Season 9 of Diablo 4, titled Sins of the Horadrim, brings a fresh and intense endgame mode called Escalating Nightmares. This new feature challenges players to complete a chain of three Nightmare Dungeons consecutively, with difficulty and rewards increasing as they progress. Unlike traditional dungeons, the affixes — modifiers that affect enemies and dungeon conditions — stack from one dungeon to the next, making each subsequent dungeon more punishing than the last Diablo 4 gold.
To begin an Escalating Nightmare, players must acquire an Escalation Sigil. These sigils are obtainable through the Horadric Knowledge seasonal reputation rewards or from Horadric caches found in Strongrooms starting at Torment I difficulty. Activating the sigil opens the first Nightmare Dungeon in the chain, and upon completion, a Horadric Portal appears to lead to the next dungeon, carrying over the affixes and increasing the challenge.
The mode becomes especially brutal at Torment Tiers, where monster power escalates with each dungeon, and the final dungeon features all affixes from the previous two stacked together. Successfully completing all three dungeons in Torment difficulty teleports players to face the final boss, Exalted Astaroth, in his lair — a fight that tests even the most seasoned players.
Escalating Nightmares offer high-risk, high-reward gameplay. Defeating Astaroth and completing the dungeons can yield Horadric Jewels, powerful new items tied to Season 9’s systems, alongside unique gear, Obducite, gold, and more. This mode adds a fresh layer of depth and excitement to Diablo 4’s endgame content Diablo 4 Items.
