I know the devs know the drop rates for the ACs for the new season theme. I have tested and it is more than 10 to 1 gr110s to get one. Keeping in mind that there are 3 powers, 1 in 3, and the item completely rerolls all stats that is way too low of a drop rate for the amount needed to get your one item. SO think this through logically… lets say the Drate is 15 to 1. every 45 rifts you could expect to get 1 shot at the power you want. 7 minute rifts because you are really good and salvage gear and get more GR keys fast too… SO one shot at at your item every 5 to 6 hours of play.
That if probably fine as a one time shot BUT, the item randoms and it took me 30 ACs to get a bow with with the stat and with 10percent damage too. So people should expect 160 hours game play before they get the season item?
Ideally though. You get an AC and add it to an item to get you started. like For sure one drops every 10 GRs solo above 50.
But, I can see people getting the AC power they want then even though you can only use one at a time, then slowly swapping to a different item and the power as they try to make more perfect gear and some are harder than others. Example. you start with the power on your weapon or necklace. WOW, you find a great ancient bow so you now use an AC to upgrade your necklace (which might take another 10 to 30).
I can see ACs as the same drop rate as Echoing Nightmares and gifts, about 15 to 1ish? I got about 100 last season at paragon 3000. Again 100 would be enough for a single hero only making one set of gear. If you dont think my math is right. Join the ptr. see how many it takes to either a god rolled perfect bow for endgame, or how many to get a starting item then a different one two or three more times…THEN think as a developer, who might want people to play more gear sets and more than ONE hero… add up all the classes you might play and different sets with different AC powers to try… i bet someone could go through 300 doing this pretty easy. 300 x 15 is 4500 rifts 10 minute average is 7500 hours of play time…rifting, not just speeding and bounties and other things.
POINT IS… you might be better off having them drop and be like Ramadalnis gifts just sitting in peoples stash collecting dust than have people lose hope because the drop rate is terrible for the average player.
You could also have the item being crafted using the AC not reroll all new stats? that would benefit people playing and looking at items and planning ahead for the future AC drop. Doing this would for sure reduce the amount of ACs needed. As my dad would say, if it better to have more than you need than plan poorly and not have enough.