Strongholds were one of the more unique features added when Diablo 4 was initially released. These mini-dungeons were unique in that once you completed them, they permanently changed the map. After clearing out all the enemies, you unlock more Waypoints, Sidequests, or Dungeons in addition to getting 100 Renown. Strongholds return in Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred, and they are still pretty much what you expect from them. There are three Strongholds scattered across Nahantu, and here is where they can all be found.
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Chakhir
Chakhir can be found in the west corner of Seven Stones. The objective for this Stronghold is to clear out the dregs and discover the source that is enhancing their toxic magic. To progress this Stronghold, you must find all the brewing cauldrons and destroy them.
Some cauldrons will be shielded by enemies called Cauldron Keepers. Killing them drops the protective barrier and allows you to destroy the cauldron. You will also encounter cauldrons that can only be destroyed once the Befouled Briars have been taken out.
Once you've dealt with all the cauldrons, head to the middle and slay Darm. Darm is just a mini-boss, but make sure to stay out of the flowers that appear on the ground as they explode if you stand on them. When Darm is dead, go into the middle chamber and destroy the four Falo Blooms to spawn the bosses Sinerat and Skerg. You will have to deal with both bosses at once. The main things you need to watch out for are all the fire and the exploding flowers on the ground. When both bosses are dead, head to the Wanderer's Shrine and interact with it.
Reward for completing Chakhir:
Kichuk
The second Stronghold, Kichuk, is on the northeast edge of Teganze Plateau. For this Stronghold, you must clear out the Lacuni that are attacking Kichuk. Aside from dealing with Lacuni as you encounter them, your first main objective will be to free villagers from cages.
The rescued villagers will follow you as you progress through the Stronghold. They have health bars, but there doesn't appear to be any bonus rewards for keeping them alive.
After you have rescued all the villagers, meet up with the survivors and then fend off the wave of Lacuni that attack. Your next objective will be to head to the caves to prevent further incursions on the village. To do so, you will have to go through the cave and destroy the pillars.
When destroying the pillars, make sure to stay out of the circles that appear. Failing to get out of them results in taking damage and getting knocked down.
While you are destroying pillars, a larger lacuni will attack you. After you have dealt enough damage to it, it will retreat. When you've destroyed all the pillars in the cave, run back to the entrance as fast as possible before the timer runs out. If you don't make it out before then, you will start taking a lot of damage from rocks as they fall.
When you return to the village, head to the circle that appears on your mini-map. There, you will find the boss for this Stronghold. After you've done enough damage to Kirma, they will transform and regain all of their health. At this point, Kirma will periodically disappear and then reappear. Other than that, this boss doesn't do much else that is noteworthy. Once the boss is dead, head to the shrine.
Rewards for completing Kichuk:
- Unlocks a Waypoint
- 100 Renown
The Festering Dark
Unlike the other two Strongholds in Nahantu, the Festering Dark is slightly more complex due to a few unique mechanics. Festering Dark is located in the south part of Restless Canopy. While there are two entrances, only one is accessible until you've completed the Stronghold.
Soon after you enter the Festering Dark, you will see a lantern lying on the ground. There will also be runes you can activate to respawn the lantern if you lose it. When you pick up the lantern, you are unable to attack. Whenever you are being attacked, pressing any button will drop the lantern on the ground, and then you can pick it up again once you are done fighting. The objective here is to take the lantern to braziers throughout the Stronghold and light them.
You do not need to stay in the light if you drop the lantern.
Whenever you light the brazier, the lamp will start to move on its own. Follow it toward a barrier that it will destroy and then keep searching for more braziers. More parts of the Stronghold open up as you light more braziers and follow the lamp. When in doubt, look around for another brazier.
When you've lit enough braziers, a mini-boss named Vesicator will spawn. It doesn't have any particularly dangerous attacks. Eventually, you will gain access to a new area called Gates of the Necropolis. Be ready for a fight when you light the brazier in this area, as Maleficium shows up shortly after.
Maleficium has several attacks you need to watch out for. The first is the giant red circles that appear on the ground. The second are the lines that appear on the battlefield. Stay out of both of these attacks, as they deal a lot of damage. Maleficium can only be damaged when it is in the light. There are five lit braziers, giving you some space to work with.
However, when Maleficium falls below 50% health, it will extinguish all the braziers and become completely invulnerable. Quickly run to the lamp and look for a brazier that is not covered in dark energy. Light it and continue damaging the boss once it comes into the light. From there, take out Maleficium's remaining health and then use the shrine to clear the Stronghold.
Rewards for completing the Festering Dark:
- 100 Renown
- Gates of the Necropolis Waypoint
- Unlocks the Betrayed Tomb dungeon
Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred
- Released
- October 8, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language
- Base Game
- Diablo 4
- Developer(s)
- Blizzard
- Publisher(s)
- Blizzard
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
- Engine
- Proprietary
- Franchise
- Diablo
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC
