Diablo 4 Season 9 PTR Analysis: 100 Uber Belial Kills Yield Limited Returns

Runes are a cornerstone of progression in Diablo 4, essential for crafting powerful Runewords and unlocking strong Mythic Uniques. However, a recent player report from the Season 9 Public Test Realm (PTR) reveals that Rune farming via Uber Belial might be far less rewarding than expected.

Why Runes Matter in Diablo 4

Legendary Runes serve multiple critical functions:

·Runewords: Combining specific Runes creates powerful bonuses that enhance gear and build potential.

·Mythic Unique Crafting: Many Mythic Uniques require six copies of a specific Legendary Rune to craft, making Rune farming a key step in gear progression.

·Resource for Resplendent Sparks: Players can use d4 mats to craft random Mythic Uniques when farming the exact Rune seems too grind-heavy.

With such importance, the efficiency of Rune farming routes and bosses is a hot topic in the community.

100 Uber Belial Kills - What Did the Player Get?

Players shared their results after grinding Uber Belial 100 times on the Season 9 PTR. Here's what they found:

·A full inventory of Runes with several duplicates

·Only nine Legendary Runes were dropped in total

·Four blue (rare) Runes didn't even fit in the inventory

·Two Mythic Unique Diablo 4 Items dropped alongside Runes

While the quantity of blue Runes is understandable, the low number of Legendary Runes is frustrating, considering Uber Belial is a pinnacle boss designed for high-level farming.

Why Is This Disappointing?

The main pain point is how few Legendary Runes are dropped relative to the effort.

·Six of a specific Legendary Rune are required to craft one Mythic Unique. For example, crafting the popular Heir of Perdition needs six Jah Runes.

·Getting just nine Legendary Runes across 100 boss kills means players would need to spend hundreds of kills for a single Mythic Unique.

·The random combination system to get additional Runes is often inefficient and doesn't offset the scarcity.

This report suggests Season 9 could continue the trend where crafting Mythic Uniques feels like an uphill battle-one heavily dependent on grind and luck.

What This Means for Season 9 Players

·Players may find themselves relying more on boss kills and the Mythic Unique Cache at the Blacksmith to get the desired gear.

·Rune farming via Uber Belial might not be the best route for efficient Mythic crafting.

·Managing expectations around Rune drop rates can help reduce frustration.

Final Thoughts

While this is only one player's experience on the PTR, it reflects a broader sentiment among the community: Rune drops from top bosses like Uber Belial feel too scarce for the level of effort required.

If the developers want to keep Mythic crafting a meaningful but achievable goal, they might need to revisit Rune drop rates or provide alternative, more reliable farming methods before Season 9's full release.