So, Diablo 3 Season 35 kicked off last Friday, and I wanted to smash through the grind like a maniac. Here’s exactly how I went from zero to Paragon 800 before my pizza got cold.
Pre-season homework matters
Two days before launch, I dug through patch notes like a raccoon in trash. Spotting that Barbarian’s new Whirlwind buff could eat mobs for breakfast, I instantly knew my main. Also cleared my damn schedule – told my cat I’d be unavailable for 12 straight hours.
Minute-one madness
Logged in the second servers went live, slammed the Barbarian button. Skipped the stupid story mode, jumped straight into adventure on Hard (not Torment yet – learned that lesson when I got one-shot last season). First move? Sprint to Kadala and gamble for Band of Might. Got it second try – hell yeah, 80% damage reduction right off the bat.
Leveling route was brutal but simple:
- Cursed chest farming in Act 5 until level 40
- Massacre bonuses in Temple of the Firstborn till 60
- Torment 6 Nephalem Rifts with a random monk I bullied into partying
Endgame power spikes
At 70, the real fun began. Burned all my blood shards on pants until I got those sweet Crimson set pieces. Then speed-ran bounties for Avarice band while chugging Monster energy drinks. When my ancient Bul-Kathos swords dropped, I literally yelled – wife thought I broke my desk again.
Paragon grinding was all about speed meta:
Greater Rifts – only ran what I could clear in 3 minutes max.
Alt usage – parked a gem-leveling demon hunter at Urshi.
Double XP pools – became obsessed, mapped every single one in Pandemonium Fortress.
What actually worked
Best tricks nobody talks about: Salvaging EVERY rare item until you hit T16 – crafting mats bottleneck you harder than RNG. Also spamming “LFG season powerlevel” in general chat when bio breaks. Got three charity carries that dumped 200 Paragon on me while I took a leak.
One brutal truth though: Playing solo is suffering. That monk I grabbed early? We pushed GR120 by Sunday because we both screamed at each other to pick up pylons faster. Moral of the story? Threaten strangers into being your friend.
Final stat check Monday night: Paragon 860, full ancient build, gem levels higher than my credit card debt. Could’ve optimized better by ignoring set dungeons, but whatever. Time to nap until Season 36.