Unlocking endgame bosses in Diablo IV requires mastering the collection of Stygian Stones, a valuable crafting and summoning resource pivotal for progressing through high-tier content. Stygian Stones are among the rarest materials in Diablo IV, demanded for trading at special altars to gain Greater Lair Boss materials, which in turn are necessary to unlock fearsome endgame bosses. Farming these stones efficiently can be a game-changer for players aiming to dominate the late game.
The primary and most reliable method to farm Stygian Stones is through "The Pit," a dungeon unlocked after completing the "Pit of the Artificer" quest. Accessing The Pit demands reaching World Tier 4 and completing a Tier 4 Nightmare dungeon. The dungeon entrance lies in Cerrigar, marked by an obelisk near the town's left side. Upon defeating the boss inside The Pit, players can open a loot chest that may contain Stygian Stones. The number of stones dropped correlates with the dungeon's difficulty level, with higher tiers providing better chances and quantities. Regular runs of The Pit with powerful builds tailored for swift boss kills, like Whirlwind Bleed Barbarians, can maximize efficiency.
Besides The Pit, Stygian Stones also drop though less predictably from high-tier Infernal Hordes and Tormented World Bosses. To open portals to Infernal Hordes, players must complete "The Eyes of the Enemy" quest to obtain the Infernal Compass. Running these events in Tier 6 or higher maps, especially with Hellborne modifiers stacked, increases drop rates and chest opportunities for Stygian Stones. Similarly, World Bosses and Nightmare Dungeons of Tier 6 and above sometimes reward stones from their chests, but these drops are less consistent than in The Pit.
Players often face the frustration of inconsistent drops, as Stygian Stones are rarer than other materials like Exquisite Blood or Distilled Fear. To mitigate this scarcity, some endgame players leverage the in-game trade system, exchanging other plentiful materials or gold for stones with fellow players. Additionally, creating alternate characters to farm "Mother's Gift" caches another source of Stygian Stones can supplement stone acquisition without relying solely on dungeon runs.
Using Stygian Stones requires visiting Altar of Powerful Foes, found near major boss locations from the campaign. Here, stones serve as currency to obtain Greater Lair Boss materials, which allow players to summon and face challenging endgame bosses. Efficient farming and resource management become vital, as players must decide when to save stones for difficult bosses or spend them strategically on upgrades.
The best way to farm Stygian Stones in Diablo IV is by consistently running The Pit dungeon on the highest difficulty possible, supplemented by participating in Infernal Hordes and Tormented Boss events on Tier 6 and above. Using optimized builds and grouping effectively improves clear speed and drop quantity. When direct farming proves slow or frustrating, trading with other players or farming alternative sources like Mother's Gift caches can provide a steady supply. Mastery of these methods unlocks the path to the toughest endgame bosses, enhancing both power and prestige in Diablo IV.
