Diablo 4 Update 2.2.0 PTR: Dates & PTR Boost NPC Changes

Attention, Nephalem! It's time for the next Diablo 4 Public Test Realm (PTR) to begin, which will be testing content for the upcoming Season 8, following delays by Blizzard. We already know that the developers plan to increase Diablo 4's difficulty on all fronts, including the leveling experience, but there's a lot more to test out.

The Diablo 4 update 2.2.0 PTR is running for an entire week, allowing you to test features and changes releasing with Season 8. It's all in preparation for "Belial’s Return," so let's leap in. 

Diablo 4 PTR 2.2.0 Start & End Dates

The start date for the Diablo 4 PTR 2.2.0 event is 11 March 2025. We'll have a full week, until 18 March 2025, to play and test features, providing feedback to the developer as needed.

While the testing begins on 11 March, you can only start using the PTR Boost NPC in Kyovashad starting on 13 March 2025. That's because Blizzard plans to test the new, more challenging leveling experience with this PTR push.  The developers explain:

In the 2.2.0 PTR, we are testing an updated leveling journey where experience gained from monster kills is reduced until reaching Level 25. Our goal is to smooth out the leveling experience which vastly increased leveling speeds seen in Season of Witchcraft. This result was the culmination of a new seasonal activity, rewards, and powers. We want to strike the sweet spot when it comes to the journey to max level. Hence, this change and additional testing. This change reduces the need to constantly upgrade early game items, increases the relative value of activity and seasonal rewards, and creates a more seamless early game journey. Because this is a change to the early game leveling journey, we’re turning off the Boost NPC for the first 2 days of the PTR to collect data on the new leveling journey and gather feedback about it directly.

Now, let's get to some changes the PTR Boost NPC has undergone since Season of Witchcraft.

Diablo 4 PTR Boost NPC Changes

First and foremost, some Boost NPC interactions can trigger a partial reset of your character, so be warned. Now, let's get to the good parts, since this feature has grown quite a lot. 

Features that have been added since the Season of Witchcraft's PTR is:

• Belial’s Return Unique Items have been added.
• The Paragon boost has increased from Paragon Level 200 to 300.
• The Unique Item Cache now always drops items of Ancestral quality.
• The Legendary Item Cache now always drops items of Ancestral quality once the player reaches Level 60.
• The Seasonal Menu now includes the ability to learn all Boss Powers, gain Hoard Keys for Initiate, Greater, and Exalted Lair Bosses, and gain access to Belial, Lord of Lies’ Lair.

There is also an option at the Boost NPC that offers all the above, and the following features:

• Level to Max
  • There are options to increase yourself to Level 50 and 60.
• Complete the Map
  • This includes the Campaign, Strongholds, Waypoints, and Fog.
• Complete your Class Mechanic
• Unlock All Torment Tiers
• Fully Upgrade Your Potion
• Max All Aspects in Codex of Power
• Generates Legendary items for various classes and builds
• Grant All Unique Items
• Grant All Temper Manuals
• Grant All Materials and Gold and Obols
• Upgraded Potions
• Fully unlocked and Maxed Paragon Glyphs
• Unlocks Masterworking

In case you've missed it, check out the full Campfire Chat for March 2025, where the developers discuss the biggest changes and content additions.

Check out the full patch notes for details on content and gameplay changes. We suggest you put on those reading classes and get a drink, since there are dozens of pages of text to sift through. 

For more Diablo 4, be sure to check out our dedicated section or some of our Guides & Tutorials just below:

Our section keeps growing, so check for new guides daily! Don't forget to pick up one of the Diablo 4 Editions and join the fight to save Sanctuary soon.