Diablo 4 Season 5 Guide - Infernal Hordes Guide Overview

Discover how to target farm Unique items in Diablo 4's Infernal Hordes during Season 5. This guide details the specific Uniques available for all classes, including powerful items like Locran's Talisman and Crown of Lucion. Learn where to find these items through Helltide Chests, Whisper Caches, and more. Additionally, explore other farming methods for Uniques and Mythic Uniques, including Bosses, Helltides, and gambling with Murmuring Obols at the Purveyor of Curiosities.

This guide provides everything you need to know about Diablo 4's latest endgame activity, Infernal Hordes, introduced in Season 5. Discover how to unlock Infernal Hordes, locate the entrance to Hell, gather necessary items, understand the different tiers or difficulty levels, and maximize your rewards.

Infernal Hordes Overview

Infernal Hordes is a wave-based survival mode culminating in a unique boss fight. Though designated as an endgame activity, players can begin this content upon entering World Tier 3. The difficulty increases similarly to Nightmare Dungeons, with players able to upgrade each Infernal Horde run using an Infernal Compass and Abyssal Scrolls. Each run has a limited number of player revives before the run ends.

Difficulty Levels

Infernal Hordes has eight tiers, with each tier presenting increasingly powerful monsters. Here's how the difficulty scales:

Difficulty	Source	Monster Level	Wave Cap	Number of Revives
Tier 1	Whisper Caches, Helltide Chests, Nightmare Dungeons (WT3)	60	The door to the Fell Council opens after Wave 6.	8
Tier 2	Whisper Caches, Helltide Chests, Nightmare Dungeons (WT4)	80	The door to the Fell Council opens after Wave 6.	4
Tier 3	Whisper Caches, Helltide Chests, Nightmare Dungeons (WT4 at Level 100)	100	The door to the Fell Council opens after Wave 6.	3
Tier 4	Upgrade from Tier 3	120	The door to the Fell Council opens after Wave 7.	3
Tier 5	Upgrade from Tier 4	140	The door to the Fell Council opens after Wave 7.	3
Tier 6	Upgrade from Tier 5	160	The door to the Fell Council opens after Wave 8.	2
Tier 7	Upgrade from Tier 6	180	The door to the Fell Council opens after Wave 9.	2
Tier 8	Upgrade from Tier 7	200	The door to the Fell Council opens after Wave 10.	2
Tier 9 — coming in S5 midseason patch	Upgrade from Tier 8	N/A	-	-
Tier 10 — coming in S5 midseason patch	Upgrade from Tier 9	N/A	-	-

Objectives and Rewards

The main goal of each Infernal Horde run is to complete all waves, defeat the Fell Council, and collect as much Burning Aether as possible. Burning Aether is the primary currency used to open the Spoils of Hell chests, which contain gear, gold, and crafting materials.

Wave Timer

Each wave in Infernal Hordes is timed, lasting 60 seconds. Various events and demon types can spawn during a wave, but players only need to survive the entire duration to progress. Killing demons and completing events will increase the amount of Burning Aether earned.

How to Access Infernal Hordes

Players receive the questline The Eyes of the Enemy upon entering World Tier 3, starting in Zarbinzet, Hawezar. Completing this quest rewards the first Infernal Compass, which opens a portal to the Gates of Hell where Infernal Hordes await. Additional Infernal Compasses can be found in Whisper Caches, Helltide Chests, and Nightmare Dungeons, or crafted using Sigil Powder and Forgotten Souls.

Infernal Hordes Gameplay Strategies

Survival in Infernal Hordes depends on both player skill and character build. The key to success is gathering as much Burning Aether as possible, which is done by focusing on Aether Events and choosing the right Infernal Offers.

Aether Events

Aether Events, which occur during waves, are the primary method of collecting Burning Aether. These events can be stationary encounters or summoned enemy types. It's crucial to trigger and complete these events quickly to maximize your Aether earnings.

Stationary encounters within the Infernal Hordes are triggered by player proximity and operate on an unbroadcast timer. To ensure you activate these encounters as soon as they spawn, it’s crucial to position yourself strategically. The best approach is to stay in one of the four corners of the Abyssal Verge while battling enemies. This will increase your chances of activating the events promptly, giving you more opportunities to collect valuable Burning Aether.

Aether Events are marked on the mini-map as pulsating circles just before they spawn. Once active, they appear as small flame icons. It's important to note that Burning Aether, which drops from these events, will appear as blue dots on the mini-map and does not expire. Additionally, pets in the game have the handy ability to automatically pick up Burning Aether, making them invaluable in these scenarios.

