Helltide

Helltides are a gameplay feature of Diablo IV.

Lore[]

Helltides are demonic events that affect Sanctuary during the Reign of Enmity. Demons of Lilith are empowered, her mightiest minions out in greater force. The very ground of the mortal realm is morphed by the surge in demonic activity^[1] as the sky darkens, rivers run red, and meteors fall upon the mortal realm,^[2] as Sanctuary gives way to Hell's influence.^[3] Entire towns can be caught in helltides, their inhabitants entranced into worshipping Hell.^[4]

The Iron Wolves sought to rally forces against the demons who emerged in helltides,^[5] and salvaged demonic corpses left in a helltide's wake.^[6] After the Blood Harvest, the legions of Hell regrouped to coordinate a display of force, resulting in a new form of Helltide.^[7]

It was later discovered that these new Helltides were a harbinger of things to come, as the legions of Hell mustered behind its gates.^[8]

Gameplay[]

Helltides are region-wide events that are available to players from World Tier I onwards. Overall monster density shifts with tier. Towns can be temporarily consumed by a helltide, forcing their NPCs into worship.

Helltides occur randomly in the open world,^[9] and last for about an hour.^[2] Helltides appear on the map as red zones. A Helltide lasts 55 minutes, with 5 minutes of downtime before the next one appears in a different area.

Demons in an area are empowered,^[1] and their monster level is greater than the player level,^[9] but their loot drops correspond to the surge in difficulty. Monsters killed in a Helltide potentially drop cinders that can be spent to open Helltide Chests in the respective region.^[1] Some Helltide chests can drop unique items.^[10]

Hellworms will sometimes rise from the ground, depositing more demons.

Some crafting materials are only found in Helltides,^[2] such as the Fiend Rose.

Hellspires can be found within a helltide. When activated, the spire generates a wave of demons for the player to fight. Ravenous Soulspires drain a player's health.^[11]

As a player cleaves their way through a Helltide, they generate Threat. Threat is earned based on the difficulty of the monsters the player slays and how often they're opening Tortured Gifts within a Helltide. There are three Threat Levels in total, with each level increasing the danger and frequency of ambushes. Once a player hits Level 3, they will become Hell-Marked. When a player has been Hell-Marked, they'll be besieged by a frenzy of densely packed monsters. If they make it out alive, a Hellborn will come for them. The Threat level resets once the Hellborn ambush has been activated, or if the player is killed.^[7]

Development[]

Helltides were originally only available at World Tier Three.^[1]

References[]