Onyx Hold stands out as one of the most alluring yet dangerous dungeons in Diablo 4. Tucked away in a remote mountain corner of the Dry Steppes, this ominous cave system guards coveted treasures for those daring enough to uncover its secrets. The promise of rare loot and apex monsters draws me back to test my skills within its depths time and time again.
As a passionate ARPG fan, I live for dungeons like Onyx Hold – labyrinthian realms filled with vile beasts, deadly traps, and of course…epic gear. Join me as I dig deeper into everything you need to know about locating and conquering this sprawling subterranean complex.
Pinpointing Onyx Hold‘s Secluded Location
Before you can infiltrate Onyx Hold and reap its generous rewards, you must first discover its hidden location. This foreboding dungeon sits nestled within a mountainside to the west of the Onyx Watchtower Stronghold.
After securing the Watchtower from its bandit inhabitants, head west while traversing the cliff‘s edge to locate a concealed passage. This dim stairwell burrows deep into the earth, transporting daring adventurers down into the heart of Onyx Hold.
If you lack the Onyx Watchtower Waypoint still, the closest fast travel anchor resides all the way back in Fate‘s Retreat – not ideal. I‘d highly suggest clearing the bandit Watchtower first to permanently unlock quicker access to Onyx Hold later on. The dungeon hides around the first ridge west from the Outpost Waypoint.
Sorcerers should especially take note, as Onyx Hold safeguards the incredibly powerful Storm Swell Offensive aspect to amplify spell builds. Grab a mount to expedite the lengthy journey from Fate‘s Retreat across the Steppes. Dismount before approaching the dungeon entrance to avoid agroing extra enemies though!
Upon entering the unassuming mine shaft opening, you soon emerge into a sprawling underground complex. Interconnected tunnels and chambers with height variation spread out in all directions, offering many paths to explore. Glowing blue Spirit Fonts illuminate portions of the dungeon, but deeper sections become consumed by darkness…
Various objectives must get completed here to fully conquer Onyx Hold, including:
- Purging all enemies
- Destroying Languishing Corpses for bonus XP
- Slaying the optional boss, Arminel Flarebang
Eliminate all enemies and corpses first to finish the mandatory exploration portion. But I strongly advise battling the dungeon‘s fiery boss Arminel Flarebang as well. This imposing molten monstrosity requires skill to take down, but he protects Onyx Hold‘s most coveted legendary loot!
Optimizing Your Dungeon-Delving Strategy
Onyx Hold teems with dangerous foes just waiting to crush overconfident raiders. Prepare properly before breaching its depths to avoid a quick death! Upgraded armor and ample resistances make a world of difference against hard-hitting elites.
The Blacksmithing station conveniently located inside the dungeon lets you craft protecting gear too. Build missing resistances according to the enemies that trouble you most so far. I prefer prioritizing fire defense before facing Arminel Flarebang and his lethal molten attacks in particular.
Don‘t forget Support potions either – they replenish armor to withstand deadly strikes. Health and mana potions help further bolster sustainability as well. While very doable solo, bringing a tanky companion soaks up damage and diverts attention from swarming fiends too.
Lastly, don‘t hesitate to retreat back to cleared areas in order to split apart and isolate threatening enemies. Many elite packs roam in close proximity, easily overwhelming the unprepared. The abundance of side passages and elevation shifts in Onyx Hold cater well to strategic kiting.
Reaping the Dungeon‘s Generous Spoils
After purging Onyx Hold of its denizens and completing all major objectives, you‘ll finish exploring the dungeon fully. This grants access to its generous hidden treasure stash.
Compared to repeatable dungeons like Flooded Foothills, Onyx Hold uniquely rewards the Storm Swell Offensive aspect upon first completion:
| Reward | Onyx Hold | Flooded Foothills |
|---|---|---|
| Renown | 30 | 15 |
| Crafting Station | Blacksmith | None |
| Legendary Gear | From Boss | Uncommon |
| Class-Specific Reward | Storm Swell Aspect | None |
The unique Storm Swell magic augmentation alone makes Onyx Hold worthwhile for Sorcerers. And everyone can benefit from the convenient Waypoint placement, Crafting capabilities, and extra shots at Legendaries via Arminel Flarebang.
