Blizzard has officially confirmed that Diablo 4 Season 12 will introduce significant balance changes to the Paladin, a class widely regarded as the most overpowered in the game right now. These adjustments will first be available in the Diablo 4 Patch 2.6.0 PTR, allowing players to test the changes and provide feedback before Season 12 goes live.

As with previous PTR cycles, Blizzard has emphasized that these updates are not final. Player feedback during testing will play a major role in shaping the final version of the Paladin when Season 12 officially launches. That said, the current PTR notes already give us a clear picture of Blizzard's overall design philosophy: fix broken mechanics without destroying the class's power fantasy.

Diablo 4 Season 12 Paladin Changes in Patch 2.6.0 PTR

According to the official Diablo 4 2.6.0 PTR patch notes, Blizzard is taking a measured approach to Paladin balance. Rather than applying blanket nerfs, the developers are focusing on two key areas:

1. Buffing underperforming or underused damage sources

2. Fixing unintended mechanics that allowed extreme damage scaling

The goal is to preserve the Paladin's identity as a devastating holy warrior while removing exploitative interactions that trivialize high-end content.

Several Paladin abilities are receiving direct damage buffs in Season 12:

·Heaven's Fury: Triplicate - Base damage increased from 36% to 56%

·Path of the Penitent - Damage increased from 10% to 12% per stack

·Sunbrand - Damage increased from 30-50% to 60-100%

These buffs are not minor. Heaven's Fury in particular sees a massive jump in base damage, making it far more competitive for both leveling and endgame builds. Path of the Penitent and Sunbrand also benefit scaling-focused Paladin setups, especially those that rely on sustained damage rather than burst exploits.

Bug Fixes That Act as Nerfs

1. Judgement Damage Stacking Fixed

One of the biggest offenders was Judgement. Before Patch 2.6.0, Judgement damage was stacking far beyond Blizzard's internal calculations. This allowed Paladins to reach absurd damage numbers with minimal investment, especially when paired with optimized Diablo 4 Items and endgame affixes.

In the 2.6.0 PTR, this stacking behavior has been corrected. While this technically counts as a bug fix, the real-world result is a noticeable damage reduction, especially in optimized endgame builds that relied heavily on Judgement scaling.

2. Holy Light Aura Interaction Corrected

Previously, friendly NPCs standing inside the aura were dealing far more damage than intended. This turned Paladins into unintended force multipliers for allies, making certain encounters trivial and undermining encounter balance.

Season 12 corrects this interaction, bringing Holy Light Aura back in line with its intended supportive role rather than a hidden damage amplifier.

Pronouncement of Heaven Rework Explained

One of the most interesting Paladin changes in Season 12 affects the Pronouncement of Heaven enhancement for Spear of the Heavens.

·In Patch 2.6.0, the mechanic has been reworked entirely. It now spawns three spears that deal damage over 12 seconds.

·These spears can also be marked with Judgement, introducing more active decision-making into the build.

·In exchange, players gain more control and synergy opportunities, especially when combining spear placement with Judgement timing.

This shift aligns with Blizzard's broader goal of rewarding active gameplay rather than passive damage stacking.

PTR Testing and the Return of Killstreaks

Beyond Paladin balance, Blizzard has confirmed that Diablo 4 Season 12 will heavily emphasize the Killstreaks system, inspired by Diablo 3. Killstreaks reward players for chaining kills together, reinforcing Diablo's fast-paced, momentum-driven combat loop.

The 2.6.0 PTR runs from February 3 to February 10, giving players a limited testing window to experiment with:

·Paladin buffs and bug fixes

·Pronouncement of Heaven rework

·Killstreaks system

·Other Season 12 balance changes

This testing phase is also when many players begin optimizing builds early-whether by farming gear naturally or planning to buy Diablo IV Items once the season launches.

Blizzard has been clear that PTR feedback will directly influence final balance decisions. This means Paladin numbers, mechanics, or even entire interactions could still change before Season 12 officially begins.

What This Means for Diablo 4's Future

Season 12 is shaping up to be a pivotal moment for Diablo 4. After skipping a full expansion release in 2025, Blizzard is preparing for a massive year ahead. The upcoming Lord of Hatred DLC, launching in April, is expected to be the largest content drop the game has seen in a long time.

These Paladin changes suggest Blizzard is committed to long-term class health rather than short-term balance swings. By fixing broken mechanics while buffing underused skills, the developers are laying the groundwork for a more diverse and sustainable endgame.