Have Ancestral Item Drop Rates Plummeted Since the Mythic Uniques Patch?

PC General Discussion
1

In the first week after launch, running Helltide, Infernal events, or bosses would consistently reward me with at least one Ancestral item with 2 or more affixes about 3-4 times out of 10 runs. But after the Mythic Uniques patch? It feels like the drop rate for Ancestral items has taken a nosedive. Am I the only one noticing this dramatic shift?

Here’s the breakdown of the farming locations I originally mapped out for my clan in the first week:

  • Sigils: Pit
  • Item Farming: Helltide
  • Upgrade Materials: Nightmare Dungeons
  • Leveling: Infernal Hordes
  • Runes and Summoning Materials: Kurast Undercity
  • Opals: Realmwalkers

For 3 consecutive days, I spent 6 hours each day grinding Helltide. In that time, I only managed to get 3 Ancestral items with 2 affixes, while 90% of the drops were standard legendaries with zero affixes.

Over the past 7 days, I’ve killed over 200 Tormented Bosses, and all I’ve received were 1-affix Ancestral uniques or regular legendary uniques. The 2-3 affix Ancestral uniques I currently have were all found within the first 3 days after the game launched. Since then, none of my equipped items have been upgraded. After the drop rates seemingly decreased, I’ve resorted to using the gear I stored in my stash during that initial period.

It almost feels like they’re intentionally slowing down our progression by manipulating the drop rates, trying to pace how quickly we burn through the seasonal content.

If they had fixed the SpiritBorn bug early on, we wouldn’t have seen such a narrow focus on SpiritBorn item farming. This would have kept other classes engaging and slowed down the speed at which people are blasting through Pit content. In turn, the expansion and seasonal content consumption wouldn’t feel so rushed.

Right now, farming the locations I mentioned only leaves me with materials. In 8-hour sessions, finding an Ancestral item with 2-3 affixes is a rare occurrence, and even the few decent 1-affix Ancestral items I get end up being dismantled for parts. My character’s progression has hit a wall, and leveling another class feels pointless because there’s no real gear improvement happening.

The drop rates for 2-3 affix Ancestral items in Torment 4 seriously need some adjustment.

7 Likes
2

It needs adjustment everywhere. I dont like gaming for 18 hours and not having a single item worth using drop.

22 Likes
3

Agree, they need to buff drops for ancestral gear (legendary, uniques and Mythics). Game is stale and boring otherwise.

7 Likes
4

IMO this is the way it should work:
T1 - 15% of the items dropped should be ancestral, 5% chance of GA
T2 - 25% of the items dropped should be ancestral 10% chance of Ga
T3 - 50% of the items dropped should be ancestral 25% chance of GA
T4 - 75% of the items dropped should be ancestral 50% chance of GA

6 Likes
5

Honestly finding an ancestral 2 handed mace which the aspect I want on it is mentally exhausting me more than any grind in this game currently. Paragon 300 grind is nothing compared to wanting this weapon to drop.

1 Like
6

You can apply the the aspect you want to it before MW and then after MW get the bonus for stats.

1 Like
7

I feel like the equipment opals should be a somewhat reliable source of ancestral gear. If they don’t want to saturate the game with them by increasing world drops, then the opals need to do what they say they do. I’ve used so many and all the “triggered drops” are 1) few and far between and 2) all useless legendaries.

2 Likes
8

Have you thought about trading for it?

9

I’ve traded billions of gold for items but haven’t seen that item. Actually I saw it but it was 2GA and 35 billion gold.

10

What item is it I’ll keep an eye out

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Accelerating. 2 handed ancestral mace.

12

If its the same issue I had getting my Spirit Bond aspect, It may only spawn in Hordes.

13

Aspect drops are hosed. 800 legendary drops are hosed. These thing have become more rare than mythics. I’ve been chasing upgrades for my 750 pieces for 12 days or so, and haven’t even come close to something. Not a single aspect close to max.

If I were going to chase something I’d rather it be going after a 2GA/3GA piece to replace my current one. Not being stuck without even a 1GA as an option.

They need to revisit the rarity of items. They need to look at the challenge vs reward aspect of the game as well. Torment 4 doesn’t seem any more rewarding to me than T3.

6 Likes
14

Ancestrals always have at least 1 GA. That is probably why they are so rare.

15

Yeah, and then you temper it and brick it.

3 Likes
16

No they dont. I have many Ancestral drop without a GA.

17

The only ancestrals I have without a GA are the ones where I rolled off the greater affix. Post a pic of one of these unicorns. I’d like to see it.

18

Ive been salvaging them but when I get one I will.

19

I’m not loving the ancestral legendary rate. I’ve had 1 trash 3ga, 2 trash 2ga and a few 1ga. Not a single 2ga on my build and I’m paragon 265 so I’ve been putting in the hours

1 Like
20

If you do find one, that would be a bugged item.
From this post: The 2.0 PTR: What You Need to Know — Diablo IV — Blizzard News

Ancestral Items

  • Ancestral items start dropping in Torment 1.
  • Ancestral items always drop at Item Power 800, the highest possible.
  • Greater Affixes only appear on Ancestral items.
  • Ancestral items always contain at least 1 Greater Affix.
4 Likes