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Diablo IIISeason & patch

Diablo III Season 36: The Lords of Hell / Soul Shards · build archive

Dated complete builds for 7 classes, period patch boundaries, Haedrig sets and concrete seasonal adjustments.

ArchiveChecked 23 October 2026 · patch 2.8.0
Guide coverage

Historical season archive · explicit PC/console boundaries

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Dates and game state

FieldArchive record
Start: source calendar date12 September 2025
End: source calendar date30 November 2025
Live patch2.8.0
Season themeThe 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

This season uses the named theme on patch 2.8.0. Profile assignments use only items available at that time; later seasonal powers remain separately labelled.

Altar of Rites and Visions are permanent in seasonal play from Season 30. Unlocks must be rebuilt each new season; later Altar values are not confused with the original Season 28 version.

Optimised class plans and seasonal adjustments

ClassDated buildConcrete adjustment
BarbarianRaekor: Boulder Toss · new Weapon Throw engineHelm: 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.
CrusaderAkkhan Phalanx/Condemn · Guardian progressionHelm: 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 HunterMarauder Cluster Arrow · new Sentry scalingHelm: 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.
MonkMonk: Tempest Rush with Patterns of Justice · dated set coreJustice/Flurry: start with helm Sliver of Terror and Essence of Anguish triggered by a Poison weapon roll. Account for additional CDR needs and increased damage taken. Dregs of Lies instead suits the separately linked Rabid Strike WoL pet profile.
Witch DoctorWitch Doctor: Mundunugu Spirit Barrage · dated set coreHelm: 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.
WizardTal Rasha: Star Pact · two-handed MeteorS25 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.
NecromancerTrag’Oul: Iron Rose Blood Nova · reworked setHelm: 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

ClassStarter set
BarbarianImmortal King's Call
CrusaderSeeker of the Light
Demon HunterNatalya's Vengeance
MonkUliana's Stratagem
Witch DoctorSpirit of Arachyr
WizardVyr's Amazing Arcana
NecromancerTrag'Oul's Avatar

Optimise step by step

  1. Step 1

    Complete the linked profile engine: check six skills, four passives, equipped slots and available Cube powers.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

Diablo IIIClass build

Raekor: Boulder Toss · new Weapon Throw engine

The 2.7.3 rework connects Charge stacks with Ancient Spear. Arreat’s Law temporarily permits extra Fury; Three Hundredth Spear and Skular amplify the following Boulder Toss.

ArchiveBarbarianSeasons 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 · ab 2.7.3 / from 2.7.3
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Diablo IIIClass build

Akkhan Phalanx/Condemn · Guardian progression

Judgment marks targets; Akkhan Phalanx Bowmen trigger Condemn and reduce Akarat cooldown. Eternal Union makes Bowmen permanent while Blade/Frydehr supply explosion damage.

ArchiveCrusaderSeasons 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 · ab 2.7.4 / from 2.7.4
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Diablo IIIClass build

Marauder 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.

ArchiveDemon HunterSeasons 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 · ab 2.7.2 / from 2.7.2
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Diablo IIIClass build

LoD Wave of Light · later bell core

Rabid Strike copies the bell attack during Epiphany. LoD, Kyoshiro, Incense Torch and the bracers must work together; later Blackthorne pants supply elemental damage without an active set bonus.

ArchiveMonkSeasons 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 · 2.7.4–2.8.0
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Diablo IIIClass build

Trag’Oul: Iron Rose Blood Nova · reworked set

Siphon Blood lets Iron Rose trigger free Blood Novas. Trag’Oul scales the Life-skill engine, Funerary Pick the channel and Bloodtide the Nova in density.

ArchiveNecromancerSeasons 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 · ab 2.7.4 / from 2.7.4
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Diablo IIIClass build

Tal Rasha: Star Pact · two-handed Meteor

Smoldering Core and Grand Vizier supply complementary Meteor powers; Mempo and Nilfur scale impact. Four active elements maintain Tal Rasha; Star Pact spends accumulated Arcane Power.

ArchiveWizardSeasons 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 · 2.7.5–2.8.0
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YOUR NEXT STEP

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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.

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