When will the ladder season start?

The D2R Ladder Season is expected to start in January or early February in 2022. New runewords, class balance changes and additional game features are about to come with patch 2.4. The new patch will be available in PTR mode first, and once it goes live the Ladder Season starts. Be prepared, as Rpgstash is going to have available selection for D2R Items already on the first day after Ladder Reset!

What is a Ladder Reset?

The D2R Ladder Reset is the event when new characters can be created on Ladder Realms, all of which starting from level 1 without any gear. Simply put, it's a fresh start to all players. Previous ladder characters will become Nonladder in this event. Ladder seasons typically lasted 6 months, but Blizzard is considering making them more frequently, every 4 months. Once Ladder Season 2 begins, your ladder characters will become non-ladder of the same version, and ladder characters start the grind again from level 1.

What is the difference between hardcore and softcore?

Unlike softcore characters, once a hardcore character dies you can not play with it again, the death is permanent. But at least you can still keep your shared stash inventory items 

New Runewords, Item Changes

Additional Horadric Cube recipes are going to be added in patch 2.4. Set items will receive buffs, and players will be able to upgrade them to elite class by using cube recipes. Underperforming set items are going to receive major boosts, more set bonuses. Two new ladder-only runewords are also going to be added, mainly aimed at improving mercenary diversity. The upcoming runewords are the following:

Skill changes

It has been over 10 year since the last D2 balance change, but with D2R Ladder Start patch 2.4 several class balance changes are about to happen. These changes are aimed at expanding the available builds by making underutilized skills stronger and changing casting delays.

Amazon

Melee amazon skills, such as Impale and Fend are going to be boosted in the upcoming patch. Synergies will be changed up as well, in order to have more freely available skill points. Some of the bow and crossbow skills are also going to get buffed!

Assassin

Martial Arts builds are going to get a boost. Some of the rarely used Trap skills are also going to get buffed, and synergies skills for traps are also going to be changed up in order to have more freely available skill points.

Barbarian

Changes in the Combat Skill tree and in synergies are about to come. Throwing Barbs are expected to receive a great buff!

Druid

Some of the casting delays will be reduced, and physical damage is going to be boosted. As with other classes, synergies will be freed up.

Regarding summon skills, Ravens, Wolves and Wines will have their damage output and health boosted, and also receive new synergies.

Necromancer

This class will only receive minor changes. Some summoning skills will be improved, Skeletal Mages and Golems will also be boosted, while once again a few synergies will be changed.

Paladin

Fist of the Heavens (FOH) is going to get a big boost, and some of the auras will get more effective at a close range. Thorns is also expected to receive a buff.

Sorceress

There will be major changes in the four cold armor spells and the lightning skill tree. At the fire skill tree, Hydra will get boosted and Inferno will also be improved.

Merc updates

Act2 mercenaries are overused, so mercs from the other acts will receive improvements.

Rpgstash.com will have D2R items in its selection already on day 1. We will be doing our best to let you buy 2.4 ladder items right at the beginning of the season including the new runewords, so you can climb the ladder rankings as fast as possible!

Article From: https://www.rpgstash.com/blog/diablo-2-resurrected-ladder-season-1-news