Everything You Need to Know About Helltides in Diablo 4 Season 6

In the dark and treacherous world of Diablo 4, the Helltide events offer both peril and promise for daring adventurers. As players navigate the chaos, they encounter the elusive Helltide Mystery Chests, known as Tortured Gifts of Mysteries, which hold the potential for legendary loot. With each chest requiring 175 Aberrant Cinders to unlock, the thrill lies not only in the hunt but also in the strategic timing of these events, occurring every 135 minutes. Will you brave the dangers to uncover the secrets hidden within these chests, or will the relentless enemies of Lilith claim your hard-earned cinders? Join us as we delve into comprehensive guides and maps that will help you master this exhilarating aspect of Diablo 4.

For introductory purposes, Helltides are a recurring world event in Diablo 4 available for Nightmare and Torment difficulty levels (you also need to complete the main story) that is activated roughly every two hours in random locations around the world of Sanctuary. During Helltides, defeated monsters leave behind Aberrant Cinders – special currency that is spent to unlock Helltide Chests, among them the most valuable ones such as Helltide Mystery Chests or Tortured Gift of Mysteries. Finding these chests is not the easiest task, so on this page of our Diablo 4 guide (along with our interactive map) we will help you find them.

What is Helltide?

In Diablo 4, Helltide is a dynamic and intense regional event that transforms areas of Sanctuary into a hellish environment. Lasting approximately one hour, Helltides occur randomly throughout the day and are indicated by a distinctive red glow on the map and sky. During these events, the terrain changes, featuring empowered demonic creatures known as Hellborn, which are significantly stronger and yield better loot compared to regular encounters. Additionally, Helltides introduce a threat meter system, where actions like defeating monsters or opening mysterious chests escalate the danger level, attracting increasingly formidable demon ambushes. Participants can exploit this heightened risk to gather valuable resources, including Aberrant Cinders, which are essential for unlocking specialized Helltide Chests containing rare and legendary items.

Helltide is an world event in which demon armies invade randomly selected regions of Sanctuary.

The affected region is marked with red color on the map, and inside that area, unique Helltide Chests appear. The appearance of the affected region also changes – instead of standard rain, blood falls from the sky, rivers are red, while the standard landscapes turn into something reminiscent of hellish depths. Helltide sees you face mobs that are 3 levels higher than you (most of them will be demons), along with multitude of elites and champions (on Nightmare and Torment difficulty levels). This makes combat in Helltide much more difficult, but the rewards and loot are also better – you have a bigger chance of looting orange legendary items or even unique golden ones, including of Sacred and Ancestral variety. Aside from better loot chance, the main prize of Helltides are Helltide Chests, including, above all, Helltide Mystery Chests, which are described in more detail below. It is worth noting that during Helltide, you’ll also find a lot of Fiend Roses – (a plant and a crafting material required for item re-roll stats and affixing) and Forgotten Souls. As a reminder, Helltide in Diablo 4 is initiated every 135 minutes and lasts one hour.

Diablo 4 Mystery Chest locations

In Diablo 4, Mystery Chests, also known as Tortured Gifts of Mysteries, are special loot containers that spawn during Helltide events across various regions. These chests offer valuable rewards, including multiple Legendary items, but they can only be accessed by players who collect 250 Aberrant Cinders. Each Helltide event lasts for approximately one hour and features a limited number of active Mystery Chests—two in most regions and three in Scosglen and Kehjistan. The chests do not appear on the map until players are in close proximity, necessitating exploration of predetermined spawn locations. As the Helltide progresses, these chests will reset and relocate on the hour, adding an element of urgency to the hunt for loot during these chaotic events.

Scouring the map for particular Mystery Chests while fighting hordes of monsters at the same time can be hard, so on our map, we’ve marked every location in which Mystery Chests may appear. For an interactive map of Sanctuary with every Mystery Chest location marked look to the top of the page. Reminder – If a Mystery Chest wasn’t found in the given location, move to another one. There is bound to be one spawned someplace – Mystery Chests must appear in two fixed locations per region (in the case of Scosglen, there are 3 locations). There is no way that all locations will be empty, but please note that even if Helltide Chests can be seen on the world map, Mystery Chests appear on your map only when you’re close to one.

