Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred | Dark Citadel Guide

Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred is a stepping stone on Diablo IV’s journey to redeeming its sad launch. It is a neat addition that introduces a new playable class, new levels, mechanics, and more. Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred has a lot of content. While the Expansion is well-received, the game faces technical difficulties that saw the Expansion be review bombed not too long after its release. 

Things have calmed down now, and with more players reaching the end game, the Dark Citadel offers ample opportunities for even more gameplay. This guide will delve into the intricacies of the Dark Citadel and provide an overview of what it is, how to access it, and what it offers.

The Dark Citadel is only unlocked upon reaching Level 60, which is the maximum level in the game currently. Once you do so, a new quest will be unlocked that asks you to talk to Priestess Cualli. You’ll find her in Kurast City, and once you complete the quest, you’ll unlock the Dark Citadel.  To get to the Dark Citadel, you should make your way to the Rise of Khazra waypoint, which stands in the middle of Nahantu.

You can play the Dark Citadel with a group of 2 to 4. While you can try to complete it with one other buddy, it is strongly recommended that you have at least four people before you play it. The Dark Citadel requires heightened amounts of teamwork and coordination and is a great challenge of both skill and friendships.

The Dark Citadel is split into three wings: the Labyrinth of Souls, the Enclave of Strife, and the Dominion of Zagraal. Other than sounding like heavy metal bands, the three wings offer separate and unique challenges and puzzles, each with its lore. 

Naturally, you will face a number of bosses with their mechanics. You have to learn the patterns and tackle them on the move, with many of them requiring different ways of getting rid of them.

Your group will often get split, at times, between the real world and the spirit realm, needing you to complete separate paths and fulfill different missions that often rely on each other. Upon completing each wing, you get rewards that match the difficulty and end-game nature. Your reward tier is determined by a Treasury Bar, which gets filled up as you kill Elite enemies. 

The first time you complete the Dark Citadel every week, you get a reward Cache. You also earn Citadel Coins, which you use to buy cosmetics. Most of these items are used to upgrade your existing ones; you will also get an exclusive material, the Khazra Horn, that you need to transmute Boss Summoning items at the Alchemist. As mentioned previously, the Citadel Coins can be used to unlock exclusive cosmetics, and there are a few of them.

Check out our review and other guides on Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred:
- Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred Review
- Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred | Mercenary Guide
- Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred | Spiritborn Guide