Diablo 4 Season 3, also known as Season of the Construct, introduces a new feature that allows players to have their own robotic ally in the game. The Seneschal Companion is a mechanical creature that can be modified with different stones to enhance its abilities and support the player in combat. In this article, we will explain how the Seneschal Companion works and how to customize it with Governing and Tuning Stones.
The Seneschal Companion is a new mechanic that is added in Season 3 of Diablo 4. It is a pet that follows the player around Sanctuary and helps them fight enemies and explore dungeons. The Seneschal Companion is obtained during the seasonal questline, where the player has to use the power of the Loom to activate the construct.
The Seneschal Companion has two abilities that can be used in combat, depending on the Governing Stones that are equipped. The companion can also be upgraded with Tuning Stones that augment its abilities and provide additional benefits. The Seneschal Companion will only be available until the end of Season 3, so players should make the most of it while they can.
How to Find Governing and Tuning Stones?
Governing and Tuning Stones are special materials that can be found in various places in Season 3. They are used to customize the Seneschal Companion and determine its skills and stats. There are 12 Governing Stones and 27 Tuning Stones in total, each with different rarities and effects.
Governing Stones can be obtained by defeating enemy constructs in Vaults, a new type of dungeon that is added in Season 3. Vaults are underground ruins that contain ancient secrets and powerful foes. Players can also craft Governing Stones at Jewelers by using Shattered Stone, which is dropped by enemy constructs.
Tuning Stones can be obtained by completing the Season Journey, opening Wardwoven Chests, and defeating Arcane Tremors. The Season Journey is a set of challenges that reward players with seasonal items and achievements. Wardwoven Chests are special chests that are hidden in the seasonal levels and contain Tuning Stones and other loot. Arcane Tremors are random events that spawn in the world and involve fighting waves of enemies and a boss.
How to Equip and Level Up Governing and Tuning Stones?
The Seneschal Companion can be equipped with two Governing Stones and six Tuning Stones. Each Governing Stone determines one of the companion’s abilities, while each Tuning Stone augments one of the abilities with additional effects. The player can mix and match different stones to create different builds for their companion.
To equip Governing and Tuning Stones, the player has to open the Seneschal Companion menu and drag the stones to the corresponding slots. The player can also swap the stones at any time, as long as they are not in combat. The player can also preview the effects of the stones on the companion’s stats and abilities.
To level up Governing and Tuning Stones, the player has to collect or craft duplicates of the same stone and fuse them together. This will increase the level and potency of the stone, making the companion more powerful. The player can also salvage unwanted stones to get Shattered Stone, which can be used to craft new stones.
What are the Types of Governing and Tuning Stones?
There are 12 types of Governing Stones, each with a unique ability for the Seneschal Companion. The abilities range from offensive, defensive, and supportive, and can be tailored to the player’s playstyle and preferences. Here is a list of the Governing Stones and their abilities:
- Autodefense: The companion shoots down enemy projectiles with an antimaterial field.
- Bushwhack: The companion ambushes enemies and deals damage to multiple targets.
- Firefly: The companion deploys a small construct that explodes on the target and deals damage.
- Focus Fire: The companion channels a ray of fire on the target and deals damage over time.
- Gyrate: The companion whirls its legs around and deals damage to nearby enemies.
- Impale: The companion performs a line attack and deals damage to enemies in front of it.
- Lightning Bolt: The companion launches a bolt of lightning at the target and deals damage. The bolt can arc to other targets and deal reduced damage.
- Protect: The companion creates a protective barrier on the player that absorbs damage based on the player’s maximum life.
- Recharge: The companion restores the player’s resource over time.
- Repair: The companion heals the player over time.
- Shield: The companion generates a shield around itself and the player that reduces damage taken.
- Strike: The companion dashes to the target and deals damage.
There are 27 types of Tuning Stones, each with a different effect that augments one of the companion’s abilities. The effects can be positive or negative, and can affect the companion, the player, or the enemies. Here is a list of some of the Tuning Stones and their effects:
- Amplify: Increases the damage of the ability by a percentage.
- Backfire: Deals damage to the companion when the ability is used.
- Blast: Adds an explosion effect to the ability that deals damage to nearby enemies.
- Chain: Increases the number of targets that the ability can affect.
- Cooldown: Reduces the cooldown of the ability by a percentage.
- Crit: Increases the critical hit chance of the ability by a percentage.
- Damage: Increases the base damage of the ability by a flat amount.
- Duration: Increases the duration of the ability by a percentage.
- Efficiency: Reduces the resource cost of the ability by a percentage.
- Empower: Increases the potency of the ability by a percentage.
- Freeze: Adds a freeze effect to the ability that slows down enemies.
- Haste: Increases the attack speed of the companion by a percentage.
- Heal: Heals the player for a percentage of the damage dealt by the ability.
- Knockback: Adds a knockback effect to the ability that pushes enemies away.
- Leech: Heals the companion for a percentage of the damage dealt by the ability.
- Pierce: Allows the ability to pass through enemies and hit multiple targets.
- Range: Increases the range of the ability by a percentage.
- Rebound: Allows the ability to bounce off walls and hit multiple targets.
- Reflect: Reflects a percentage of the damage taken by the companion back to the attacker.
- Regen: Increases the health regeneration of the companion by a percentage.
- Resist: Increases the elemental resistance of the companion by a percentage.
- Ricochet: Allows the ability to ricochet off enemies and hit multiple targets.
- Speed: Increases the movement speed of the companion by a percentage.
- Stun: Adds a stun effect to the ability that stops enemies from moving or attacking.
- Taunt: Makes the companion more likely to be targeted by enemies.
- Thorns: Deals damage to enemies that attack the companion.
- Weakness: Reduces the damage and defense of enemies affected by the ability by a percentage.
How to Use the Seneschal Companion in Combat?
The Seneschal Companion can be a valuable asset in combat, as it can deal damage, heal, shield, and buff the player. The companion will automatically follow the player and use its abilities when appropriate. The player can also manually command the companion to use its abilities by pressing the corresponding hotkeys.
The companion’s abilities have different cooldowns and resource costs, depending on the Governing and Tuning Stones that are equipped. The player should pay attention to these factors and use the abilities wisely. The companion’s abilities can also synergize with the player’s skills and items, creating powerful combos and effects.
The companion can also interact with the environment and objects, such as doors, chests, traps, and switches. The companion can open doors and chests, trigger traps and switches, and even loot items for the player. The companion can also detect hidden secrets and enemies, and alert the player with a ping.
The companion is not invincible, however, and can be damaged and killed by enemies. The companion has its own health bar and stats, which can be improved with Tuning Stones and items. If the companion dies, it will respawn after a short time, unless the player is in Hardcore mode. In Hardcore mode, the companion will be permanently lost if it dies, along with its equipped stones.
The Seneschal Companion is a fun and innovative feature that adds a new dimension to Diablo 4 Season 3. The companion can be customized with various stones to suit the player’s playstyle and preferences. The companion can also assist the player in combat and exploration, and provide a loyal and helpful partner in the dark and dangerous world of Sanctuary.