Players will engage in battle against the demon Malphas as they explore a new type of dungeon known as Vaults while aided by a robotic companion called the Seneschal (a medieval steward).
One of the principal Seasonal Mechanics is augmenting the Seneschal by using magical Governing and Tuning Stones to achieve different targeted builds similar to outfitting Diablo 2 Mercenaries or Diablo 3 Followers.
- Governing Stones are a core construct ability.
- Tuning Stones are singular modifications to for any number of Governing Stones.
- Players can equip 2 Governing Stones to the Seneschal and augment each Governing Stone with 3 Tuning Stones.
Players should use the Tuning Stones combined together to make powerful and interesting skill combinations for the Seneschal.
Acquiring Governing and Tuning Stones
- Complete a Season 3 Vault to earn one random Tuning Stone. This is the primary source for finding these.
- Governing Stones are acquired through the Season 3 questline.
- Wardwoven Chests provide Tuning Stones.
- Vaults and Arcane Tremors. Arcane Tremors are a quick an effective way to acquire Tuning Stones.
- Crafted from Shattered Stone which is dropped by enemy Constructs and then crafted into the two types of Stones at the jewelers.
- Ginding a max level Governing or Tuning Stone will also grants 150 –200 Shattered Stone.
- Both Stone types can be acquired from completing Whispers.
- 2 Stones can awarded from Seneschal Stone Caches.
Can Stones be Levelled?
To level the Stones you can collect or craft duplicates of the same stone. Fuse them together to grant experience and eventually level up your currently held Stones.
When a duplicate stone is collected, it automatially levels the Stone of the same name. You will need to find 3 copies of the same stone to increase its rank to start. The amount needed to continually rank up the Stones increases the higher the rank.
In patch 1.3.0a the experience requirements for Governing and Tuning Stones were reduced so they can be ranked up more naturally with the leveling experience.
The max rank on any stone is 10.
Leveling stones increases their potency and their attack abilities.
What are the Governing and Tuning Stones?
Below are lists of both stone types and their effects.
Governing Stones
All statistics are for level 10 Governing Stones.
| Name | Effect | Arcing | Channeled | Cooldown | Duration | Melee | Ranged | Projectile | Utility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Autodefense | The Seneschal Construct activates an antimaterial field around itself shooting down up to 30 enemy projectiles. Last for 5 seconds. Can not shoot down Boss or Player projectiles. Speed: 1.5 seconds |
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| Bushwhack | Quickly ambush up to 2 targets dealing 1,989 damage to each. May strike the same target multiple times. Speed: 1.5 seconds |
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| Firefly | Deploy a small Firefly construct that lands on the target and explodes 3 times after 1.25 seconds dealing 912 - 2,553 damage. Speed: 3.5 seconds |
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| Flash of Adrenaline | Administers a quick clash of adrenaline into the player, increasing damage dealt by x 20% for 8 seconds. Speed: 1.5 seconds |
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| Focus Fire | The Seneschal Construct channels a ray of fire onto 2 targets dealing 7,958 total damage to each over 3 seconds. Speed: 3 seconds |
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| Gyrate | The Seneschal Construct whirls its legs around quickly dealing 5,173 damage to all nearby enemies. Speed: 2 seconds |
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| Impale | Perform a line attack to all enemies in front of the Seneschal Construct dealing 7,759 damage. Speed: 1.5 seconds |
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| Lightning Bolt | Launch a bolt of Lightning at the target dealing 1,989 damage. Arcs to 1 target dealing 35% of the original damage. Speed: 1.5 seconds |
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| Protect | The Seneschal Construct materializes a protective Barrier on the player for 0.5% of their Maximum Life Lasts for 5 seconds. Speed: 1.5 seconds |
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| Pummel | Pummel enemies in front of the Seneschal Construct dealing 4,742 damage. Speed: 1.5 seconds |
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| Reconstruct | The Seneschal Construct channels a reconstruction beam Healing the player for 50% of their Maximum Life over 3 seconds. Speed: 1.5 seconds |
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| Tempest | Electrically charge an enemy causing it to deal 2,006 damage to themselves and 1 additional enemy each second over 5 seconds.
If the enemy is killed, Tempest spreads to another enemy. |
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| Name | Effect | Arcing | Channeled | Cooldown | Duration | Melee | Ranged | Projectile | Utility |
Tuning Stones
All statistics are for level 10 Tuning Stones.