Types of Aether Events:

• Aetheric Mass: This is a Timed + Stationary event. Destroy the Aetheric Mass to collect Aether. The mass deals cone-shaped damage, reminiscent of Season 3’s Arcane Tremors. It's easily destroyed and initially drops 1 Aether.

• Soulspire: Another Timed + Stationary event. To gain Aether, slay foes near the Soulspire. The event is triggered by proximity, and the speed of completion depends on enemy density. Destroying the Soulspire initially drops 1 Aether.

• Aether Fiend: This is a Summoned event. Slay the Aether Fiend to collect Aether. Known by various names like Desecrator or Tormenter, these fiends spawn randomly or from masses in any of the four corners of the Abyssal Verge. An Aether Fiend drops 1 Aether when defeated.

• Hellborne: A Summoned event where you must slay Hellborne to gain Aether. They spawn in groups of three near the player's location and are cloaked entirely in red. Each Hellborne drops 1 Aether when destroyed.

• Aether Lord: Another Summoned event, involving slaying an Aether Lord to earn Aether. Aether Lords resemble Dungeon Bosses, with higher HP and a stagger bar. They spawn randomly, have specific move sets, and drop 3 Aether upon defeat.

• Infernal Demon: This Summoned demon, also known as the Burning Butcher, primarily appears from the Stalking Devil Infernal Offer. It can only be summoned once per wave and spawns randomly. The Infernal Demon has unique moves and drops 25 Aether when slain.

Infernal Offers: Boons and Banes

As players advance through the waves in Infernal Hordes, the Infernal Offers they encounter become increasingly risky but also more rewarding. Each Infernal Offer presents a unique combination of a bane and a boon, forcing players to weigh the risks and benefits carefully.

Here's a detailed breakdown of the Infernal Offers:

Infernal Offer	Bane	Boon
The Burning Rain	Hellfire rains upon you	At the end of each wave, spawn 3-9 Aether
The Burning Hellborne	Hellfire now spawns Hellborne	Hellborne drop 2 additional Aether
The Aether Rush	Normal monster damage +25%	Gathering Aether increases movement speed (8s)
The Exalted Hordes	Normal monsters deal +25% damage	Killing them spawns Aether Events 50% faster
The Draining Spires	Soulspires drain Life	Soulspires grant +2 Aether
The Bursting Masses	Masses deal unavoidable damage	At wave start, spawn an Aetheric Mass
The Gorging Masses	Slaying Aetheric Mass slows you (8s)	While slowed, you have unlimited resources
The Exalted Masses	Aetheric Mass deals +25% damage	Aetheric Mass grants +1 Aether
The Teeming Masses	Masses spawn an Aether Lord on death	Aether Lords grant +3 Aether
The Bursting Fiends	Elite damage +25%	Aether Fiends explode and damage foes
The Exalted Elite	Elite damage +25%	Aether Fiends grant +2 Aether
The Surging Elite	Chance for Elite to spawn is doubled	Aether Fiends grant +2 Aether
The Unstoppable Elite	Elites are Unstoppable	Aether Fiends grant +2 Aether
The Corrupting Spires	Soulspires empower nearby foes	Soulspires pull foes inward
The Insatiable Spires	Soulspires require 2x kills	Soulspires grant 2x Aether
The Summoned Lords	Aether Lords now spawn	They grant +3 Aether
The Summoned Hellborne	Hellborne are hunting you	Hellborne grant +1 Aether
The Exalted Hellborne	Hellborne deal +25% damage	Hellborne grant +1 Aether
The Invigorating Hellborne	Hellborne deal +25% damage	Slaying Hellborne invigorates you
The Surging Hellborne	Hellborne deal damage when spawned	Hellborne grant +1 Aether
The Enfeebled Wanderer	Potion Cooldown is increased by 2 seconds	Defeating Fell Council grants +15 Aether
The Exhausted Wanderer	Evade Cooldown is increased by 2 seconds	Defeating Fell Council grants +15 Aether
The Withered Wanderer	-10% All Resistances	Defeating Fell Council grants +15 Aether
The Exalted Council	Fell Council deals +50% damage	Defeating them grants +15 Aether
The Stalking Devil	An Infernal Demon has your scent	Slay it to gain +25 Aether

As you progress, selecting the right combination of boons and banes can significantly impact your success in the Infernal Hordes, particularly as the challenges grow more intense.

Confronting the Fell Council

After surviving all waves, players face the Fell Council, a trio of resurrected council members from Diablo's lore. Each council member has unique abilities and damage types, making this encounter a true test of endurance and strategy.

The Fell Council Members in Infernal Hordes

The Fell Council is a formidable group of resurrected high priests in Diablo 4, each bringing unique and deadly abilities to the battlefield. As you face them in the Infernal Hordes, understanding their strengths and attack patterns is crucial for survival.

