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:
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.