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The search for loot never ends inDiablo 4, and Season 4 introduced a familiar endgame mode that many fans of the previous game should love: The Pit. Short for The Pit of Artificers, this activity is designed to test builds by pitting players against waves upon waves of monsters in randomized areas, eventually culminating in a boss battle in the end.
Players can get tons of loot and crafting materials in The Pit, and if you’re itching to getsome ofDiablo 4’srarest items, then these randomly-generated hellscapes are the best places to dive into.
Updated July 18, 2025 by Marc Santos:The release of the Vessel of Hatred expansion also brought about plenty of changes to the base Diablo 4 experience, and that includes a revamped difficulty system that also affected how The Pit is unlocked. With that being said, we’ve updated this guide to reflect the latest version of the game as of the expansion’s release, covering the new way to unlock the Pit of Artificers as well as some other information players may want to know.
How To Unlock The Pit In Diablo 4
The Pit can be accessed by going through a portal in Cerrigar, which you’re able to open via the strange obelisk in town. However, before you can open the obelisk, you first need toreach level 60 with your current character.
In earlier versions of the game, players needed to first reach World Tier 4 and finish a T46 Nightmare Dungeon. However,Vessel of HatredreworkedDiablo 4’sdifficulty system— The Pit is now accessible on any difficulty after theyfinish a quick Priority Quest upon reaching max level.After that quest, you may enter The Pit by usingRuneshards, which drop from Helltides, Nightmare Dungeons, and other late game activities.
The Pit is very similar to Greater Nephalem Rifts inDiablo 3. The objective is to defeat a boss that only appears once enough monsters have been defeated. A timer will count upward once the run starts, and you reach the time limit, you lose the run. Every time anyone in the team dies, 30 seconds will be added to that clock, shortening the time you have to meet the goal. Die a second and third time, and the penalty goes up to 60 and 90 seconds respectively.
The Pit Rewards In Diablo 4
Successfully completing a run in The Pit rewards players with the usual shower of loot, including crafting materials and the chance to earn Unique gear. You still earn these even if you fail to beat the run in time.
If you do manage to complete a run within the time limit, you’ll be able tolevel up your Paragon Board Glyphs. The Pit used to be the main source of Masterworking materials, but this has since been moved to Nightmare Dungeons ever since the release ofVessel of Hatred.
Diablo 4’sMasterworking systemwas added during Season 4 alongside the major loot and gear overhaul. This allows players to further improve the affixes of their items, making it a great way to still get upgrades even after you get your preferred god rolls.
Finishing a Pit run on time willalso unlock the next playable tier, further increasing the challenge and rewards. The faster you clear, the more tiers you unlock at one. There are 150 tiers in The Pit as of writing, and only the best-built characters will be able to clear them all.