Mystery Chests, called Tortured Gifts of Mysteries by the game, are quite rare, but more often you’ll encounter standard Helltide Chests. You’ll find them in every region that is affected by Helltide. Opening Helltide Chests requires less Aberrant Cinders, and in their case, you can score legendary and unique items, but in the case of Tortured Gifts of Mysteries, this chance is even higher, certain even.

During the course of a Helltide, each region of Sanctuary has specified locations where Mystery Chests may appear:

Fractured Peak – 5 different locations, 2 Mystery Chests appearing per event.
Scosglen – 8 different locations, 3 Mystery Chests appearing per event.
Dry Steppes – 4 different locations, 2 Mystery Chests appearing per event.
Kehjistan – 11 different locations, 3 Mystery Chests appearing per event.
Hawezar – 4 different locations, 2 Mystery Chests appearing per event.

Moreover, you can view all exact possible locations of Mystery Chests on our Diablo 4 interactive map above.

There are several types of Tortured Gifts:

Tortured Gift of Protection (requires 75 Aberrant Cinders to open). Possible loot: Fiend Rose, legendary and unique armor items (hands, legs, feet, torso, head).
Tortured Gift of Jewelry (75 Abberant Cinders). Possible loot: Forgotten Souls, Fiend Rose, legendary items (rings and amulets).
Tortured Gift of Light Weaponry ( requires 125 Abberant Cinders to open). Possible loot: Forgotten Souls, Fiend Rose, legendary and unique daggers, swords, shields, and focuses
Tortured Gift of Heavy Weaponry (requires 150 Abberant Cinders to open). Possible loot: Forgotten Souls, Fiend Rose, legendary and unique two-handed weapons – scythes, two-handed swords, crossbows, bows.
Tortured Gift of Mysteries (requires 150 Abberant Cinders to open). Possible loot: Forgotten Souls, Fiend Rose, legendary, unique, sacred, ancestral items of various type Up to 4-5 legendary item can drop from one Tortured Gift.

Helltide Tips and Mystery Chests

Mystery Chests, also known as Tortured Gifts of Mysteries, are a key feature during Helltide events in Diablo 4, offering players a chance to acquire valuable loot. Each Helltide event lasts for approximately one hour and occurs every 135 minutes, with two to three Mystery Chests available in designated locations across various regions. To open these chests, players need 175 Aberrant Cinders, which can be collected from defeated enemies in the Helltide area. While these chests can yield between two to five Legendary items, including Sacred and Ancestral gear at higher difficulties, they may not spawn at every location each time a Helltide occurs. Therefore, it is advisable to check multiple predefined locations if a chest is not found initially. Additionally, players should be mindful of their cinder count, as dying during a Helltide results in losing half of the accumulated cinders, impacting their ability to maximize loot opportunities.

The amount of loot gained from a Mystery Chest is colossal – a lot of rare crafting materials, including Forgotten Souls and Fiend Roses, and legendary items.

Mystery Chests during Helltide events are a great way to quickly gain experience points and, above all, legendary and unique items, with additional items of Sacred or Ancestral variety on Nightmare and Torment difficulty levels. Here is a few tips for Helltides. Mystery Chests must appear in some of predefined locations, but there is a limit to how much chests can appear. There are several fixed locations (which come up to 5-11 per region) where there is a chance of a Mystery Chest appearing. If there isn’t a Mystery Chest in the given location, you’ll find a standard Helltide Chest instead.

