Diablo 4 Season 10: Maximize Aether & Chaotic Armor

Greetings, brave wanderer! Season 10 of Diablo 4 is ablaze with challenges, and mastering the Infernal Hordes is your path to glory. Whether you're aiming to defeat Bartuk for Chaotic Armor, stockpile Infernal Compasses for endless runs, or decide when to tackle Chaos Waves, this guide has you covered with proven strategies to dominate the season. From farming Aether to optimizing your build, we'll break down everything you need to succeed.

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Farming Infernal Compasses: Three Top Methods

Infernal Compasses are your key to unlocking back-to-back Infernal Horde runs. Here are the three most effective ways to farm them:

1. Hell Tide Chests
   Opening chests during Hell Tides is a simple way to collect Infernal Compasses. Both the 250-cinder chests and smaller ones have a chance to drop compasses, making this a solid option while farming cinders. However, a recent patch nerfed the drop rate slightly, so while reliable, it's not the most efficient method. Use this as a starting point or when you're already in Hell Tides for other rewards.

2. Nightmare Dungeons with Chaos Rifts
   For a higher yield, target Nightmare Dungeons marked with Chaos Rifts. These dungeons are treasure troves, dropping Greater Affix items, Infernal Warp, potential mythics, and, crucially, 2–3 Infernal Compasses per run on average. They also boost your reputation, which ties directly into the next method. This is a go-to strategy for consistent compass farming.

3. Greater Infernal Caches via Reputation
   Maxing out your reputation board unlocks Greater Infernal Caches, which guarantee an Infernal Compass and often include Chaotic Uniques. To speed up reputation gains, farm Infernal Warp in Chaos Rift Nightmare Dungeons—4,000 Warp unlocks a new tier, granting a cache. Enhance your rewards by activating the Urn of Blazing Infernal seasonal blessing for a guaranteed 10-wave Infernal Compass and the Urn of Nightmares for additional Chaos Rift Nightmare Sigils from Helltide chests. Before opening Greater Infernal Caches, enable the Urn of Chaos Armor to double your chances of snagging Chaotic Uniques.

Pro Tip: Create a self-sustaining loop by running Chaos Rift dungeons to gather Warp, unlock caches, and use blessings to ensure top-tier compass drops. This keeps your Horde runs flowing endlessly!

Maximizing Aether in Infernal Hordes

To challenge Bartuk and claim Chaotic Armor, you need 666 Aether per Infernal Horde run. Here's how to rack it up consistently:

Prioritize Aether Lords and Aether Fiends

In Season 10, Aether Fiends and Aether Lords are the backbone of Aether farming—forget Hellborne or Soul Spires for the most part. The Colossal Fiends boon is a game-changer, transforming Aether Fiends into Aether Lords that drop triple the Aether (15 per kill instead of 5). Combine this with boons like Teeming Masses (Aetheric Masses spawn Aether Lords on death), Fish Legion (normal elites can spawn as Aether Lords), and Ruthless Lords (+5 Aether per Aether Lord kill). These synergies create a snowball effect, spawning Aether Lords left and right for massive Aether gains.

Chaos Waves: Strategic Choices

Chaos Waves offer a quick Aether boost (400–1,000 Aether), but they don't advance your Horde progress or provide lasting boons. Here's how to decide:

• Short Runs (6–8 Waves): Always choose Chaos Waves. The immediate Aether gain helps you hit 666 Aether fast, perfect for shorter runs where long-term boon stacking isn't as critical.

• Long Runs (10 Waves): Generally skip Chaos Waves unless the alternative boons are lackluster. Boons like Aether Lords (+5 Aether per kill) can triple in value (e.g., +15 Aether per kill) over multiple waves, often surpassing the one-time gain from a Chaos Wave.

Example: In a 10-wave run, choosing a Chaos Wave yielding 300 Aether might seem tempting, but a boon like Aether Lords could net 500+ Aether through stacked bonuses and frequent Lord spawns.

Soul Spires and Hellborne: Selective Picks

While Aether Lords dominate, a few Soul Spire and Hellborne boons are worth considering:

• Hungry Spires: Enemies killed near Soul Spires have a near-guaranteed chance to drop Aether (9–10 out of 15 enemies drop extra Aether globes). The spires also pull enemies in, speeding up wave clears.

• Coveted Spires (Legendary): Soul Spires grant 2.5x Aether but spawn less frequently, ideal for focusing on Aether Lord boons instead of spire-heavy runs.

• Ambushing Hellborne (Legendary): Hellborne spawn as ambushes, triggering bonus Aether events. Only take this if the alternatives are weak Soul Spire options.

• Summoned Hellborne: Hellborne spawn alongside Aether events, accelerating event progression. It's a secondary choice compared to Aether-focused boons.

Pro Tip: Always prioritize Aether Lord and Aether Fiend boons like Colossal Fiends and Teeming Masses—they're nearly guaranteed to appear and form the core of your Aether farming strategy.

Build Tips for Infernal Hordes

Your build is critical for efficient Aether farming. Focus on high burst damage to quickly eliminate Aetheric Masses and Aether Lords:

• Necromancer: Opt for a Soul Rift Area Blaster build. Minions are too slow and scattershot for the fast-paced Horde environment.

• Druid: Use Pulverize or Ravens for precise, high-impact damage to delete targets instantly. Avoid builds with unfocused or random damage output. Targeted, heavy-hitting skills ensure you clear waves fast and maximize Aether drops.

FAQs About Diablo 4 Season 10 Infernal Hordes Farming

What's the best way to farm Infernal Compasses?

Run Nightmare Dungeons with Chaos Rifts for 2–3 compasses per run and max out your reputation for Greater Infernal Caches, which always drop a compass. Use the Urn of Blazing Infernal for guaranteed 10-wave compasses.

Should I always choose Chaos Waves in Infernal Hordes?

No. Pick Chaos Waves in 6–8 wave runs for quick Aether, but skip them in 10-wave runs to prioritize stacking boons like Colossal Fiends for higher Aether totals.

Which boons are critical for maximizing Aether?

Focus on Colossal Fiends, Teeming Masses, Fish Legion, and Ruthless Lords. These boost Aether Lord spawns and triple their Aether drops, ensuring you hit 666 Aether consistently.

Are Hellborne or Soul Spire boons worth taking?

Only select Hungry Spires or Coveted Spires for Soul Spires, and Ambushing or Summoned Hellborne if Aether Lord boons aren't available. Aether-focused boons always take priority.

What builds are best for Infernal Hordes?

Use high burst damage builds like Necromancer's Soul Rift Area Blaster or Druid's Pulverize/Ravens. Avoid minion-based or unfocused damage builds for faster clears.

Thanks for Reading

Conquering Infernal Hordes in Diablo 4 Season 10 comes down to smart farming—stockpiling Infernal Compasses, mastering Aether Lord boons, and making strategic Chaos Wave decisions. With these tips, you'll be defeating Bartuk and donning Chaotic Armor in no time. Keep an eye on MMOJUGG for more guides and gear to power up your Sanctuary journey!