Dates and game state
| Field | Archive record |
|---|---|
| Start: source calendar date | 10 December 2021 |
| End: source calendar date | 10 April 2022 |
| Live patch | 2.7.2 |
| Season theme | The Lords of Hell / Soul Shards |
Platforms and timing boundaries
PC and supported console editions have separate platform leaderboards. Diablo III does not support cross-platform multiplayer. Do not assume PC fixes and console schedules were identical.
Nintendo Switch released during Season 15 in November 2018; later seasons also run there. PS5/Series consoles use the compatible PS4/Xbox One editions.
Calendar dates are archive records, not live spawn calculations. Regional PC launches and the global console start can fall on different German calendar dates; the linked Blizzard announcement supplies the relevant rule.
What this season changes in play
Soul Shards replace normal helm and weapon gems: one Prime Evil helm shard and one Lesser Evil weapon shard. Hellforge Embers upgrade them to rank three; the actual final random power is part of the build. The three jewellery gems remain separate.
Sliver of Terror also increases cooldown pressure. Essence of Anguish requires a Poison trigger such as the appropriate weapon damage roll; Dregs of Lies is a pet option and must not be assigned to Phantasm merely because its graphics resemble spirits.
Patch changes and historical boundaries
2.7.2 reworks Marauder/Arachyr and removes Firebird pet triggering. A manual Flame Blades bar therefore replaces Mirror Images; Inna has a separate normal Fire/Shenlong version.
Optimised class plans and seasonal adjustments
| Class | Dated build | Concrete adjustment |
|---|---|---|
| Barbarian | Barbarian: Whirlwind and Rend · dated set core | Helm: start with Sliver of Terror for the cooldown-heavy bar. Weapon: Essence of Anguish with an actual Poison damage roll to trigger it; account for increased damage taken. The actual rank-three power also matters. |
| Crusader | Aegis of Valor: Heaven’s Fury · Season 19 | Helm: start with Sliver of Terror for the cooldown-heavy bar. Weapon: Essence of Anguish with an actual Poison damage roll to trigger it; account for increased damage taken. The actual rank-three power also matters. |
| Demon Hunter | Marauder Cluster Arrow · new Sentry scaling | Helm: start with Sliver of Terror for the cooldown-heavy bar. Weapon: Essence of Anguish with an actual Poison damage roll to trigger it; account for increased damage taken. The actual rank-three power also matters. |
| Monk | Inna Fire Ally · without Ethereal | Inna or Rabid Strike WoL can use Dregs of Lies as a genuine pet option; helm Sliver of Terror requires extra CDR. For normal Justice instead evaluate Essence of Anguish with a Poison trigger. |
| Witch Doctor | Witch Doctor: Mundunugu Spirit Barrage · dated set core | Helm: start with Sliver of Terror for the cooldown-heavy bar. Weapon: Essence of Anguish with an actual Poison damage roll to trigger it; account for increased damage taken. The actual rank-three power also matters. |
| Wizard | Firebird: manual Flame Blades · after the pet fix | S25 Flame Blades can use Remnant of Pain with reliable Frost Nova control. Later Meteor can use Essence of Anguish with a Poison weapon roll; do not remove critical stats without considering the selected shard. |
| Necromancer | Necromancer: Masquerade Bone Spear · dated set core | Helm: start with Sliver of Terror for the cooldown-heavy bar. Weapon: Essence of Anguish with an actual Poison damage roll to trigger it; account for increased damage taken. The actual rank-three power also matters. |
Convert the starter set into the target build
The table shows the starter set, not automatically the linked endgame build. Open gifts on the intended class and follow period Journey objectives; early S5/S6 progression differs from the later Chapter II/III/IV scheme.
Activate the set bonus actually within reach first and collect its core weapon through Kadala, rare upgrades and Kanai’s Cube where those systems already exist. Do not replace useful pieces before completing the target bonus.
This season’s Haedrig sets
| Class | Starter set |
|---|---|
| Barbarian | Might of the Earth |
| Crusader | Thorns of the Invoker |
| Demon Hunter | The Shadow's Mantle |
| Monk | Monkey King's Garb |
| Witch Doctor | Raiment of the Jade Harvester |
| Wizard | Firebird's Finery |
| Necromancer | Grace of Inarius |
Optimise step by step
Step 1
Complete the linked profile engine: check six skills, four passives, equipped slots and available Cube powers.
Step 2
Test resources, protection and buff uptime a few rift tiers below the current limit. Only then reroll toward more offensive stats and test longer boss windows.
Step 3
Separate farming and pushing: fast elite chains use different gems and cooldown assumptions from long Rift Guardian fights. A source’s rift tier is no performance promise at other Paragon or on another platform.
Evidence and verification boundary
Linked profiles distinguish contemporary author bars, documented patch rules and explicitly added editorial slot repairs. No historical rank-one rating is asserted without an archived benchmark. German and English contain the same information.
Class builds for this season
Choose your class. Profiles state their historical version and full-setup requirements.
Barbarian: Whirlwind and Rend · dated set core
A mobile Wastes build that applies Rend through Ambo’s Pride while maintaining Band of Might’s defensive effect.
View buildAegis of Valor: Heaven’s Fury · Season 19
FoH charges Valor and Wrath; Fires of Heaven hits controlled enemies through Fate of the Fell and Shield of Fury. Captain Crimson connects cooldown and cost stats with damage and defence.
View buildMarauder Cluster Arrow · new Sentry scaling
The 2.7.2 Marauder rework restores Sentry damage scaling. Bombardier and Custom Engineering permit five Sentries; Yang reduces high costs while Manticore scales Cluster Arrow.
View buildInna Fire Ally · without Ethereal
Inna, Crudest Boots and Lesser Gods form a coherent Ally loop. Shenlong amplifies a planned Fire burst at full Spirit.
View buildNecromancer: Masquerade Bone Spear · dated set core
A ranged build using persistent Simulacrums, Bone Spear and deliberately maintained Bone Armor.
View buildWitch Doctor: Mundunugu Spirit Barrage · dated set core
A spirit build with a clear preparation sequence: stack Harvest, mark enemies, place phantasms and retain safe movement windows.
View buildFirebird: manual Flame Blades · after the pet fix
Disintegrate ignites and builds Combustion; manual Spectral Blades trigger the set hit. Fragment and Shame speed signature attacks while Orb supplies protection.
View buildYOUR NEXT STEP
Your checklist
Saved locally on this device, shared between both languages. This counter measures guide tasks, not game progress.
Sources & editorial reference date
Independently written guidance. Linked sources support verification of game systems, versions and described changes. Editorial reference date: 2026-10-23.
- D3Resource: Seasons, patches and Haedrig gifts d3resource.com
- Blizzard: Season 25 - The Lords of Hell - Has Ended news.blizzard.com
- Icy Veins: Soul Shard effects, Poison-weapon trigger and rank choices www.icy-veins.com