Blizzard has unveiled comprehensive patch notes for Diablo 4's May 14 update, bringing substantial class rebalancing and Season 8 refinements. The highlight includes universal buffs across all character classes, with Spiritborn and Barbarians receiving particularly noteworthy enhancements to underperforming skills.

This update follows mixed player feedback about Season 8's pacing, where Blizzard intentionally slowed progression to extend engagement with endgame content. Since Season 8's April 29 launch, several hotfixes have addressed immediate concerns, but the May 14 patch represents the first major balance overhaul.

Class-Specific Improvements

Spiritborn receives dramatic upgrades:

• The Protector skill sees damage increased from 80% to 140%
• Adaptive Stances passive now grants 75%[+] core stat bonus (up from 50%)
• Vital Strikes' vulnerable damage bonus jumps from 45%[x] to 80%[x]

Barbarians benefit from:

• Ghor's Devastating Grips now dealing ~100% more damage
• Twin Strikes damage increased from 70-100% to 110-140%
• Critical Strike Damage bonus during Whirlwind via Aspect Of Dire Whirlwind

Other classes receive meaningful adjustments:

• Druid's Earthen Might critical damage increases to 70%[x]
• Necromancer's Skeletal Priest damage bonus rises to 50%[x]
• Rogue's Poison Trap damage boosted to 612% (from 540%)

Season 8 Refinements

Key quality-of-life changes include:

• New vendor Sayeena exchanges Spectral Ash for Oath Scrolls
• Sinerat's Flames boss power damage increased to 75%
• Improved Apparition Incursion visibility and consistency
• Additional reputation acquisition methods clearly communicated

Technical Improvements

The patch addresses numerous bugs across:

• Accessibility features (Screen Reader enhancements)
• Seasonal questlines (Belial encounter fixes)
• Boss mechanics (Varshan's Life Steal correction)
• Dungeon progression (Sunken Ruins gate fixes)

Future Prospects

While focusing on current content, Blizzard hints at potential platform expansion, with Nintendo Switch 2 compatibility under consideration. This update demonstrates the developer's commitment to iterative improvement based on community feedback.

Players can expect these changes to significantly alter endgame meta builds when the patch goes live on May 14 across all platforms. The comprehensive nature of these adjustments suggests Blizzard aims to reinvigorate player engagement during Season 8's midpoint.