The Boss Ladder system has been reorganized in Diablo 4 Season 8, Blizzard also brings back Stygian Stone for exchanging Lair boss keys. How to use and get Stygian Stones in the new season? This article talks about the best ways to farm Stygian Stones in D4 S8.
Stygian Stones are first introduced in Diablo IV Season 4, these items were previously used to summon Tormented bosses that are actually enhanced versions of pinnacle bosses in the game. Use Stygian Stones with other boss-specific materials, you can unlock various formidable foes and farm great rewards by beating them. Farming Tormented bosses in D4 can earn you Mythic Unique items and other valuable treasures. What to note is that Stygian Stones were removed from the Vessel of Hatred DLC with the 2.0 update, and they were no longer used for summoning bosses in the game. The good news is that Stygian Stones are coming back in D4 Season 8, while the way they work does change.
How to Use Stygian Stones in Diablo 4 Season 8?
In D4 Season 8, Stygian Stones are used to convert into Greater Lair Boss Keys with a 1:1 ratio, so it offers a way for players to gain Lair keys in this season. You can choose to exchange your stones for the specific keys based on the boss you want to farm. Available keys are the Shard of Agony (used to summon Duriel), the Pincushioned Doll (used to summon Andariel), or the Abhorrent Heart (used to summon Harbinger of Hatred).
1. Farm Stygian Stones by defeating Initiate Bosses or other methods.
2. Find an Alchemist that can be found in each major town of Sanctuary.
3. Choose the specific Greater Lair Boss material you want to get from the Alchemist's available options.
4. Exchange your Stygian Stones with the Alchemist as payment for the selected Greater Lair Boss material at a 1:1 ratio.
5. Receive the Greater Lair Boss material, which will then be added to your inventory.
Stygian Stone Drop Rate
The drop rate of Stygian Stones in Diablo IV will vary based on your experience and the level of the pits you choose. Some players report an average drop rate of 8-10% in Pit 101, approximately one stone every 12 runs, but others have experienced much lower rates, such as 3.37% over 445 runs at Pit 105. There are possibly no stones during 20-30 runs, while you may also have one stone every three runs. This suggests that the drop rate is heavily influenced by RNG and may also differ across pit levels. The actual Stygian Stone drop rate in D4 S8 has to be confirmed, and we'll update that if huge changes occur.
1. Initiate Lair Bosses
All Initiate-tier Lair Bosses (Varshan, Grigoire, Beast in the Ice, Lord Zir, and Urivar) have a chance to drop Stygian Stones when you defeat them and open their reward chests (Hoards). Varshan and Grigoire can drop either Stygian Stones or Shards of Agony, Beast in the Ice, and Lord Zir can drop either Stygian Stones or Pincushioned Dolls, and Urivar may drop Stygian Stones or Abhorrent Hearts.
2. Helltide Chests
Helltide Chests are more likely to drop Living Steel, but acquiring Living Steel indirectly increases your chances of getting Stygian Stones. This is because Living Steel is a key material for summoning and defeating Grigoire, who has a chance to drop Stygian Stones.
3. The Pit
The Pit is still a primary method for farming Stygian Stones in S8. Firstly, you'll need to complete the Pit of the Artificer quest, which requires you to reach World Tier 4 and do a Tier 4 Nightmare Dungeon. The entrance that is marked by an obelisk is located in Cerrigar. After you defeat the boss in The Pit, you can loot a chest that may contain Stygian Stones. To increase the drop rates, you can choose the higher dungeon tiers. In addition, powerful character builds will be helpful, like the Whirlwind Bleed Barbarian. Try multiple runs quickly if you have enough time.
4. Infernal Hordes
Another way to get Stygian Stone is through the Infernal Hordes. How to do it? You need to complete The Eyes of the Enemy to get the Infernal Compass, which opens portals to these hordes. Then go to high-tier maps for collecting more Burning Aether, so you can open more chests that can yield the stones. A Tier-7 map is often recommended as it can provide enough Aether. Furthermore, make sure to stack Hellborne modifiers during the event.
5. World Bosses
World Bosses in World Tier 4: Torment difficulty also drop Stygian Stones, even though at a slower speed. These bosses respawn every 3 hours and 30 minutes, and you can view the world map to receive notifications about their location. Although this method is not very reliable with a relatively low drop rate, it is a supplementary option for players who frequently participate in world events.
6. Nightmare Dungeons
While Nightmare Dungeons do not directly drop Stygian Stones, they provide materials needed to summon bosses like the Beast in the Ice, which can reward stones upon defeat. Regularly clearing these dungeons can indirectly increase the chances of obtaining Stygian Stones.
7. Legion Events
Legion Events can drop materials required to summon bosses like Lord Zir, who has a chance to drop Stygian Stones. Engaging in these events not only provides valuable materials but also improves the likelihood of obtaining stones through boss encounters.
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