One instance of a Helltide lasts exactly 135 minutes. When that time elapses, special chests disappear, the land reverts to its standard form, and all accumulated Aberrant Cinders are lost.
For the duration of the event, Helltide Chests and Mystery Chests reset on full hours. In other words, if a Helltide began at 10:50, and you’ve opened a Mystery Chest at 10:58, by 11:01 you can open it again! This way, in the Fractured Peak, Hawezar, and Dry Steppes regions, you can open up to 4 Mystery Chests per event, while in Scosglen and Kehjistan, you can open up to 6 Chests per event.
If you die during Helltide, you lose half of the accumulated Aberrant Cinders.
Meteor showers can occur during Helltide – avoid the burning marks on the ground, as being hit by a meteorite can instantly kill you. There is a chance that a miniboss will spawn during a meteor shower.
Helltide doesn’t disable other world events from occuring in the world of Diablo 4 – for example, during a Helltide, you can encounter a standard world boss (on such occasions, he is much stronger but leaves better loot).

How to quickly farm Forgotten Souls?

Helltide is a great opportunity to quickly farm a lot of Forgotten Souls, a crafting item needed for upgrading legendary and unique items to level 5. Use every opportunity to get Forgotten Souls, as on higher difficulty levels, it is difficult to quickly accumulate them. Helltide is a great opportunity to easily get this resource. Forgotten Souls are looted from opening standard Tortured Chests and Mystery Chests, as well as from defeated bosses and minibosses. You’ll also find them in resource nodes. Another good source of Forgotten Souls is the Kixxarth boss.

How to accumulate Abberant Cinders fast? Tips

To accumulate Aberrant Cinders quickly in Diablo 4, focus on participating actively in Helltide events, which occur every 135 minutes and last for one hour. During these events, defeating enemies will yield Aberrant Cinders, so prioritize combat in high-density areas where foes spawn frequently. Additionally, utilize the fixed locations of Mystery Chests, known as Tortured Gifts of Mysteries, which require 175 Aberrant Cinders to open and can yield valuable loot. Keep track of the chest locations and be prepared to move quickly between them as they can change every hour. It’s also crucial to avoid dying during Helltide, as you will lose half of your accumulated Cinders upon death. By combining efficient combat with strategic chest hunting, you can maximize your Cinder collection during each Helltide event.

Helltide is a timed event, and its overall difficulty levels of encounters is much higher, so here are some practical tips that will help you locate Mystery Chests much faster and efficiently during Helltides and get the needed amount of Aberrant Cinders.

Aberrant Cinders are left by standard monsters and elites. Fighting large groups of enemies will allow you to get much more Cinders in a shorter time. During Helltide, standard monsters can glow red – defeating these special opponents drop more Aberrant Cinders.
Another way of quick accumulation of Aberrant Cinders is participating in events such as ghost escorting (for example Wayward Soul, Ancient Syphon etc.)
During Helltide, all normal chests change into Damned Soul and Wretched Soul types – we recommend looting them all, but make sure to always loot chests with a red glow – inside of them you’ll find a lot of Aberrant Cinders.
Gathering plants and resource nodes during Helltide pays much more than in standard situations. Only during Helltide you can find an extremely rare plant used in crafting and for level 5 upgrades – Fiend Rose. Iron ore, on the other hand, turns into Screaming Hell Vein, and in addition to crafting materials, will leave a lot of Aberrant Cinders.
Also during Helltide, you can encounter a boss – Kixxarth, Helltide Assassin. This is a high-level demon that traverses the entire Helltide-affected region. Kixxarth has a lot of health points, so it may take you even up to 10 minutes to kill him. Face him only if you can take care of him in 1-2 minutes (or have support from other players). Otherwise it’s a waste of time. Kixxarth drops a lot of Forgotten Souls and Aberrant Cinders when killed.
Nemnos, Helltide Commander is another boss available only during Helltide. If you come across a group of Occultists performing a ritual and kill them, there is a chance that Nemnos will appear. Killing him yields Aberrant Cinders and Obols.
If you have problems with Helltide while playing solo, try riding on your horse (it’s easier to run away from enemies) and following more experienced players. You can also try to help them if the situation calls for it. Abberant Cinders can be obtained even if the enemy that dropped them was killed by another player (they don’t even need to be in your party).