| Name | Effect | Cooldown | Melee | Ranged | Projectile | Utility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arcing Support | The supported Arcing skill can hit 10 additional enemies. | |||||
| Bleeding Support | 60% of the supported skill's damage dealt is applied as Bleeding damage over 5 seconds (DoT). Enemies take x 10% Bleeding bonus damage from all sources while moving. Damage: Physical |
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| Breaking Support | Damage from the supported skill instantly destroys enemy Barrier effects. In addition, there is a 100% chance to make enemies Vulnerable for 2 seconds. | |||||
| Burning Support | 60% of the supported skill's damage is applied as Burning damage over 5 seconds (DoT). Burning enemies take x 20% Critical Strike Damage from the Seneschal Construct. Damage: Fire |
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| Devastation Support | Supported skill gains a x 75% Critical Strike Damage bonus. | |||||
| Duration Support | Supported Duration skills have their durations increased by 4 seconds. | |||||
| Dusk Support | 60% of the supported skill's damage dealt is applied as Shadow damage over 5 seconds. Afflicted enemies who attack have a 15% chance for their attacks to be interrupted. Does not interrupt Bosses. Damage: Shadow |
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| Efficiency Support | When the supporting skill deals damage, you gain + 15% Critical Strike Chance to the same targets hit for 3 seconds. | |||||
| Electrocution Support | 60% of the supported skill's damage dealt is applied as Lightning damage over 5 seconds and has a 15% chance to Stun (CC) enemies for 2 seconds. Damage: Lightning |
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| Fortify Support | When the Seneschal Construct uses the supported skill, you gain 167 Fortify. Skills with slower attack speeds or skills with cooldowns will increase the amount of Fortify granted. | |||||
| Frigid Support | 60% of the supported skill's damage dealt is applied as Cold damage over 5 seconds and applies 35% Chill. Damage: Cold |
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| Gripping Support | Damage and effects done by the supporting skill to Distant enemies Pulls (CC) them towards the Seneschal Construct. Can only occur once every 10 seconds per enemy. | |||||
| Initiative Support | The supported skill will cause the Seneschal Construct to teleport to the target if out of range. | |||||
| Mockery Support | Damage done by the supporting skill Taunts enemies hit for 4 seconds. This can only occur once every 15 seconds per enemy. Does not work on bosses. | |||||
| Multishot Support | Supported Projectile skills launch 4 additional projectiles. | |||||
| Piercing Support | The supported Projectile skill will pierce up to 11 enemies. | |||||
| Poison Support | 60% of the supported skill's damage dealt is applied as Poison damage over 5 seconds. This poison has a 20% chance each second to spread all Poison damage to an additional enemy. Damage: Poison |
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| Registered Damage Support | Any damage caused from the supported skill is registered. The registered damage explodes at 50% effectiveness when the target dies as Fire damage. Damage: Fire |
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| Resource Support | Player gains 20 Primary Resource when the supporting skill first deals damage. | |||||
| Safeguard Support | When used, the supported skill grants x 15% Damage Reduction to you for 3 seconds. | |||||
| Seeking Support | The supported Projectile skill will Auto-Seek enemies for 7.6 seconds. | |||||
| Slowing Support | Damage from the supported skill Slows (CC) enemy movement speed for 2 seconds. The closer the enemy is to the Seneschal Construct, the greater the Slow amount. From 30% up to a maximum of 80% Slow to Close enemies. | |||||
| Swift Support | The supported skill gains a 40% Attack Speed bonus. | |||||
| Tactical Support | Decrease the cooldown of the supported skill by x 40%. | |||||
| Voluminous Support | The supported skill's effect size is increased by 50%. | |||||
| Name | Effect | Cooldown | Melee | Ranged | Projectile | Utility |
Unique Tuning Stones
| Name | Effect | Cooldown | Melee | Ranged | Projectile | Utility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evernight | The supporting Skill grants you +4 to all skills when used for 2.0 seconds. | |||||
| Genesis | Increase the effectiveness of the supported Skill by 150%. |
Best places to Farm Governing and Tuning Stones
Arcane Tremors
Arcane Tremors are a very effective and fast way to farm Tuning Stones.
As players can congregate around the Braziers, when it is activated everyone can benefit from the activation by another player. If there are enough players present with Elemental Cores, which are acquired from the Obelisks nearby, the Brazier can be activated time and time again with Stone rewards each time the Herald of Malphas is defeated. It's a win/win for everyone present.
In the early game while levelling this method is highly efficient as your levels will increase very quickly.
Vaults
While Vautls will take longer to complete to obtain Stones from the Wardwoven Chests, it is another option assuming you make it to the end of the Vault with at least 1 Zoltun's Warding remaining which will give you a Minor Wardwoven Chest at the very least.
In Nightmare (World Tier 3), the Medium Wardwoven Chest will give additional stones. However, you will need to have 4 Zoltun's Warding left plus the 1 Minor Chest making it a total of 5 required by the end of the run. Make sure you start with plenty when cashing in the Pearls of Warding at the statue of Zoltun Kulle.
In Torment (World Tier 4), the Major Wadwoven Chest appears but you will need 10 Zoltun's Warding left plus 1 for 1 Minor Chest and 4 for a Medium making it a total of 15 required by the end of the run.
Season's Blessings
By utilising your Season's Blessings, you can switch to the Urn of Tuning Blessing which will give you the chance to obtain an additional Tuning Stone from a Wardwoven Chest.
Crafting
The next best option is to craft the stones at the Jeweler. Unfortunately you can't choose which stones to craft so it's a lottery what you will recieve inside the Uncertain Seneshal Cache. The costs to craft are:
- 200 Shattered Stone
- 20 Iron Chunks (obtained from kllling Constructs)
How to get Legendary Stones
These can be acquired easily by completing the Season's Journey where drop from the cache rewards. In other words, play the Season.
Where to I get the unique Tuning Stones Evernight and Genesis?
These two stones can drop by defeating the Echo of Malphas in World Tier 4.