Familiars will arrive in Diablo Immortal’s last major content update of the year, Splintered Souls. The update is set to be available across all regions by tomorrow. It opens the new Southern Dreadlands zone, new daily event, a free trial for Gems, and much more.
The Southern Dreadlands open after you complete a new main quest, Lost Justice. In it, you’ll have to look for Archangel Tyrael’s sword, El’druin. Once you have access to the new zone, you’ll notice that Shards of the Worldstone pose danger in the form of Shardstorms. These have warped creatures caught within, turning them into Shardborne. You’ll be able to learn where the storms are headed, and try to work to stop them for rewards in a limited time event. The zone also comes with 13 new bounties on the Bounty Boards, and a brand new zone event, Sentinel’s Stand.
Familiars are here to accompany and assist you along your journeys. The first five were recently revealed: Ashsweeper, Duskprowler, Myrrjen, Skitterwight, and Varog. The team has revealed three more: the dragonlike Broodtalon, lizard-like Quakestrider, and the Stormlost, "the living embodiment of a storm itself".
You can bring up to six with you and summon the ones you need. Start collecting them by playing the game, including in events like the Darkling Plane limited event, to earn (or buy with gold) Summoning Contracts. Using a contract gives an equal chance at all Familiar types. There will be a Tamed Familiars shop open at level 30 and more in shop bundles, and through other means.
Ordinary and Aberrant Familiars are the two possible variants, with Ordinary being the common types. Empower your familiars as you level by slaying monsters or opening chests and getting Spirit Essence. Aberrant ones are the only ones that can reach their maximum potential. Obtain them through conversion and melding, processes of combining Familiars for better options, including passing along desirable skills and potentially, opening rare ones.
The Darkling Plane event runs from tomorrow through December 28th, and it will let you try out a random level 30 Familiar to work with to defeat threats. Succeed and win rewards like a Summoning Contract, gold, and more.
If you need extra challenges, there are new Inferno Difficulties and five new Soulhewn Helliquary bosses. On top of that, the Helliquary Surge will be in play, potentially spawning additional bosses (at reduced strength) after defeating one.
Another way to try out a feature is the new Gem free trial. This one-time option will let you test out newly-released Legendary Gems for free in a limited way.
Diablo Immortal is also adding a new daily, The Rite of Cleansing. Take part to kill monsters in Sanctuary to earn yourself Moonrite Flora, which you can sacrifice to open one of three events. Win there, and drops might net you new set items or Legendaries.
It’s a huge update, and one way to potentially keep busy in Sanctuary this month, along with Diablo IV’s holiday event.