What are the best strategies to maximize loot from Helltide Mystery Chests

To maximize loot from Helltide Mystery Chests in Diablo 4, consider the following strategies:

Key Strategies for Maximizing Loot

Prioritize Mystery Chests: Focus on opening the Tortured Gift of Mysteries chests, which cost 250 Aberrant Cinders. These chests have the highest drop rates for Legendary and Unique items, often yielding multiple Legendaries per chest.
Efficient Cinder Accumulation:
- Defeat Enemies: Engage in combat with Helltide monsters, as they frequently drop Aberrant Cinders. Look for special glowing enemies that yield more cinders.
- Loot Glowing Objects: Collect glowing red lootables and Fiend Roses scattered throughout the Helltide area, as they provide additional cinders.
Timing is Crucial:
- Helltides last for 135 minutes, with chest locations resetting every hour. If you start a Helltide just before the hour mark, you can collect initial Mystery Chests and then return to newly spawned ones after the reset.
- Aim to open 4-6 Mystery Chests per Helltide by strategically timing your efforts around these resets4.
Utilize Online Tools: Use interactive maps or community tools that track the current spawn locations of Mystery Chests in real-time. This can significantly enhance your efficiency in locating and opening chests quickly45.
Balance Chest Types: After securing Mystery Chests, consider opening additional Tortured Chests (75 to 125 Cinders) to further increase your loot pool. These chests still offer valuable items but prioritize Mystery Chests first due to their superior rewards.

By implementing these strategies, players can optimize their time during Helltide events and significantly increase their chances of acquiring high-quality loot.

What are the best builds for maximizing loot during Helltide

To maximize loot during Helltide events in Diablo 4, specific character builds can significantly enhance your efficiency and effectiveness. Here are some of the best builds tailored for optimal loot acquisition:

Best Builds for Helltide Loot Maximization

1. Rogue – Shadow Assassin Build

Core Skills: Utilize skills like Shadow Step and Poison Trap to quickly engage and eliminate enemies.
Gear Focus: Aim for items that boost critical hit chance and damage, enhancing your ability to take down tougher foes quickly.
Playstyle: This build excels in mobility, allowing you to dart between enemy packs, maximizing cinder collection while efficiently dispatching enemies.

2. Sorceress – Frost Mage Build

Core Skills: Focus on Ice Shards and Frozen Orb to control crowds and deal significant area damage.
Gear Focus: Look for gear that enhances your frost damage and cooldown reduction, enabling more frequent spell casting.
Playstyle: Use crowd control to manage large groups of enemies, ensuring you can farm cinders while minimizing damage taken.

3. Barbarian – Whirlwind Build

Core Skills: Leverage the Whirlwind skill combined with Rallying Cry for sustained damage output and mobility.
Gear Focus: Prioritize gear that increases attack speed and area damage, allowing you to clear packs of enemies rapidly.
Playstyle: This build allows for relentless engagement with enemy mobs, making it easier to gather Aberrant Cinders quickly.

4. Necromancer – Minion Master Build

Core Skills: Use skills like Raise Skeletons and Blood Surge to maintain a steady stream of minions that can tank damage and deal damage simultaneously.
Gear Focus: Equip items that enhance minion damage and survivability, ensuring your army can withstand tougher Helltide foes.
Playstyle: Let your minions do the heavy lifting while you focus on collecting cinders and opening chests.

5. Druid – Stormcaller Build

Core Skills: Combine skills like Storm Strike with Hurricane for area control and continuous damage over time.
Gear Focus: Seek out gear that boosts your nature damage and enhances your abilities’ effectiveness.
Playstyle: This build is great for dealing with groups of enemies while maintaining a safe distance, allowing for effective cinder farming.

General Tips for Loot Maximization

Target Mystery Chests First: These chests have the highest drop rates for Legendary items, so prioritize them as you collect Aberrant Cinders.
Engage in Events and Boss Fights: Participate in Helltide events like defeating Kixxarth or Hellborne bosses to maximize loot drops.
Group Play: Consider teaming up with other players to clear areas faster and increase overall loot efficiency.

By utilizing these builds and strategies, players can significantly enhance their loot acquisition during Helltide events, ensuring they gather valuable items efficiently.