In a surprising twist in the world of Diablo 4, the game's hardest bosses are facing a new formidable adversary. It's not a heavily armored barbarian or a powerful sorcerer, but rather the unassuming robot spider pet, initially dismissed as insignificant. This once-overlooked companion is now dominating endgame bosses with billions in damage, thanks to a significant update from Blizzard.
From Scrap Metal to Apex Predator
Before the launch of Season 3, Blizzard had announced that the Seneschal companion would scale one-to-one with a player's stats and, crucially, could not die. However, upon the Season of the Construct's commencement, players found the Governing and Tuning Stones – essential for leveling up the pet's skills – exceedingly difficult to level. This led many to write off the little robot as mere scrap metal. But then, Blizzard intervened, increasing the drop rates for these stones, and the game changed dramatically.
Max-Level Skills and Unprecedented Damage
With max-level skills, players began to discover ways to scale the robot's damage to staggering heights. Diablo 4 streamer Rob2628, for instance, built a robot capable of inflicting damage in the billions, rivaling a barbarian from season 1. Through community collaboration and extensive testing, players like Rob have identified which skills and stats effectively transfer over to the Seneschal. While some legendary powers don’t carry over, others do, significantly boosting the pet's capabilities.
The Firefly Governing Stone: A Game-Changer
One of the robot's most potent attacks is the Firefly Governing Stone, which releases exploding bugs that pass through enemies, dealing massive damage. This attack scales with the character's attack power and critical strike damage, making it a key component in the robot's arsenal. This skill has enabled the Seneschal to solo bosses like Echo of Duriel and Echo of Lilith in approximately three minutes, a feat highlighted by Diablo streamer Wudijo and demonstrated by a user on the Maxroll Discord server.
A Bright Future with Upcoming Buffs
The future looks even brighter for the Seneschal with an upcoming patch set to buff almost every one of its skills. The Firefly will see a 10% increase in damage, and several other skills will become 30% more potent. This update is expected to make the robot even more versatile and powerful, potentially allowing other classes to more effectively empower their pets.
Realizing the Vision of the Season of the Construct
The Season of the Construct is finally living up to its name and Blizzard's original vision. Systems game designer Sean White, in an interview with PC Gamer before the launch, had stressed that the pet would be extremely strong. While it took some time and player experimentation to realize its full potential, the Seneschal is now a force to be reckoned with, capable of soloing bosses that some classes struggle against.
Conclusion: A New Meta Emerges
In conclusion, Diablo 4's robot spider pet has evolved from an underdog to a meta-defining force. Its ability to solo bosses that challenge even the strongest classes is not just impressive; it's reshaping how players approach the game. As the community continues to explore and optimize its capabilities, the Seneschal stands as a testament to the ever-evolving and surprising nature of Diablo 4's gameplay.