In Diablo 4 Strongholds are an important mechanic designed to assist you on your journeys through Sanctuary. We will show you how they work and what else you should know about these fortresses of evil.
What are Strongholds? Diablo 4 will offer you Strongholds, known as “fortresses”. These Strongholds are a type of dungeon in the open world that have been taken over by the forces of evil. When you discover one of these fortresses, it is your task, either solo or in a group, to cleanse it and transform it from a battlefield into a social place for you and your teammates.
We will now take a closer look at Strongholds and show you how to find them and why they are worthwhile.
Strongholds are hidden and can be found
Where can you find Strongholds? Fortresses of evil will not be displayed on your map or in the form of quests. You need to awaken your spirit of exploration and explore the surrounding areas in Sanctuary. If you arrive near a Stronghold, it will be marked on your mini-map with a red skull.
How do Strongholds work? Once you have discovered one of these fortresses, you must cleanse it of evil.
- You will kill smaller minions
- Open passages
- Search for good loot
In the end, you will reach a special boss that you must defeat. Once you have accomplished all this, this instance is considered successfully unlocked. As a reward, you will receive:
- New items such as armor and weapons
- Renown points (points that apply to the respective area)
- XP
- Gold
Essentially, these are areas that were hastily abandoned by people when the demons took over. When you cleanse them, the people will return and support you on your journeys.
Are Strongholds worth it? Absolutely, because every completed Stronghold automatically transforms into a social place. Here you can meet other players, NPCs, and merchants who want to repopulate this location.
Additionally, new dungeons will appear in your surroundings that you cannot discover without liberating the fortress.
Can I tackle every Stronghold right away? As eager as you are to explore, you cannot complete every Stronghold quickly. Each has its own difficulty level, and although the developers say you can try your luck, you will quickly realize that the demons will make quick work of you.
It is wise to first adjust to the required level and bring good equipment before facing a horde of powerful demons. If you are too weak, you can clean the Stronghold at a later time. And don’t worry, the fortresses are private to each player; no one can complete your Stronghold. You have to do that yourself.
What do you think of Strongholds? Do you find them cool and do you think the new system is exciting? Feel free to let us know your opinion in the comments!
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