level: 105

-75% Regenerate Mana during Werewolf Form

30% Attack Speed

Winter Avatar Cooldown Reduced by 0.4 seconds

+(501 to 1000) to Attack Rating

-(6 to 15)% to Enemy Cold Resistance

+(101 to 130)% Enhanced Defense

+(101 to 500) to Mana

+100 Life on Attack

Socketed (2)

Sash of the Frozen Seas Trang-Oul's Breath

Mask (Sacred)

Defense: 940 to 1004

Required Level: 100

Required Strength: 540

Item Level: 105

Frozen Breath: Halved Freeze Duration

+(0 to 2) to All Skills

-(11 to 25)% to Enemy Fire Resistance

-(11 to 25)% to Enemy Cold Resistance

+(11 to 30)% to Physical/Magic Spell Damage

+(11 to 25) to Frozen Breath (Paladin Only)

+(11 to 25) to Drakemaw (Paladin Only)

+500 to Mana

Maximum Fire Resist +(0 to 2)%

Maximum Cold Resist +(0 to 2)%

Socketed (4)

Trang-Oul's Breath

Changes to existing items include: Xorine's Ring

Ring

Required Level: 80

Item Level: 80

+1 Projectile to Punisher

10% Chance to cast level 19 Punishers on Kill

(51 to 100)% Bonus to Attack Rating

Adds 25-75 poison damage over 1 seconds

Xorine's Ring The Redeemer

Grand Scepter (Sacred)

One-Hand Damage: 30 to 38

Required Level: 100

Required Dexterity: 449

Item Level: 120

Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.17 per Dexterity)%

Fire Elementals Inherit Your Fire Spell Damage

5% Chance to cast level 36 Lava Pit on Death Blow

+(3 to 4) to Amazon Skill Levels

25% Cast Speed

+50% Damage to Undead

+(20 to 30)% to Fire Spell Damage

-(20 to 25)% to Enemy Fire Resistance

+(51 to 60) to Energy

(2 to 4)% Reanimate as: Fallen Shaman

+(50 to 75) Life after each Kill

Socketed (3)

The Redeemer Felblood

Amulet

Required Level: 10

Item Level: 1

Totems Inherit Iron Golem's Regeneration

+(1 to 2) to Necromancer Skill Levels

5% Life stolen per Hit

+4 to Life (Based on Character Level)

3% Reanimate as: Molting Torment

Felblood Starhawk

Warp Blade (Sacred)

One-Hand Damage: 49 to 86

(Sorceress Only)

Required Level: 100

Required Dexterity: 400

Item Level: 105

Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.21 per Dexterity)%

Area Effect Attack

67% of Dexterity Added as Tri-Elemental Damage to Weapon

25% Chance to cast level 50 Magic Missiles on Melee Attack

+(3 to 5) to Sorceress Skill Levels

50% Attack Speed

Adds 800-1000 magic damage

Adds 800-1000 fire damage

Adds 800-1000 lightning damage

Adds 800-1000 cold damage

-(25 to 35)% to Enemy Elemental Resistances

10% Chance to Avoid Damage

Socketed (6)

Starhawk

And of course: Pax Mystica

Staves

'Nef'

Runeword Level: 13

+1 to All Skills

+15% Bonus to Poison Skill Duration

+(2 to 5) to Blink

Elemental Resists +(11 to 15)%

(11 to 13)% Magic Find

Pax Mystica

Blackleach Blade

Halberd (4)

Two-Hand Damage: (17 - 22) to (22 - 28)

(Assassin Only)

Required Level: 6

Required Dexterity: 46

Item Level: 9

Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.25 per Dexterity)%

Area Effect Attack

+(1 to 2) to Assassin Skill Levels

+(31 to 70)% Enhanced Damage

-(26 to 30)% to Enemy Poison Resistance

Slow Target 10%

Maximum Life (1 to 5)%

+(11 to 20) Life after each Kill

Socketed (2)

