How to Complete the "Wayward Friendship" Side Quest in Diablo 4
How to Start the Wayward Friendship Quest
To begin the Wayward Friendship side quest, head to the southeastern part of Nahantu. There, you'll meet Ajtzak in a small settlement on the edge of the wilderness. Ajtzak, concerned for his lacuni friend, enlists your help in freeing his friend from a group of hostile poachers. However, there's a twist: Ajtzak insists that you avoid violence. Instead, he asks you to taunt the poachers to scare them off.
This non-combat approach is a departure from typical Diablo 4 quests, where slaying enemies is often the main goal. To complete this step, you'll need to follow Ajtzak's instructions carefully to avoid getting locked out of the quest.
Step-by-Step Guide to Completing Wayward Friendship
Speak with Ajtzak in Nahantu: First, find Ajtzak and begin the quest by talking to him. He will explain the situation and direct you to a nearby camp where the poachers have his lacuni friend.
Head to the Poacher Camp: Ajtzak leads you to a location just outside the village. This camp is patrolled by several poachers, but you won't be fighting them in the usual way. Instead, Ajtzak asks you to “taunt” the poachers to intimidate them. This unique interaction requires careful timing to avoid alerting them to violence.
Taunt the Poachers Without Engaging in Combat: To taunt the poachers, interact with them at a close distance without drawing your weapon. Ajtzak's request for a non-violent approach means you'll need to use the emote wheel or specific dialogue options that provoke without engaging. This part of the quest can be tricky due to some ambiguous instructions. Make sure not to use any attack abilities, as even a single hit will cause the poachers to retaliate, which can fail this part of the quest.
Free the Lacuni Friend: After successfully taunting the poachers, they'll leave the camp in frustration, allowing you to approach the cage holding Ajtzak's lacuni friend. Open the cage to free the creature. At this point, you may encounter some bugs where the quest tracker doesn't update. If this happens, try resetting the quest by returning to Ajtzak and restarting from the beginning.
Escort Ajtzak and His Friend Back to Nahantu: Once freed, the lacuni will follow you and Ajtzak back to Nahantu. Be prepared to face a few roaming threats along the way. While Ajtzak initially asked for a peaceful approach, protecting the group on the way back requires you to defend against ambushing wildlife or enemies without harming the lacuni. As you complete the escort, ensure that both Ajtzak and his friend remain safe until you reach the village.
Return to Nahantu and Complete the Quest: Once you reach Nahantu, speak with Ajtzak one last time to complete the quest. In return, you'll receive experience points, Diablo 4 Gold, and possibly some Diablo 4 Items, which may include rare materials or items helpful for advancing your character's build.
Tips for Avoiding Common Issues in Wayward Friendship
Handling Quest Bugs: If the quest doesn't progress after taunting the poachers or freeing the lacuni, it's best to reset the quest. Sometimes the tracker fails to update, making it impossible to complete without restarting. Return to Ajtzak in Nahantu to reset, then attempt the quest steps again.
Using Emotes and Dialogue Options: Make sure to use only the emote wheel and dialogue prompts to interact with poachers. Attacking, even if accidental, can disrupt the quest's peaceful solution, causing you to fail the non-combat objective.
Dealing with Ambushes on the Escort: While escorting Ajtzak and his friend back, keep an eye out for enemies that could harm them. Stay close, but avoid using area-of-effect skills that might accidentally harm Ajtzak's friend or other quest-related NPCs.
Rewards from the Wayward Friendship Quest
Upon successfully completing Wayward Friendship, you'll be rewarded with experience points, a sum of Diablo 4 Gold, and potentially some unique Diablo 4 Items exclusive to this quest. These items can vary depending on your character level and class, but some players report receiving enchanted gear or rare crafting materials useful for endgame upgrades.
Diablo 4 Gold: Completing side quests like this one is an effective way to gather Diablo 4 Gold for purchasing upgrades, consumables, and equipment enhancements. Regularly completing side quests is an excellent strategy for amassing wealth.
Unique Diablo 4 Items: Occasionally, Diablo 4 Items earned from side quests include unique attributes or enchantments that can aid in future battles or PvE scenarios. For players collecting specific builds, side quests like Wayward Friendship are worth exploring for these additional items.
Conclusion
The Wayward Friendship quest in Diablo 4 is a heartfelt diversion from the typical demon-slaying action. Through helping Ajtzak rescue his friend, players engage with a story of unlikely companionship, a refreshing narrative amidst the usual darkness. While it may have a few rough spots due to occasional bugs or ambiguous instructions, with patience and careful strategy, players can overcome these issues and complete this touching quest.
Along with the sense of accomplishment, you'll be rewarded with valuable Diablo 4 Gold and potentially rare Diablo 4 Items, making it worthwhile for any adventurer. Embrace this side quest as both a test of your skills and a chance to enrich your character's journey through Diablo 4.