Helltides are world events that have been a crucial end game event in Diablo 4. These demonic incursions are great sources for experience and loot, but Helltides have seen drastic changes for season four. Loot Reborn has expanded Helltides to more players than ever before and introduced new mechanics that players should be aware of.
Helltides are back in Diablo 4 Loot Reborn and seemingly more important than ever. Instead of only allowing players on World Tier 3 to participate, all players, regardless of World Tier, can now partake in Helltides. Alongside greater accessibility, Blizzard has introduced new mechanics, such as Threat, Baneful Hearts, and Accursed Rituals that all play an important role in reworked Helltides. Although the basic premise of killing demons remains the same, returning players have a lot to catch up on.
Helltides occur every hour and last for 55 minutes at a time across every World Tier in Diablo 4. For Loot Reborn, Blizzard has massively increased the importance of this world event, replacing the randomized event timers from previous seasons. After accessing high World Tiers, you are able to jump into a Helltide at basically any point, aside from the brief five-minute window between Helltides.
Helltides are still very easy to spot in Loot Reborn. By opening your map, you can get a view of Sanctuary’s five major zones. If a Helltide is active in one of these regions, it will be marked by a distinctive red stain that covers the entire zone. This means that a demonic incursion has hit this zone and there is an active Helltide.
By hovering over the inflicted region, you can also get further information about the event, such as the recommended level requirement and event duration. To participate, all you need to do is mount up and make way toward the Helltide.
Whenever you enter an active Helltide in Diablo 4, you can expect to find plenty of high-level and Elite mobs. Enemies in Helltides drop two important items: Aberrant Cinders and Baneful Hearts. Both are essential items used to get the most loot and experience out of Helltide world events.
You can always view how many Aberrant Cinders and Baneful Hearts you currently hold by viewing the two icons in the top right corner of your screen, beside the mini-map. Here you can also view the duration of the Helltide and your Threat, which will become important later on.
Aberrant Cinders are the primary drop that you will receive from demonic foes in Diablo 4 Helltides. These Cinders don’t do anything alone, but the resource is used to open Tortured Gifts of Mysteries that you’ve likely already spotted. These are massive chests that prompt an interaction whenever you step near them.
To open a Tortured Gift of Mystery, you need to gather at least 100 Aberrant Cinders. Opening these chests will also grant you 100 bonus reputation with the Wolf’s Honor faction each time, making these chests even more valuable. Some chests will drop rarer materials, such as Living Steel.
Tortured Gifts of Mystery are the best chests to farm to catch up in gear. These chests drop an assortment of valuable gear at much higher rates than your average dungeon or world boss, including possibly Legendary or Unique. Although you’re not guaranteed to find your best-in-slot items every Helltide, these world events are well worth the effort for players new to endgame content in Diablo 4.
Baneful Hearts are used to perform Accursed Rituals during Helltides in Diablo 4. While in the Helltide, you can acquire Baneful Hearts either from Tortured Gifts of Mystery or from Doomsayers and Hellborne Demons. Once you have attained at least three Baneful Hearts, you can seek out and perform an Accursed Ritual.
On your mini-map, the ritual sites are depicted by a demonic skull with horns icon. There are three total altars at each ritual location, one for each Baneful Heart you’ve acquired.
After placing your Baneful Hearts, you will then summon a Blood Maiden. The Blood Maiden is a new, powerful mini-boss that spawns during an Accursde Ritual. This boss has a fairly basic kit, but in the midst of a Helltide, things can get hectic very quickly.
Be sure to dodge her seeking fireballs and avoid the Blood Maiden’s AoE fire waves. Alongside this, she will also summon Hellborne Demons that you should also take out as soon as possible. Once slain, the Blood Maiden can drop large sums of Aberrant Cinders and Unique gear.
Threat is another new system in Diablo 4 Helltides, introduced in Loot Reborn. As you slay demons and work your way through the incursion, you may notice that your Threat meter will begin to rise. As the Threat meter builds, seen in the right corner of your screen, you will begin to attract greater quantities of demons, and much stronger enemies. To offset this, demons will also start to drop more valuable loot. The meter only resets if you die during the Helltide.
Building up your Threat meter to 100% starts a new, mini-event called a Helltide Assault. In this event, you become Hell-Marked and waves of enemies lock on to your location. At the end of the assault, a Hellborn, a new enemy introduced in season four, will cap off the encounter. There are five different types of Hellborn, but all mark the end of the Helltide Assault and can drop very powerful gear, similar to the Blood Maiden in Diablo 4.
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