Diablo 4 Walkthrough: Acts 2 and 3, Scosglen to the Dry Steppes

Part 2 of our Diablo 4 walkthrough covers Act 2: The Knife Twists Again in the green, rainy forests of Scosglen, and Act 3: The Making of Monsters in the harsh Dry Steppes. It starts when you first travel to Scosglen and ends with the fight against Brol, the Tyrant King.

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The whole walkthrough

Order note: Acts 1, 2 and 3 can be played in any order after the prologue. You need all three done before Act 4 opens. If you skipped ahead from part 1, that is fine.

Act 2: The Knife Twists Again (Scosglen)

Act 2 has 17 quests. The main hub is the town of Cerrigar, so unlock its waypoint as soon as you arrive. Your guide for most of the act is Donan, an old friend of Lorath. Some quests split into two branches that you can do in either order before they join up again.

Part A: Donan and the dead

1. An Unforeseen Visit and Dark Omens: find Donan and learn what Lilith has been doing in Scosglen.
2. Encroaching Shadows and Exhuming the Forgotten: follow the trail of Lilith's servants through the haunted parts of the region.
3. Harrowed Lament: head north through a haunted pass to reach Airidah, Keeper of the Dead, who has joined Lilith. You face her at a place called Solitude. On the way you destroy Risen Remains and fight spirits.

Boss: Airidah, Keeper of the Dead

Airidah fights with spirits and the dead. She summons helpers and uses ranged magic. Kill her adds fast so they do not stack up, and keep moving so her spells miss. When she marks the ground, step out. She is not very tanky, so steady damage wins this one.

Part B: The druids and the beast

1. Feral Nature: go to the town of Tirmair, speak with Knight-Captain Razia, then look for the druid Nafain at the Boglann Stone Circle.
2. Fangs of Corruption: your first meeting with the Amalgam of Rage, a huge three-headed beast. You are not meant to kill it here. Survive, and the fight ends on its own when it runs off.
3. Stemming the Flow: the real fight with the Amalgam of Rage.

Boss: Amalgam of Rage

This beast is big, fast and hits hard up close. It charges across the arena and slams the ground. Never stand in a straight line in front of it for long. Dodge sideways when it lines up a charge, then punish it from the side. Ranged players should kite it in a wide circle. Melee players should save their dodge for the charge, not for small hits.

Part C: The road to Astaroth

1. Buried Secrets, In Ruins and Entombed Legacy: dig into old ruins and tombs to find out what Lilith wants in Scosglen.
2. Parting Embers: talk to Yorin in Braestaig.
3. Shadow Over Cerrigar: trouble comes back to Cerrigar.
4. As the World Burns: meet Donan at Lower Cerrigar and open the gate. The boss fight starts almost at once, so spend your skill points and equip your best gear before you click.

Boss: Astaroth

Astaroth is the big wall of Act 2. He has three phases, and his attacks get faster and more frequent in each one. His heavy hits can take almost all your health.

• Every big attack has a warning. Watch his wind-up and the marks on the floor, and dodge out before the hit lands.
• Fire is a big part of this fight. Do not stand in burning ground.
• Hit him after he finishes a big attack, then back off again. Greedy players die here.
• Drink your potion early, not at the last sliver of health.
• If he keeps killing you, it is fine to lower the difficulty. You can raise it again after.

Beating Astaroth ends Act 2.

Act 3: The Making of Monsters (Dry Steppes)

Act 3 is about finding Elias, the fallen Horadrim who brought Lilith back. The hub town is Ked Bardu. This act is the darkest in tone, with cults and a cruel tyrant.

1. The Spreading Darkness: starts in Ked Bardu. Lorath points you toward clues about Elias.
2. Next you get a choice of two leads. Do both, in either order:
   • Whittling Sanity: search the canyons near Abahru. You end up fighting Genbar the Shrine-Keeper.
   • Suffering Disquiet: go to the Orbei Monastery, speak with the Abbot and defeat the Eidolon of Orbei in the monastery archives.
3. A Moment to Collect and Brought Low: the two trails come together and you get closer to Elias's hiding places.
4. Whispers from the Past: a story-heavy quest that ends with a fight against Mother's Judgment.
5. Through the Dark Glass: search for Elias's sanctuary and learn what he has been doing.
6. Descent into Flame: defeat Brol, the Tyrant King at the Altar of Sacrifice.

Bosses: Genbar and the Eidolon of Orbei

Both are mid-level fights. Genbar hits hard in melee, so stay mobile and do not trade blows head on. The Eidolon is a spirit fight with a lot of ground effects. Watch the floor and move between attacks. Neither should stop you if you are keeping up with the story level.

Boss: Mother's Judgment

This is a short but intense fight. Treat it like the others: learn the wind-ups in the first minute, dodge the marked areas, and only attack when you are safe.

Boss: Brol, the Tyrant King

Brol is the final boss of Act 3. He is a strong melee fighter, and the arena fills with fire as the fight goes on.

• Keep your distance when he winds up his big swings and charges.
• Do not get trapped in a corner. Stay near the middle where you have room to dodge.
• Kill any adds that join the fight, since they block your escape routes.
• Fire resistance on your gear helps, but movement matters more.

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Tips for this part

• Your mount is close. The mount quest, Donan's Favor, opens once Acts 1 to 3 are all done. Until then, use waypoints well, because the Steppes are huge on foot.
• Unlock every waypoint you pass, especially in Cerrigar and Ked Bardu. It saves a lot of walking when you need to sell or repair.
• Upgrade your potion at the Alchemist when the game tells you a new one is ready. Older potions heal far too little.
• Read boss wind-ups. Astaroth and Brol punish greed. One step back is better than one more hit.

My take

Act 2 is my favourite stretch of the base game. Scosglen looks amazing in the rain and Astaroth feels like a real boss, not a big health bar. Act 3 is slower and grimmer, but Brol is a great villain. Did Astaroth give you as much trouble as he gave me?

FAQ

How long is Act 2 in Diablo 4?

Act 2 has 17 main quests and usually takes a few hours. Side quests and dungeons in Scosglen add more time.

How do I beat Astaroth in Act 2?

Spend your skill points and wear your best gear first. Then watch his wind-ups, dodge out of the marked areas, stay out of the fire and only attack after he finishes a big move. He gets faster in each of his three phases.

Can I win the first Amalgam of Rage fight?

No, you are not meant to. The first meeting in Fangs of Corruption ends when it runs away. The real fight comes later in Stemming the Flow.

When do I get a mount in Diablo 4?

After you finish Acts 1, 2 and 3. The quest Donan's Favor then sends you to Donan in the Cathedral of Light in Kyovashad, and then to the stable master. We cover it at the start of part 3.

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