Blizzard Entertainment Inc.
12/09/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 12/09/2025 08:13
Prepare for The End of Madness
The drums of war echo across Sanctuary as the Epoch of Madness reaches its crescendo. Albrecht's twisted ambitions have shattered the fragile peace of the Sharval Wilds, unleashing legions of Shardborne and horrors born of flesh and hubris. Our fourteenth major update, The First and Last King, arrives on December 17.
As you ready yourself for the final battle for the hearts and minds of Sharval's denizens, we're giving you a first look at new Ancient Legendary gear, new challenges in the open world and dungeons, new legendary gems, and the celebration of Brumaltine.
As this article is an early look at the next content update, information conveyed in this article may be subject to adjustment.
Codex
Protect yourself with new Ancient Legendary Items
Prepare to challenge Albrecht's Living Siege Engines
The Darkness Corrupts Heroes of Sanctuary
The end of The Epoch of Madness Nears
Disaster is everywhere in the Sharval Wilds. After the loss of his twisted paradise, Albrecht leads legions of new Shardborne through the populous areas of Entsteig. His ally, the fallen necromancer Lethes, is once again seeking ancient power in the tomb of a dead king.
In "The First and Last King," main quest, the battle for the hearts and minds of the Sharval Wilds draws to its dramatic conclusion. There are new monsters to battle, and two new subzones to explore.
The Entsteig Bailey is the besieged outer courtyard of Sharval's capital; the Barrow Tombs of Aughild are a dark sanctum where the bones of Entsteig's greatest king-and his mightiest warriors - rest.
With these two new subzones, the Sharval Wilds zone will at last be complete.
In this final chapter of the Epoch of Madness, the story of the Worldstone draws to a close, but a new saga is on the horizon. As we look to 2026 and beyond. Deckard Cain's prophesized Age of Doom, or what he called the End of Days, is drawing closer… Will you be ready?
Protect Yourself with new Ancient Legendary Items
From the shadowed recesses of Sanctuary's forgotten vaults, artifacts of unimaginable strength have stirred. Five Ancient Legendary Chest items, once thought only myth, now await those brave enough to claim their power.
These storied armaments are unlike any you have encountered. Each chest piece bears three pre-determined Magic Affixes, etched into its essence by forces beyond mortal comprehension, and a fourth random class Affix.
For those who seek dominion over destiny, the Blacksmith offers a rare boon: upon crafting these chest pieces, you may inscribe the class Affix of your choosing.
Ancient Legendary equipment and Ancient Artifacts no longer drop in Inferno 7-9 and crafting Ancient Legendary equipment for Inferno 7-9 at the blacksmith will be disabled.
Low-difficulty Ancient Artifacts can now be exchanged for Ancient Scraps, used for enchanting Ancient Legendary equipment, at the Weapon Smith.
New Legendary Gems
Three new Legendary Gems arrive in this next update. Each can elevate your character to new heights of power. The below descriptions are currently missing the values. These will be shared closer to the Gem's release:
Fated Trail (Five Star Gem): Dealing damage to nearby enemies grants you Rampant Growth for a period of time causing brambles to grow beneath the enemy's feet when you deal damage to them. Brambles deal damage equal to a portion of your maximum Life and can only be triggered once every second per enemy. Additionally, the brambles shatter the enemy's armor, increasing the damage you deal to them for a short period of time, and stacking up to 6 times. When an enemy is first struck by the brambles, they will be Immobilized for a short period of time. Rampant Growth can only be gained periodically.
Rampart Torch (Two Star Gem): When attacked you gain a protective shield for a set period that reduces the damage you take by a percentage of your base damage and reduces the continual damage you take. Cannot occur more often than once every 20 seconds.
Flaystone (One Star Gem): You deal and increased damage and gain increased Critical Hit Chance against shielded enemies.
Prepare to challenge Albrecht's Living Siege Engines in the Helliquary
Albrecht has prepared for war, gathering the strongest Shardborne in his army: the Fleshwarped.
These monstrosities were once Albrecht's Shardborne followers, but with the power of creation, they have evolved into living war machines. Most traces of their former humanity have vanished, and all that remains is a burning desire for freedom and blood.
Bloatmaw
In his search for weapons of war, Albrecht sought to create a Shardborne capable of ending battles within seconds. With the power of creation, Albrecht continuously transformed one of his Shardborne followers into a completely new creature. With its swollen gullet and strong legs, Bloatmaw leaps across battlefields, crushing prey and spewing miasma. In an instant, the toxic gas envelops entire legions, warping and melting flesh in the Shardborne's twisted image.
Marrowmount
When the Bravehull Stronghold received word that Albrecht's army was approaching, the Entsteig platoon readied themselves with barricades and ramparts. Yet no wall was strong enough to withhold Marrowmount. The twisted stallion broke through the stronghold's walls with one charge, and Shardborne soldiers swarmed the Entsteig army within. Though a group of Entsteig soldiers were able to hinder the Shardborne, it's only a matter of time before it continues its rampage.
Sundered Goliath
Albrecht formed the Sundered Goliath with the grafted bodies of hundreds of his followers, hoping to create the perfect creature. A failed experiment, the Shardborne was uncoordinated and unwieldy, yet Albrecht sought it for a new and greater purpose. Within the hulking chamber on its back, this behemoth carries whole battalions of Shardborne soldiers into war. As it tramples its enemies, Shardborne swarm from its body and overrun the battlefield.
The Darkness Corrupts Heroes of Sanctuary
Beware the champions who once fought for Sanctuary. Now twisted by darkness, these Barbarians, Demon Hunters, and Wizards roam as corrupted shadows of their former glory!
For a limited time, the lands of Sanctuary tremble under the march of Corrupted Heroes, elite adversaries forged from the remnants of fallen warriors. These foes are unlike any you've faced before, designed to deliver a PvP style experience within the open world or dungeons. Their tactics mimic the cunning of mortal champions, wielding player-style skills and builds that mimic real Players, ensuring every encounter feels unpredictable and fiercely competitive.
Find these Corrupted Heroes and eradicate them. If cleansing them from Sanctuary is not enough of a reward, you will earn a guaranteed Legendary Item for your first slain Corrupted Hero of the day. With each subsequent Corrupted Hero conquered you'll also have a chance at earning additional Legendary Items.
Of course… if you're not up to the challenge, you could run away, but what kind of champion of Sanctuary would you be if you did that?
Feel the Warmth of Brumaltine
As frost creeps across Sanctuary and hearths blaze against the chill, the Brumaltine celebration returns-an age-old tradition of camaraderie and generosity. Adventuregather not for battle, but to share tokens of warmth and blessings for the year ahead.
Complete tasks that refresh each day to earn progress toward milestone rewards. Tasks accumulate for up to 14 days, ensuring ample time to claim your spoils.
Craft and send festive cards to fellow adventurers to spread the Brumaltine cheer. Each card strengthens bonds and grants rewards for both sender and receiver.
Log-in during event days to receive exclusive Brumaltine gifts, including instant level-ups and seasonal treasures. Missed a gift? Complete an extra task to reclaim it.
Share warmth, forge bonds, and let the spirit of Brumaltine guide you through the frost. Sanctuary awaits your cheer-don't let the season pass you by!
More Details to Come
Stay tuned-more information all the features coming with our next major update can be found in a blog coming on December 15. As this is an early look, all information in this blog is subject to change.
Blizzard Entertainment Inc. published this content on December 09, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on December 09, 2025 at 14:13 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]