Mastering Helltides in Diablo 4: Survive with STEEL

Every adventurer in the sprawling, demonic world of Diablo 4 needs a bit of extra oomph in order to survive the onslaught of Lilith’s legions – and steel is the most important material in the game that can help players to do that. Not just any steel, mind you. Living steel. This article will take you on a tour of the ‘Helltides’ of Diablo 4 – those brutal and bestial events in which players chop down demons the whole time, while advancing the ‘story’ and gaining fame. By the end of it, you will not only know how to make the most of the Helltides, you will also know too why you should be surviving prowess; and not just because ‘Survive’ is a skill that is essential for adventurers who want to survive in the hellish world Diablo 4, but because steel is the crucial material you need to survive in the game.

The Menace of Helltides

The Helltides in Diablo 4 are for players who like their regions exactly 10 times worse than usual: their monster density increased so much that they usually prove unwinnable in standard play, while Patriarchs drop Hellfire from the sky. They’re difficult world events from start to finish, lasting 55 minutes before taking a short break and moving to the next area. Helltides are a test of stamina, skill and tactics.

The Currency of Conflict: Aberrant Cinders

At the very centre of the Helltide are Aberrant Cinders. These strange missive-like currencies dropped from fallen demons allow a player to unlock a tortured gift that opens to reveal a chest containing supplies and rewards based on the number of cinders spent, from a field of mushrooms ready for harvesting, to good luck charms, to Living Steel, which is used as a widely needed crafting ingredient.

Chests of Living Steel: The Prize Among Prizes

Many chests will have Living Steel, of course, but the Chest of Living Steel is the best spot to focus on, especially once you learn how to track the chests using the Helltide tracker in the third world tier and later. These Living Steel chests sit front and centre in World Tier 5.

Survival Strategies in the Helltides

Advantage: surviving a Helltide is less about brawn and more about brains – you’ll need to plan and save your Aberrant Cinders to make the most of them, because they will disappear when the Helltide ends. You’ll also need to care for yourself: death in a Helltide means losing half of your cinders.

New Helltide Mechanics: Keeping the Challenge Fresh

In Season 4, the comparable gameplay feature for Diablo 4 is its Helltide: fighting in them and earning tortured gifts fills a personal Threat Meter. When it tops out, players are Hell Marked with an ambush of deadly enemies landing a short time later; surviving it or killing a Hellborne – an elite, corrupted fallen hero – resets the Threat Meter, upping the ante.

The Accursed Ritual: Summoning the Blood Maiden

Other new stuff includes the Accursed Ritual, a co-op quest requiring Baneful Hearts dropped by Hellbornes to complete, and which spawns the Blood Maiden boss, a valuable slay and a worthy test of group preparation and cooperation to overcome the most deadly of adversaries.

The Profane Mindcage: A Seasonal Twist

Exclusive to players of Seasonal Realm, take advantage of the Profane Mindcage and ramp up the challenge and rewards of Helltide! When you eat this cursed demon brain, monsters will be leveled up to the next higher level, providing a challenge for those who want the most challenging experience and the greatest rewards.

Embracing the Helltide: Tips for Triumph

When it comes to having a smooth ride through the Helltides, it’s all about making the most of the tools at your disposal. Working Hellspires, dodging Hellworms, and...