Just in time for the 25th anniversary of the Diablo series, you can return to the legendary village of Tristram. We have all the info on what you can expect at the event.
Ahh, fresh meat! – That’s what the Butcher must have thought when he found out about the return of the Diablo 3 event The Darkness in Tristram on the (Blizzard Blog). But it’s not just the iconic anti-vegetarian you get to face again, other fan favourites are also returning to stir up some nostalgic feelings in you. Find out what awaits you and what rewards are up for grabs in this article.
Even though the next part of the series is becoming increasingly clear on the horizon, Diablo 3 is far from disappearing into purgatory. Season 25 started just recently – you can read about the changes it has in store here:
Diablo 3 Season 25: First info on start, season theme and more
All info about The Eclipse in Tristram
When does the event start and how long does it last? You won’t have to wait much longer before you can step over the threshold of the well-known cathedral again. As in previous years, the spectacle is divided into two phases:
The pre-event has already started on 31 December 2021 at 1 am. In it, you can already pick up the trail of some cultists that will lead you to Tristram.
However, the portal to the retro dungeon will only open a few days later, on 3 January 2022 at 1 am. After that, however, you will have more than enough time to turn off the lights of the sinister monstrosities more than once. The event ends on 31 January 2022 – also at 1 am.
If you want to know how to find all the secrets of the event, you can find the answers in our detailed video:
How can I take part in the event? In order to find the Cultists’ trail in the first place, you’ll need to play the game in Adventure Mode! If you eliminate the cultists, you will find the first clues to a portal in their remains, which should lead you to Tristram.
You will eventually find this portal in the old ruins in Act 1, which will take you to the village that series veterans from Diablo 1 know and love – including the familiar melody. The only bad thing is that all the inhabitants are dead and the houses are badly damaged.
What awaits me in the Anniversary Dungeon? It’s up to you to enter the retro dungeon and take on some of the most iconic bosses of the entire series in classic pixel art:
- the Butcher
- the Skeleton King
- Arch-Bishop Lazarus
- the Dark Lord (Diablo) himself
The dungeon corresponds to the structure of the original from Diablo 1 and therefore comprises 16 levels, which are divided into four different regions (cathedral, catacombs, cave, hell). Despite the retro look, the environments nevertheless appear much more contemporary thanks to Diablo 3 technology.
What rewards can I get? Of course, your heroism shall not go unrewarded. Unique items in the dungeon await you in the form of loot as rewards for your monster-slaughtering. You can also expect new transmogrifications, achievements, pets and more. Three of these rewards have already been revealed by Blizzard:
Background: What’s behind the event
The event The Darkness in Tristram is of course old hat for those of you who have been loyal to Diablo 3 for many years. But this year there is a special anniversary to celebrate, because on 31 December 1996 the legendary first part of the series was released and revolutionised the world of computer games forever.
Although Diablo 1 laid the foundation for the action role-playing game genre, the game seems almost simplistic to us from today’s perspective. But the development of the original is so exciting and trend-setting that we have dedicated our own multi-part making-of to the subject.
