Season 8 is almost here, and it comes with various new systems; from Incursions and Boss Powers to the new grind that is Spectral Ash. But as the community thoroughly tests the season on the PTR, the overall sentiment is mixed. Even though the ideas behind these new mechanics are quite good, poor pacing, accessibility issues, and reduced rewards are leaving many players frustrated.
Incursions & Boss Powers
Incursions are a new seasonal mechanic that spawn randomly across the map. Clearing them grants Spectral Ash, which you will need to upgrade your powers. The mechanic is easy enough but lacks engagement, and progression feels tied more to repetition than actual challenge.
Boss Powers are split into Main and Minor powers. You can equip one Main Power and three Minor Powers, most of which are locked behind higher-difficulty bosses or endgame content. This means casual players miss out on the fun, and the early game feels underwhelming. Most early powers will feel situational or weak until you hit Torment difficulty.
Leveling Feels Slower Than Ever
One of the bigger changes is how much slower progression feels. XP gains are lower, loot drops are nerfed, and blue/yellow gear still feels irrelevant. Legendary drops are also less frequent compared to earlier seasons, which makes early game progression feel even more like a grind than a journey.
Scaling and Balance Issues in Solo Play
Difficulty scaling has also become a ‘pain point’. Group play still feels manageable, but solo players are going to struggle, especially in higher Torment tiers where boss HP skyrockets. The new difficulty curve makes non-meta builds far less viable, and players who are not running top-tier setups might feel stuck for much longer.
Apparition Events and Spectral Ash Farming
Spectral Ash, the resource required for power upgrades, only comes from Apparition Events. Unfortunately, these events are slow, repetitive, and not very rewarding. They also do not contribute to Whispers, XP, or gear progression, which makes them feel disconnected from the rest of the game loop!
Masterworking and Glyph Progression Are Now Gated Harder
Masterworking also hits a wall unless you are clearing Torment 4, which is currently the only reliable way to farm 
Obducite – a required material for full upgrades, because drop rates are simply not worth it in lower difficulty. At the same time, glyph upgrades beyond Level 70-80 are anyway gated behind much harder content, pushing players toward extreme optimization or heavy grind just to keep up.
Accessibility Also Remains a Big Concern
Several of the most powerful systems are locked behind endgame content. That would be fine if early and mid-game progression felt a bit more rewarding, but currently it does not. Many players are stuck in Torment 3, unable to access important upgrades or experiment with powers in meaningful ways.
What Players Want to See Changed
If you spend even a bit of time on the PTR or browse community forums and social media, it becomes clear what most players want to see changed in Season 8:
- Give players access to stronger powers earlier
- Improve drop quality for Minor Powers
- Make Spectral Ash farming less grindy
- Reduce the extreme scaling of boss HP in solo play
- Rebalance XP and loot so early progression feels more satisfying
- Introduce better incentives for casual and mid-core players
In the end, and even though Season 8 introduces some interesting mechanics on paper, the pacing, progression, and accessibility seem to need a bit more work. If Boss Powers are the highlight feature, players need to be able to access and enjoy them without grinding for hours in Torment. Until that happens, this season risks feeling more punishing than rewarding.
And that is without even getting into the debate around Torment 4 being required to finish the final chapter of the Season Journey – a whole other topic that has sparked plenty of discussion in the community.
