Blizzard Entertainment has confirmed that Conduit Shrines will be temporarily removed from Diablo 4 with the launch of Season 8. This information was revealed in the latest patch notes, where the developer acknowledged hearing the negative feedback from players regarding this unpopular game feature.
Blizzard explained that they are disabling these shrines until further notice while they work on reworking their functionality, addressing a long-standing pain point for the community.
Why Players Disliked Conduit Shrines
Conduit Shrines have been a source of frustration for many Diablo 4 players since the game’s launch. Unlike other shrines that enhance a character’s existing abilities, Conduit Shrines transform players into lightning orbs. This transformation prevents players from using their normal abilities, instead forcing them to deal automatic shock damage to nearby enemies.
While this effect can be helpful for beginners or players with basic builds to clear monster packs, it quickly becomes counterproductive for experienced players with optimized builds. The inability to use mobility skills or specialized abilities that form the core of their carefully crafted character builds makes these shrines increasingly inefficient and annoying as players progress through the game.
Previous Attempts at Improvement
This isn’t the first time Blizzard has attempted to address issues with Conduit Shrines. During Season 6, they implemented changes to make damage shrines like Conduit, Blast Wave, and Artillery scale based on a player’s level and Paragon level.
Despite these improvements, the fundamental problem remained – players still couldn’t use their normal abilities while under the effect. This limitation led many experienced players to actively avoid these shrines, finding them more disruptive than helpful to their gameplay experience.
Season 8 Details
Blizzard has not shared specific plans or a timeline for when Conduit Shrines might return to the game in their reworked form.
Diablo 4 Season 8, titled “Belial’s Return,” launches on April 29. The new season introduces significant changes to the game’s core progression systems, including an overhaul of endgame bosses. Players can also look forward to a revamped battle pass system and an exciting crossover with the dark fantasy manga Berserk.