After the objectives wrap up, it pays to recheck hidden side passages too. Devourer monsters frequently respawn here, offering more opportunities for set gear when defeated again. And their Death Energy gradually empowers the dungeon‘s central Altar…
Harnessing the Death Altar‘s Dark Power
At the end of one winding passage lies the Death Altar – a site of profane rituals and sacrifice. Upon collecting 100 Death Energy from Devourer monster essence, you can ignite this bloodstained altar to summon a deadly challenge:
The Vengeance of Atonement calls one of the six Faction Leaders into the dungeon, seeking to cleanse it through combat. You must work alongside your summoned ally to withstand multiple waves of enemies and destroy the eventual Champion monster. It‘s no easy feat, but besting this trial grants highly rare crafting patterns as a reward!
I barely survived my first Vengeance summoning. The endless reinforcements fleeing from Katari‘s whirlwind quickly overwhelmed my underleveled Necromancer. Now I specifically revisit Onyx Hold to gather Devourer essence and make another attempt. Each failed lesson teaches me optimal strategies to overcome the next Vengeance – waiting to ambush enemies from the upper walkways proved far more effective.
If you enjoy pushing your build‘s limits against steep odds, the Death Altar offers repeatable access to these intense skirmishes. And the promise of exclusive crafting recipes you can‘t obtain elsewhere provides temptation to keep battling for mastery of the Vengeance ritual.
Deciphering the History Behind the Dungeon
Little documented history explains Onyx Hold‘s origins. Based on environmental clues and snippets of buried lore, scholars and explorers piece together theories about its dark past.
The dungeon‘s depth and intricacy imply this massive excavation served as more than just a mine – perhaps the stronghold for some ancient clan or society. Sinister skull motifs and blood-caked weaponry suggest they practiced violent, ritualistic traditions as well.
Research hints at some cataclysmic invasion that may have wiped out the original inhabitants, sealing their grim fortress away until present day. Even the name "Onyx Hold" channels foreboding imagery, like an obsidian crypt never meant to see sunlight…
Now only vengeful spirits, crawling ghouls, and the hellish Boss Arminel Flarebang occupy its cold halls. But they fiercely protect the remnants of power and artifacts left behind centuries ago. What other occult secrets hide deeper within the darkness? I personally can‘t resist the pull to delve back into Onyx Hold and discover more of its buried history myself!
Evaluating if the Reward Outweighs the Risk
When weighing if Onyx Hold deserves prioritization compared to other dungeons, consider risk versus rewards. It certainly qualifies among the most dangerous Nightmare tier dungeons. Imposing elite enemies and deadly traps permeate the zone, ready to crush the complacent. I highly recommend sufficient resistances and ample Heath/Mana sustenance before breaching its depths.
However, the unique Sunderland Offensive Sorcerer Aspect alone provides strong incentive, drastically augmenting spell power for tricky playstyles. The dungeon also provides more Renown than most repeatable ones like Flooded Foothills, accelerating early progression.
While the boss Arminel Flarebang can melt the unprepared, he holds the potential for top-tier Legendary drops. Even farming respawning Devourers grants chances for late game set gear. And the repeatable Death Altar event offers bosses on-demand while providing extremely rare crafting patterns.
So in summary – yes, if you properly prepare, Onyx Hold‘s risks pay off through boosted character growth and gear acquisition. Just make sure to enter tuned for a formidable challenge!
My Most Memorable Moment in Onyx Hold
I‘ll never forget the sheer intensity of my first dance with Arminel Flarebang. There I stood as a brash young Sorcerer – I had crushed every other dungeon with ease thanks to my glass cannon fire build. But when that hulking molten monstrosity emerged from lava and began lobbing massive meteors in my direction, panic set in quick.
I narrowly dodged his Slam attack only to get clipped by a devastating fireball, costing over 50% of my health instantly! The sudden damage shocked my overconfidence. As I frantically chugged potions, kiting the burly brute up and down stairways, I realized this foe would force me to truly master elemental resistance and strategic play.
After 15 grueling minutes I felled Arminel through patience and persistence. The moment his limp body collapsed seared victory and relief into my memory for ages. And he left behind an Ember Heart amulet that carried my build for 10 more levels! Now I eagerly return, hungry to recapture that adrenaline rush and test my current power again.
The Allure Persists in the Shadows…
Onyx Hold clearly stands high atop the list of must-complete dungeons in Diablo 4. Despite the inherent risks, overcoming its challenges fast-tracks progression unlike anywhere else. Sorcerers in particular shouldn‘t hesitate, with the exclusive Storm Swell Offensive Aspect waiting behind the final boss.
Even after collecting my coveted loot, the secrets hidden deeper within the darkness continue to call me back. What other occult remnants hide just out of sight? Can my strength grow enough to finally master the Vengeance of Atonement ritual? I won‘t rest until I unravel all of Onyx Hold‘s buried secrets!
