Diablo 4: Complete Guide to Conquering the Dark Citadel
Getting Started
To begin, travel to the westernmost region of the Ancient Nexus. Upon arrival, enter the door that leads into the Enclave of Strife, the first zone of the Dark Citadel. Your objectives and bonus meters, which track the defeated Treasury Wardens, will appear on your screen. These enemies drop valuable Diablo 4 items, so clearing as many as possible can greatly enhance your loot rewards.
Enclave of Strife Walkthrough
Soul Siphons and Ward Guardians: Progress through the Path of the Initiate until you reach a room containing two Soul Siphons. Activate each Soul Siphon and stand in the generated circle until the meter fills. This action spawns a Ward Guardian, which, once defeated, drops a Ward Stone. Insert each Ward Stone into a Sealing Ward to unlock the next door.
Clearing Treasury Wardens: Be sure to explore and defeat any Treasury Wardens in this area, as they contribute to your Khazra Treasury reward tier, offering you more Diablo 4 Gold and items as you proceed.
Halls of Judgment
Upon entering the Halls of Judgment, you'll find a yellow switch on the floor. When pressed, it opens two pathways with colored barriers. Assign a player to the second green switch to permanently unlock both paths.
Split Team and Ward Guardians: Divide your team and send each group down one of the opened passageways. Each team will encounter Ward Guardians, which drop Ward Stones necessary to progress. Insert these stones into the Sealing Ward to proceed.
Additional Soul Siphon: In the following room, activate the Soul Siphon, defeat the Guardian that appears, and proceed through the newly opened gateway.
Realm of Oblivion
The next zone is the Realm of Oblivion, a dangerous area where players are affected by a red debuff icon that can stun them if it fills. Use the green Soul Dampeners scattered across the room to reset this debuff.
Soul Dampeners: Move quickly from one Soul Dampener to the next to manage the debuff timer and avoid being stun-locked.
Realm Shards and Gateways: Defeat Realm Guardians to collect Realm Shards and deposit them into the gateway. Once charged, you'll be able to progress to the next room, encountering Treasury Guardians and eventually Kubal, the Dark Citadel's first boss.
Boss: Kubal, Dark Citadel's First Boss
Kubal doesn't have complex mechanics, but he packs a punch. Once defeated, you'll continue deeper into the Citadel, clearing additional Treasury Wardens along the way to maximize your rewards.
Arena Battle and Gorschak: In the next large arena, focus on Kazara Breathtakers to summon Gorschak, the First Ascendant. Damage Gorschak until he becomes immune, then shift your focus to Realm Guardians and collect their Realm Shards.
Realm Portal and Soul Essence: Use the Realm Shards to charge the gateway. Two players should enter the mirrored realm to defeat Ward Guardians and obtain Soul Essence. Use this to weaken Gorschak and defeat him.
Wing Two: The Labyrinth of Souls
The Labyrinth of Souls is the second wing of the Dark Citadel. This phase continues the pattern of defeating Treasury Wardens, which drop highly valuable Diablo 4 Items and yield additional Diablo 4 Gold.
Astral Gateway: Activate two switches to open the Astral Gateway. Inside, clear the central Soul Siphon, then activate four additional siphons in each corner of the room to unlock a new portal.
Ritual Guardians: After clearing each Soul Siphon, a portal will appear, leading to rooms where you will fight Ritual Guardians. Upon defeating them, collect the Sigil Stone and return to the original room. Place the stones into the Ritual Sigils to unlock the next stage.
Boss: Faeroch, The Incinerator
In this next encounter, start by activating the Barrier Ward for protection from Faeroch's initial explosive attack.
Safety Shield and Barrier Wards: Use Barrier Wards to create a protective shield. With enough damage, Faeroch can be defeated in a single phase. If necessary, activate additional Barrier Wards to protect against explosions.
Lorzuul, The Gorger: The encounter with Lorzuul requires disabling its immunity shield by obtaining Ward Stones from defeated Barrier Guardians. Place the Ward Stones into the Soulbound Ward to make Lorzuul vulnerable, allowing your team to attack.
Wing Three: Dominion of Zagraal
The Dominion of Zagraal is the final and most challenging wing of the Dark Citadel. As in the previous wings, collect Ward Stones from defeated Treasury Wardens as you progress.
Experimental Gateway and Ward Guardians: Split the team and head through portals on each side of the room. Defeat Ward Guardians, collect their Ward Stones, and insert them into the Sealing Ward to open a portal.
Spell Guardian and Counterspell Essence: Defeat the Spell Guardian and collect the Counterspell Essence. This item is essential for deflecting attacks from the statue in the center of the room. Proper timing with the Counterspell Essence opens a portal to the next encounter.
Final Boss: Zagraal, the Eternal
The battle with Zagraal, the Eternal, is the climactic fight of the Dark Citadel. Be prepared for a long, multi-phase encounter that requires careful coordination.
Khazra Breathtakers and Debuff Management: Zagraal opens a portal to another room where players can inflict damage on him. Monitor the debuff icon above your character's head and use Conduits to prevent it from filling completely.
Conduit Activation and Realm Shards: After damaging Zagraal until he becomes immune, two players should activate the Conduit to reset the debuff. Realm Guardians spawn, dropping Realm Shards to be used in weakening Zagraal for another round of damage.
Rinse and Repeat: Repeat these steps until Zagraal's health is depleted and the raid is complete.
Maximizing Your Rewards
Successfully completing the Dark Citadel rewards players with a treasure trove of Diablo 4 items, including powerful gear and materials. Additionally, the Diablo 4 Gold obtained can be used to enhance your gear, buy essential items, and trade with other players. Remember, clearing Treasury Wardens throughout each wing increases your rewards, so be thorough.
The Dark Citadel offers an unforgettable raid experience and a chance to amass valuable Diablo 4 Gold and rare items. With careful planning, coordination, and the right strategy, you'll conquer the Dark Citadel and unlock powerful rewards that will significantly bolster your character in Diablo 4's endgame content.