• Bremm the Maelstrom (Bremm Sparkfist): Bremm specializes in Lightning Damage, unleashing it through his devastating Lightning AoE orbs. He summons two-headed Hydras that shoot chains of Lightning Damage at players. Additionally, Bremm can spawn small Aetheric Masses that burst open to release several Fallen Lunatics, which then rush toward players and explode upon impact.

• Geleb the Flame (Geleb Flamefinger): Geleb is a master of Fire Damage, attacking with powerful Firebolts and Flame Waves. He summons three-headed Hydras that shoot fiery projectiles at players. Geleb also has the ability to cast Meteors, which rain down and cause significant damage within the area.

• Ismail the Accursed (Ismail Vilehand): Ismail is a summoner demon who commands Hydras that fire larger and slower-moving projectiles. He also summons Claws of Ishmail, which swipe at nearby players. These Claws have their own health bars and can be destroyed, making Ismail a versatile and dangerous opponent.

• Maffer the Cruel (Maffer Dragonhand): Maffer is known for dealing Physical Damage. He charges at players with force, trapping them within a Bone Prison. This immobilizing tactic can be particularly dangerous when combined with other attacks from his fellow council members.

• Wyand the Shadow (Wyand Voidbringer): Wyand specializes in Shadow Damage, employing single-headed Hydras that shoot fast-moving projectiles. He also has the ability to teleport around the battlefield, making him difficult to pin down. Wyand’s mobility and rapid attacks require quick reflexes and strategic positioning.

Maximize Your Burning Aether

To maximize Burning Aether, focus your Infernal Offers on one event type per run. According to community strategies, the most profitable events are Hellborne, Aether Fiends, Aether Lords, Aetheric Mass, and Soulspires. Selecting the right Infernal Offers can make all the difference in accumulating Aether quickly.

Spoils of Hell Chests in Infernal Hordes

After successfully completing the Infernal Hordes, players can spend their hard-earned Burning Aether on various Spoils of Hell chests, each offering different rewards:

• Spoils of Equipment Chest: This chest contains Legendary, Unique, or Mythic Unique items, with a chance for GA (Grandmaster) rolls. It costs 20 Aether to open, providing a valuable opportunity to enhance your gear.

• Spoils of Greater Equipment Chest: Available only from Tiers 3 through 8, this bonus chest guarantees GA rolls on Legendary, Unique, or Mythic Unique items. It requires 60 Aether to unlock, making it a premium choice for those seeking top-tier gear.

• Spoils of Materials Chest: This chest offers a variety of crafting materials, including Herbs, Ores, Masterworking Materials, and Abyssal Scrolls. It also costs 20 Aether, making it an excellent option for those looking to boost their crafting resources.

• Spoils of Gold Chest: Designed to convert all remaining Aether into Gold, this chest is ideal for players looking to maximize their in-game currency after a successful run.

Target Farming Uniques in Infernal Hordes

In Diablo 4's Infernal Hordes, players have the opportunity to target farm specific Unique items. The new Uniques listed below can be obtained during your runs in Infernal Hordes. Additionally, Locran's Talisman can be earned as a one-time reward after completing the Infernal Hordes questline for the first time.

Unique	Class	Item Slot for Gambling	Helltide Chest	Whisper Cache
Crown of Lucion	All Classes	Helm (Cap)	Helms (Protection)	Collection of Helms
Endurant Faith	All Classes	Gloves	Handguards (Protection)	Collection of Gauntlets
Locran's Talisman	All Classes	Amulet	Amulets (Jewelry)	Collection of Amulets
Rakanoth's Wake	All Classes	Boots	Boots (Protection)	Collection of Boots
Shard of Verathiel	All Classes	One-Handed Sword	Light Weaponry (Weaponry)	Collection of One-handed Weapons
The Basilisk	Druid	Staff	Heavy Weaponry (Weaponry)	Collection of Two-Handed Weapons
The Mortacrux	Necromancer	Dagger	Light Weaponry (Weaponry)	Collection of One-handed Weapons
The Third Blade	Barbarian	One-Handed Sword	Light Weaponry (Weaponry)	Collection of One-handed Weapons
The Umbracrux	Rogue	Dagger	Light Weaponry (Weaponry)	Collection of One-handed Weapons
Vox Omnium	Sorcerer	Staff	Heavy Weaponry (Weaponry)	Collection of Two-Handed Weapons

In addition to Infernal Hordes, these Uniques and Mythic Uniques can also be farmed from Bosses, Tormented Bosses, Helltides, Tree of Whispers, and by gambling with Murmuring Obols at the Purveyor of Curiosities.

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