Diablo 4: Infernal Hordes Guide
Unlocking the Infernal Hordes Activity
The Infernal Hordes mode is not available from the start. You first need to complete the quest "The Eyes of the Enemy", which becomes available in Zarbinzet once you reach World Tier 3. Upon entering town, speak with the soldiers who will inform you of a demonic invasion. They'll lead you to the eastern side of the town, where Hellborne creatures are attacking. Defeat these enemies, then follow one of the surviving NPCs to the gates of Hell. Completing the dungeon associated with this event unlocks the Infernal Hordes activity, allowing you to begin your wave-based demon-slaying journey.
How to Start an Infernal Horde
To start an Infernal Hordes session, you'll need to acquire and use an Infernal Compass. This item is similar to a Nightmare Dungeon Sigil and can drop from various endgame activities in World Tiers 3 and 4. Additionally, you can craft compasses at the Occultist.
The Infernal Compass determines the difficulty of the horde mode and the potential rewards. Compasses are divided into nine tiers, with each increasing the challenge level of the waves and offering greater loot. The higher the tier, the tougher the enemies, so it's important to gear up and be prepared before diving into the higher levels. For those just starting, Tier 2 offers a manageable challenge, while players with fully developed endgame builds can take on Tier 3 and above for maximum rewards.
Infernal Hordes Gameplay
Once you've activated your Infernal Compass, the horde begins. The Infernal Hordes mode features waves of demonic enemies that you must slay within 60 seconds. After defeating enough demons, a temporary event will occur in the arena, which will reward Aether—a currency used within the Infernal Hordes to trade for loot at the end of the activity.
These events may include:
Aetheric Mass: Destroy a bundle of flesh to gain Aether.
Soulspires: Stand near a Soulspire and defeat 30 enemies to earn Aether.
Aether Fiends: A group of Elite enemies that drop Aether when killed.
Hellborne (Modifier): Hellborne monsters spawn and drop Aether when defeated.
Butcher (Modifier): A special version of the Butcher spawns, dropping a large amount of Aether if defeated.
At the end of each wave, you will be presented with three random modifiers. These modifiers alter the gameplay for future waves, often providing both positive and negative effects. For example, some modifiers may increase Aether drops but also make enemies deal more damage. Choosing the right modifiers is crucial for survival and maximizing Aether collection.
Modifiers in Infernal Hordes
Modifiers play a central role in shaping each Infernal Hordes run. Some offer boons that help you gather more Aether, while others introduce challenges that increase the difficulty of future waves. Here are some examples:
General Modifiers
The Exalted Hordes: Normal enemies grant 50% more progress toward events but deal 25% more damage.
The Bursting Rain: Clears a wave and grants 1-3 Aether, but hellfire rains down upon you.
The Council: The Fell Council drops +15 Aether but deals 50% more damage.
Soulspire Modifiers
The Draining Spires: Soulspires drop +2 Aether but now drain your HP.
The Insatiable Spires: Soulspires drop x2 Aether but require twice as many kills to charge.
Hellborne Modifiers
The Summoned Hellborne: Hellborne enemies drop +1 Aether and can now spawn as part of events.
The Stalking Devil: The Butcher drops +25 Aether but can now appear as an event in future waves.
Choosing modifiers that increase Aether drops without making the fight overwhelmingly difficult is the best strategy, especially if you're aiming to maximize your haul of Diablo 4 Items and Diablo 4 Gold.
Final Boss: The Fell Council
If you successfully survive all waves, you will face the Fell Council, a group of three to four demonic bosses. These bosses bombard the arena with area-of-effect (AoE) attacks and summon Hydra turrets, so it's best to focus on one at a time. Killing each boss significantly reduces the number of attacks you'll need to avoid. Once you defeat the Fell Council, the Infernal Hordes session is complete, and the real rewards begin.
Infernal Hordes Rewards
Completing Infernal Hordes rewards you with several chests. You can spend the Aether you collected during the activity to open these chests. Here's what you can expect:
Equipment Chest (20 Aether): This chest drops two Legendary Diablo 4 Items, with a small chance of receiving a Unique item. Higher-tier chests may contain items with greater affixes.
Resource Chest (20 Aether): These chests offer crafting materials, such as Forgotten Souls, Scattered Prisms, and Angelbreath.
Gold Chest (Remaining Aether): Convert your remaining Aether into Diablo 4 Gold. You can earn around 1 million Gold for every 50 Aether spent.
In higher-tier Infernal Horde sessions, you may also encounter a Greater Affix Chest, which guarantees a Legendary item with a higher affix. This chest costs 60 Aether to open and cannot be opened repeatedly, so clearing more waves at higher difficulty tiers will increase your chances of obtaining this valuable loot.
Conclusion
Infernal Hordes is not just a great way to test your build against endless waves of demons but also one of the best activities for farming Diablo 4 Items and Diablo 4 Gold. The combination of challenging gameplay and rewarding loot makes this activity essential for anyone looking to prepare for Diablo 4's most difficult content. By choosing your modifiers wisely and collecting as much Aether as possible, you'll be able to gear up your character with powerful items and amass enough Gold to dominate the game's toughest challenges.