Hawezar’s strongholds loom as corrupted bastions, ripe for reclamation in Diablo 4-claim them all to purify the region and reveal hidden Altars of Lilith.
After finishing any of these Strongholds, you’ll gain a new public space, which – depending on the Stronghold – can include things like vendors, Waypoints, and side quests. All the Hawezar Strongholds guard access to an Altar of Lilith, which makes clearing them even more essential.
In this Diablo 4 guide, we’ll teach you what Strongholds are, show you where to find them all in Kehjistan, and give you a brief summary of each one.
You can see the locations of Crusader’s Monument, Eriman’s Pyre, and Vyeresz on the map below, or click through to our full interactive map.
Crusader’s Monument
Crusader’s Monument lies in southern Hawezar, surrounded by swampy terrain and abandoned structures. The area is heavily guarded by undead crusaders who protect the sacred site from intruders. Clearing out these foes and purifying the monument restores peace to the grounds and reveals new opportunities to explore nearby altars and hidden paths.
Crusader’s Monument is located to the north of Zarbinzet, the capital city of Hawezar.
- Purge Monument of undead by killing enemies in the center area.
- Investigate the Graverobber’s Corpse by the brazier in the middle.
- Pick up the Exhumed Crusader’s Skull.
- Kill the enemy and place the skull in the Brazier.
- Wander around the area picking up more Crusader Skulls.
- Place all three Crusader Skulls in the Brazier.
- Defeat the ghosts of Dame Maryam, Sir Thom, and Sir Morholt.
- Light the Wanderer’s Shrine, which is indicated by a diamond on your map and will finish off the Stronghold.
Eriman’s Pyre
Eriman’s Pyre stands as a cursed stronghold in Hawezar’s shadowed swamps, overrun by twisted cultists and their fiery horrors. Players storm its blighted halls to confront the pyromaniac Eriman, purging his infernal altar amid waves of flame-wreathed foes. Victory clears the area, reveals a nearby Altar of Lilith, and opens safer paths through the mire for further exploration.
Eriman’s Pyre is located west of the Tree of Whispers, the endgame vendor in Hawezar.
- Speak with the Spirit of the Pyre.
- Use the Villagers’ Remains on the Fiery Focus to unlock each of the four gates, killing the boss inside before moving on the next section.
- Activate the Pyre once all areas are clear.
- Kill Duz’Agur, Eriman’s Bane.
- Light the Wanderer’s Shrine, which is indicated by a diamond on your map and will finish off the Stronghold.
Vyeresz
Vyeresz sits deep within the swamplands of Hawezar, overrun by cultists infested with dark magic. Clearing this stronghold demands constant awareness, as poison pools and ambushes fill the narrow paths. Once defeated, the area transforms into a fortified outpost with merchants and a waypoint, making exploration easier. Adventurers can also find an Altar of Lilith nearby, offering a permanent stat boost after purification of the site.
Vyeresz is west of the city of Backwater, which is on the eastern shore of Hawezar.
- Find and destroy the Serpent’s Eye Shrines.
- Survive the Cultist Onslaught while opening the door.
- Explore the ruins to reach the boss fight.
- Defeat Dianthus.
- Light the Wanderer’s Shrine, which is indicated by a diamond on your map and will finish off the Stronghold.
Best route to clear all Hawezar Strongholds efficiently
Hawezar’s three Strongholds-Crusader’s Monument, Vyeresz, and Eriman’s Pyre-can be cleared efficiently by starting from the central Zarbinzet Waypoint for minimal backtracking.
Starting Point
Unlock the Zarbinzet Waypoint early in Hawezar for fast travel. This positions you centrally between Crusader’s Monument (northwest) and Vyeresz (east), with Eriman’s Pyre reachable last in the north.
Recommended Route
Follow this sequence to leverage unlocked Waypoints and natural progression:
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Crusader’s Monument first: Head directly north from Zarbinzet into Umir Plateau. Clear graverobbers, collect skulls, burn them at the brazier, and defeat the three Crusader ghosts (Dame Mary, Sir Morholt, and apparition). Activate the Wanderer’s Shrine southeast to unlock its Waypoint.
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Vyeresz second: Fast travel back to Zarbinzet, then travel east through Fethis Wetlands to the southern coast (west of Backwater). Destroy two Serpent’s Eyes (elite snakes in buildings east and northwest), survive cultist waves during door opening, and slay boss Dianthus inside the temple ruins.
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Eriman’s Pyre last: Use Zarbinzet or new Vyeresz Waypoint to head northeast past Dismal Foothills (east of Wejinhani). Speak to Pyre Spirit, slay Fallen Overseer for Villager’s Remains, extinguish four fire foci to open gates, defeat elites including Khuz’ur (Eriman Bane), and light the shrine.
Efficiency Tips
Group with players to speed up mob clears and bosses, as Strongholds scale with party size. Prioritize objectives over side enemies; post-clear, grab nearby Altars of Lilith for bonuses (e.g., +2 Dexterity at Vyeresz). This route unlocks dungeons like Bastion of Faith and Oblivion early.
Which Stronghold should I start with for fastest clear time
Vyeresz offers the fastest clear time among Hawezar’s Strongholds, often under 3-5 minutes for optimized players due to its straightforward objectives.
Why Vyeresz First
Players frequently prioritize Vyeresz for speed runs because it involves destroying two elite Serpent’s Eyes (guarding snake nests), surviving brief cultist waves, and defeating a single boss (Dianthus) in a compact temple area-minimal travel and RNG compared to skull collection in Crusader’s Monument or multi-gate mechanics in Eriman’s Pyre.
Comparison of Clear Times
| Stronghold | Est. Time | Key Factors |
|---|---|---|
| Vyeresz | 3-5 min | Simple destroy + boss |
| Crusader’s Monument | 5-7 min | Skull hunt + 3 ghosts |
| Eriman’s Pyre | 7-10 min | Multi-foci + elites |
Tips for Speed
Start from Zarbinzet Waypoint (eastward path), skip side mobs, and group up to burst elites. High mobility builds excel here, unlocking its Waypoint and nearby Altar of Lilith (+2 Dexterity) instantly for further efficiency.
