Currently, the base game of Diablo IV is available at a historically low price, but I recommend the DLC combo pack even more! That's because Diablo IV is about to undergo its biggest change in history! Please read the following content to understand the Dark Citadel in the Vessel of Hatred expansion pack.
What is Dark Citadel in Vessel of Hatred?
The first expansion for Diablo IV, Vessel of Hatred, will be released on October 8th on Battle.net worldwide. In addition to revamping the stat system, Paragon Board, and introducing new maps, classes, systems, and other content, the main highlight of the endgame is an innovative cooperative dungeon called Dark Citadel. This is a mini Diablo-style raid, a PvE ultimate co-op that will push players to their limits.
Dark Citadel is filled with various monsters and ancient Khazra lords. It's now up to you to stop them and prevent their evil plans from coming to fruition. The challenges inside require you and your teammates to work together, solving dangerous puzzles and battling bosses to achieve ultimate victory!
Dark Citadel has three separate Wings, each with their secrets to unlock and demonic plans to unravel. Brute force alone won't be enough to conquer each wing and progress to the boss fights that follow. Additionally, you don't have to complete all three wings in one go—if needed, you can take a break and return later, as the entire Dark Citadel run may take several hours to complete! This will be the ultimate battle! (More details on duration and rewards will come later…)
How to unlock Dark Citadel?
Dark Citadel unlocks after you reach the endgame and complete an unlock quest, which only needs to be done once per account. It is located beyond the new Torment 1 difficulty level and requires completing specific Pit levels (15/20 levels, details not yet announced) to unlock.
The difficulty level of Dark Citadel
The difficulty level of Dark Citadel scales with your world difficulty. So, if you find Dark Citadel too easy on Torment 1, try increasing the difficulty to Torment 2!
(*Official difficulty explanation for Dark Citadel: The speed depends on your understanding of the mechanics. From our internal game testing, we’ve seen that when a new Diablo player enters, it could take them several hours to defeat these challenges. This is one reason we created save points in each wing. If players want to persist, that’s great, but the first time will take longer as you learn the mechanics and your character. Players can return week after week to chase rewards since these reset weekly.)
Cooperate in the Dark Citadel
Regarding cooperation, the mechanics inside Dark Citadel emphasize teamwork. For example, in boss fights, there is a mechanic where you must hit orbs at the right moment to reflect the boss’s attack. Your team can also use a new marking system to indicate when you plan to hit the orb, coordinating with your teammates to ensure every attack is countered and your collaboration is seamless—this becomes more crucial as difficulty increases, or you may meet a grim fate.
There are also other types of puzzles, such as standing on pressure plates to open doors and advance. While it’s designed for four players, it can be completed with just two, but we believe four players make the entire combat flow easier.
Dark Citadel Rewards
Dark Citadel rewards can be purchased with "Citadel Coins," earned through progression in Dark Citadel. Although the rewards are mainly cosmetic, you can also purchase scrolls and other useful items to make your subsequent journeys through Dark Citadel easier. Additionally, you’ll receive a weekly reward package the first time you complete Dark Citadel each week. The weekly rewards offer exclusive Dark Citadel items! As with dungeon difficulty, the reward level increases with the world difficulty you choose.
Tips for Dark Citadel
For Dark Citadel, you can buy various scrolls and potions that provide beneficial effects for you and your teammates, enhancing your future combat power. Be sure to stock up on these before battle!
Each class can earn a unique armor appearance each week by defeating Dark Citadel, making your character look like they’ve stolen gear from special monsters inside Dark Citadel. These appearances will be limited edition and unique—very cool!
And more importantly!! Not only this but through the enhanced cooperation features of each squad member's mercenaries, a clever team will find the battles in Dark Citadel easier! (Check out our previous article: Diablo IV Vessel of Hatred Preview, which gives a detailed preview of the Mercenary System. )
8.24 Developer Notes:
1. Expansion 2.0 is almost a complete overhaul! Massive stat compression, a completely changed difficulty curve, and a level cap of 60! Multiple Torment X difficulties. Paragon Board improvements.
2. The cooperative dungeon Dark Citadel requires at least 2 players per path\officially recommended 4 players. You can bring different mercenaries with enhanced talents to support your team, but only the team leader can bring all the support. The first mercenary won’t die (45-second stagger time). Mercenaries don’t have an equipment slot; they use the Harmony System. The first mercenary is encountered in the campaign: Iron Wolf Shieldman, Rasir. Other mercenaries will become available after completing the main storyline.
3. The new *Torment 1* difficulty will unlock after completing the expansion’s main campaign, receiving a new quest, and clearing Pit levels 15/20, unlocking access to the *Dark Bastion* raid. As you increase *Torment Difficulty X*, Dark Citadel will also scale to X-tier difficulty—harder but with better drops!
4. On higher X difficulties, fully clearing all three paths of Dark Citadel might take a pickup team up to 3.5 hours! This includes the team leader stepping up to communicate progress, arranging mercenary support combos, and team leader reinforcements! Of course, you can also choose to complete just one path first (expected speed runs later on will take about 15-20 minutes).
Dark Citadel’s three paths (WING A\B\C) can be completed individually. After each path (for a 2-4 player squad) is cleared, it will be saved online (similar to MMO raids). Different levels of additional rewards will be given to players based on completion, and you can use the Group Finder to invite new external allies to join the remaining paths! Finally, slay the final boss room! Dark Citadel has a weekly reset, with different rewards each week, including unique transmog rewards not available in the shop! Lastly, the best gear isn’t exclusive to Dark Citadel, so those who dislike raids don’t need to worry too much—only the drop rates differ.
