As we approach the much-anticipated Season of Blood in Diablo 4, there is an unexpected hero emerging from the shadows: the horse. Blizzard, known for their consistent effort in evolving gameplay, has taken a dramatic leap in the equine category, introducing a slew of improvements to our four-legged friends. This season, you can expect your trusty steed to be smarter, quicker, and more robust than ever before, altering the way we traverse the darkened lands of Sanctuary.
The first whiff of these impressive changes came on October 17. The Season of Blood commenced, and with it came the arrival of Horses 2.0. These aren't your typical horses; they are an upgraded version with advanced capabilities. Gone are the days when a stray rock or other environmental objects could halt your gallant steed. With the new Spur skill, you can now barrel through barriers with ease. Not only that, but these horses also boast a base speed that is 14% faster than their predecessors. The speed boost from the Spur skill also lasts 50% longer, providing a swift and smooth gaming experience.
Blizzard has also tweaked the mechanics of movement during horse riding. You no longer have to drag your mouse cursor to the edge of the screen to attain maximum speed. Now, the speed is relative to the starting position of your mouse when you activate the Spur skill. During a recent developer update stream, game director Joe Shely confirmed that the Spur uptime is nearly 100%, ensuring that your horse will always be ready to dash into action.
But that's not all. Blizzard has even made significant changes to the dismounting mechanics. The cooldown for dismounting your horse has been reduced by half, as has the wait time before you can activate your unique class dismount ability. These changes suggest that horses might even outshine Sorcerers in terms of strength and efficiency. In the Season of Blood, it appears that hoof beats will echo louder than magical chants.
In conclusion, the Season of Blood is shaping up to be a groundbreaking season for Diablo 4, with horses taking center stage. It seems Blizzard's focus on enhancing the horse riding experience will pay off, allowing players to explore Sanctuary like never before. So, saddle up, fellow adventurers, and prepare to ride like the wind. This season, we won't just be walking through the world of Diablo 4; we'll be galloping. The Season of Blood is, without a doubt, the Season of the Horse.