Two-Hand Damage: (54 - 70) to (68 - 88)

(Assassin Only)

Required Level: 26

Required Dexterity: 76

Item Level: 29

Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.25 per Dexterity)%

Area Effect Attack

+(2 to 4) to Assassin Skill Levels

+(71 to 120)% Enhanced Damage

-(31 to 35)% to Enemy Poison Resistance

Slow Target 15%

Maximum Life (6 to 10)%

+(21 to 40) Life after each Kill

Socketed (4)

Two-Hand Damage: (121 - 132) to (148 - 160)

(Assassin Only)

Required Level: 47

Required Dexterity: 153

Item Level: 51

Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.25 per Dexterity)%

Area Effect Attack

+(4 to 6) to Assassin Skill Levels

+(121 to 140)% Enhanced Damage

-(36 to 40)% to Enemy Poison Resistance

Slow Target 20%

Maximum Life (11 to 15)%

+(31 to 60) Life after each Kill

Socketed (5)

Two-Hand Damage: (159 - 184) to (197 - 229)

(Assassin Only)

Required Level: 57

Required Dexterity: 305

Item Level: 90

Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.25 per Dexterity)%

Area Effect Attack

+(6 to 8) to Assassin Skill Levels

+(141 to 180)% Enhanced Damage

-(41 to 50)% to Enemy Poison Resistance

Slow Target 25%

Maximum Life (16 to 20)%

+(41 to 80) Life after each Kill

Socketed (6)

Blackleach Blade

Throatcutter - pure melee endgame weapon which is very powerful for bossing.

- pure melee endgame weapon which is very powerful for bossing. Zular Khan's Tempest

Halberd (Sacred)

Two-Hand Damage: 71 to 100

(Assassin Only)

Required Level: 100

Required Dexterity: 558

Item Level: 105

Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.25 per Dexterity)%

Area Effect Attack

10% Chance to cast level 1 Stormpike on Striking

Broadside Cooldown Reduced by 3 seconds

Adds 500-1000 fire damage

Adds 500-1000 lightning damage

-50% to Enemy Fire Resistance

-50% to Enemy Lightning Resistance

+(26 to 30) to Way of the Phoenix (Assassin Only)

+(26 to 30) to Way of the Gryphon (Assassin Only)

+(26 to 30) to Way of the Spider (Assassin Only)

+(51 to 100) Life after each Kill

Socketed (6)

Zular Khan's Tempest

Stay tuned...

Multiple unpopular builds have been improvedNow that most of the builds had their primary issues addressed after multiple changes to stats balance, we are taking a slightly different approach this time, and it is to improve builds which aren't necessarily weak but are not popular among the playerbase. For example, when two builds are similar in power and capabilities, but one is much harder to play or pull off (itemwise). In these cases we try to make the harder build more rewarding and stronger (instead of easier) and improve itemization, if those don't turn out to be sufficient we have to look into simplifying or revamping the mechanics.The upcoming patch will feature improvements to builds such as:New base weapon, many new unique items and new affixes to existing uniquesAs always we are looking into adding new build-enabling items as well as improving itemization for builds which are lacking it. The upcoming patch features over 10 new uniques but also changes to existing items that were too plain.For the first time since the launch of Median XL over a decade ago, we are finally introducing a new regular base type: the Halberd. This new weapon is a Naginata subtype which is easier to find but has slightly less damage. This will give more options to Naginata assassin, including a new Tiered version, a Sacred Unique version and a stolen rarer unique version, Zular.Announcing the next major releaseIt's been almost a year since the largest release in Median history. We want to thank everyone who was a part of this journey and we continue to appreciate your support and patience. Time is short on our hands but we are working hard on implementing the features people are requesting the most. We are happy to announce that since the start of the development of this shorter holiday patch, work on a new major release has begun, and you will be hearing more about that soon.Happy new year!