6. The new time-limited dungeon Kurast Dungeon (1-4 players) unlocks at levels 15-20, offering an alternative leveling challenge if you don’t like the difficulty of the open world. By killing specific monsters along the path or using items to increase the difficulty, you can earn more combat time and experience! Therefore, more skilled players can strategize to gain more experience.
7. Thirteen new feline mounts! More mount armor! Including jaguars, lions, leopards, and their various armor types.
8. Nightmare and Frenzy difficulties will be available from the initial difficulty level 1. You can directly use the Group Finder for dungeons, and the Finder will have many customizable tags. Guild activities, guild leaderboards, and similar features are still being considered for future additions.
9. Additional character slots, a stash tab, and a new materials bag. Plus, there will be new crafting system modifications, and new skills and talents for each class are yet to be announced.
10. The Armory will be added later in the expansion, not at launch. The new Paragon Board system will also bring unique legendary glyphs. There are no plans for infinite Paragon!!
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FAQs
1. What is the Dark Citadel in Diablo IV's Vessel of Hatred expansion?
Dark Citadel is a new cooperative dungeon introduced in the Vessel of Hatred expansion for Diablo IV. It’s designed as a mini-raid that challenges players with intricate puzzles, difficult boss fights, and a focus on teamwork. The dungeon is split into three wings, each filled with unique enemies, puzzles, and challenges that require strategic cooperation to conquer.
2. How do I unlock the Dark Citadel?
To unlock the Dark Citadel, players must reach the endgame content of Diablo IV and complete a specific unlock quest. This quest becomes available after reaching the new Torment 1 difficulty level and clearing certain Pit levels. The unlock process is account-wide, so it only needs to be completed once per account.
3. What kind of rewards can I earn from the Dark Citadel?
The Dark Citadel offers a variety of rewards, primarily through Citadel Coins, which can be earned by progressing through the dungeon. These coins can be used to purchase cosmetic items, scrolls, and other useful gear. Additionally, players receive a weekly reward package upon completing the Dark Citadel, which includes exclusive items such as unique, limited-time armor appearances.
4. How does difficulty scaling work in the Dark Citadel?
The difficulty of the Dark Citadel scales with the player’s world difficulty level. This means that as you increase the difficulty of your game world, the challenges within the Dark Citadel will also become more difficult, but the rewards will be greater. This scaling ensures that the dungeon remains challenging and rewarding for players at all levels.
5. How long does it take to complete the Dark Citadel?
The time it takes to complete the Dark Citadel varies depending on the player's experience and the chosen difficulty level. For new players or those attempting higher difficulties, it could take several hours to clear all three wings. However, the dungeon includes save points in each wing, allowing players to take breaks and return later if needed.
6. Can I complete the Dark Citadel with less than four players?
Yes, the Dark Citadel can be completed with as few as two players, although it is designed for a four-player team. The difficulty increases significantly with fewer players, as some puzzles and boss mechanics are easier to manage with a full team. It’s recommended to play with four players for the best experience, but completing it with two players is possible with the right strategy and coordination.
7. What role do mercenaries play in the Dark Citadel?
Mercenaries in the Dark Citadel provide additional support to your team, offering unique talents that can assist in combat and puzzles. Only the team leader can bring a full set of mercenaries, and their use requires careful planning to maximize their effectiveness. Mercenaries are especially useful in smaller teams, helping to compensate for the lack of additional players.
8. Are the rewards in Dark Citadel essential for endgame progression?
While the rewards in Dark Citadel are valuable and include exclusive items, they are not essential for overall endgame progression. The best gear in Diablo IV can be obtained from various activities, not just from the Dark Citadel. However, the dungeon does offer unique rewards and higher drop rates for certain items, making it a worthwhile challenge for those looking to enhance their character.
9. Can I replay the Dark Citadel multiple times per week?
Yes, the Dark Citadel can be replayed multiple times, but the weekly reward package is only granted once per week. Players can continue to earn Citadel Coins and other loot from subsequent runs, making it beneficial to replay the dungeon if you’re aiming for specific rewards or trying to complete all three wings.
10. What are the new features introduced in the Vessel of Hatred expansion besides Dark Citadel?
Apart from the Dark Citadel, the Vessel of Hatred expansion brings several new features, including a revamped stat system, an improved Paragon Board, new maps, classes, and a variety of new systems and mechanics that enhance the overall gameplay. The expansion also introduces new difficulty levels, mercenary systems, limited-time dungeons, new mounts, and significant updates to the game’s progression and reward systems.
Summary
The first expansion for Diablo IV, Vessel of Hatred, will be released on October 8th, featuring significant updates including a revamped stat system, new maps, classes, and endgame content. The expansion's main highlight is an innovative cooperative dungeon called Dark Citadel, a challenging PvE raid designed for 2-4 players, focusing on teamwork and strategy. The dungeon features multiple wings, unique puzzles, and boss fights, with difficulty scaling based on the player's world difficulty level. Dark Citadel offers rewards through "Citadel Coins," which can be used to purchase cosmetics, scrolls, and other useful items. Additionally, players can earn unique, limited-time armor sets by completing the dungeon. The expansion also introduces new difficulties, mercenary support systems, time-limited dungeons, and a variety of new mounts and armor. The overall gameplay experience is set to be more challenging and rewarding, with extensive updates planned for the game's mechanics and progression systems.
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· Everything We Know About Diablo 4 Vessel of Hatred Expansion
