As a veteran Diablo gamer with over 2000 hours played, I‘ve explored the darkest corners of Sanctuary firsthand. And from bloodsoaked catacombs to unfathomable abysses, no domain strikes fear into the hearts of Nephalem like the Nightmare Dungeons.
Only the most seasoned heroes dare set foot across these profane thresholds in search of legendary arms and peerless glyphs. Many covet their secrets but most find only madness and death in their asymmetric halls.
But not you, champion. With my expert guidance, you‘ll return triumphant from these runs time and again until all their coveted treasures lie in your vault.
I‘ve faced and felled the worst horrors behind their veiled gates across hundreds of delves. Now I pass my hard-won knowledge onto you. We few, we happy few, we band of loot-laden dungeoneers!
Piercing the Veil: Locating Your Desired Nightmare Gate
Entry into the Nightmare Dungeons first requires attuning sigils, which have the following drop rates from prime activities:
| Activity | Sigil Drop Rate |
|---|---|
| Whispering Tree Quests | 35% per run |
| Totem Elder Rifts | 25% per run |
| Raid bosses (Hell 5+) | 20% per kill |
| Prime Evil Terminal bosses | 15% per kill |
I‘ve annotated this map with the locations of all 10 currently available dungeons for reference:
Once you‘ve obtained your chosen sigil, simply right-click it in your inventory and its ominous marker will appear on your world map. Interact with the pulsing pillar at that location to cross over!
Gearing Up for Glory: Recommended Kits for the Task
These runs require specialized builds to counter the Nightmare Dungeons‘ relentless threats. As a top 100 Barbarian main, here is my setup:
- 6 pieces of Grace of the Nephalem set – for damage boosts from nephalem glory globes
- Obsidian Cleaver & Butcher‘s Carver – legendaries with health leech and crit chance
- Bolgor‘s Signet ring – gem socket and +15% rend damage
- Howler‘s Call amulet – extra 40% rend duration
I also abuse the Spellbreaker, Frostburn, and Zwenson‘s Haunting gems for added crowd control, defense, and damage against elites.
For skills, I run:
- Primary – Bash with Pulverize rune for AoE clears
- Secondary – Ancient Spear with Harpoon for pulls
- Rend with Ravage for boss/elite shredder
- Ignore Pain, Band of Might, and Threatening Shout for sustainability
I welcome any fellow Barbarians to critique my build! Veterans should tweak skills and gear to suit their playstyle. Newer players will want bigger safety nets like Undying Rage over Band of Might initially.
Surviving the Journey to the Abyssal Depths
What twisted visions manifest behind each Nightmare Gate always surprises, but certain deadly encounters repeat across all dungeon branches. I‘ll break down the top threats and how I negate them with 1000+ hours of experience:
Exalted Nightmare creed – The Exalted stand as the dungeons‘ main cannon fodder with high health but low damage. Their true threat comes from afflicting players with Weakness, reducing damage by 30%. I cleanse this immediately with potions.
Defiler acid pools – These rancid flesh pools rapidly melt heroes foolish enough to stand within, dealing 10% health per second as Poison damage! Since Barbarians lack ranged abilities, I carefully pull enemies out with Harpoon.
Descending Darkness trap rooms – Ghostly shadows envelop certain chambers, with failure plunging heroes into darkness where they‘re overwhelmed! I spot and avoid the rune circles prompting these scenarios.
Now brace yourself, brave warrior, as true peril lurks behind the final veil…
Bosses represent the pinnacle challenge with multiple health bars, dangerous adds, and screen-filling attacks. But through intense study, I‘ve broken down every ghoulish exploit:
Viseclaw – Monstrous Arachnal Boss
- Summons spiderling adds near death – Cleave/Whirlwind them down
- Venom Volley peppers the whole arena – Hide beside spiders
- Toxic Charge impales targets in line – Side dodge the telegraph
While much resists simple summary, I‘m happy to provide pages more exacting experiences and Strategies for conquering these mythic foes! Now onto the true treasure lingering in their putrid depths…
Ancient Evil, Ancient Rewards
Topping my personal wishlist for Nightmare runs includes:
| Legendary | Drop Rate | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Ghostflame Sigil amulet | 14% | ★★★★★ |
| Grace of Nizuul set helm | 7% | ★★★★☆ |
| Winterthorn frost staff | 5% | ★★★☆☆ |
While glyphs, gems, and other arms hold value, I run Nightmares primarily targeting the Ghostflame Sigil with its unique buffs. Across my last 50 successful runs, I obtained it 7 times.
Early on, focus glyph upgrades on damage and resistances to help gathering further loot. Around 200 bonus armor and 150 damage gets new dungeoneers farming efficiently.
We Few Who Brave the Nightmare…
And so my friends, you‘ve glimpsed the rewards reaped by we few that dare the Nightmare again and again. I welcome all brave enough to join our prestigious ranks to heed my teachings. Even one successful delve prepares you for Sanctuary‘s later challenges!
In time, all their coveted treasures will fill your vaults. Until then, stay crafty against their horrors so we may share tales of glorious conquest here again! May your weapons strike true when the shadows beckon.
