Murmuring Obols might seem like small trinkets at first, but in Diablo 4, they hold the power to shape your character’s progress and gear in unexpected ways. Knowing where and how to spend them can turn chance into real advantage.
Murmuring Obols give you a chance to get power armor, weapons, and accessories early on, and can also be exchanged for Whispering Keys.
How to earn Murmuring Obols in Diablo 4
Murmuring Obols drop from Whisper Caches, which you receive by filling the Whisper Cache bar through completing Whispers of the Dead. Participate in Helltides to gather Cinders and open Tortured Gifts, as these caches often appear there. Check the tree menu in the top-right corner of your map to track progress and claim rewards from completed Whispers. Focus on seasonal activities and bounties from the Tree of Whispers for steady accumulation.
Murmuring Obols are a new currency in Diablo 4, but function similar to Blood Shards found in Diablo 3 (if you’re familiar with that game). You can exchange Murmuring Obols at the Purveyor of Curiosities found throughout major cities like Kyovashad.
You can obtain Murmuring Obols by completing World Events in Diablo 4, with a greater amount of Murmuring Obols distributed to players based on event participation and if they fulfilled the minor objectives for the specific World Event they are tackling.
You can spend Murmuring Obols on Whispering Keys – which can be used to unlock certain chests on the world map – or to obtain weapons, armor, and accessories for their character.
How to increase Murmuring Obol capacity in Diablo 4
You can raise your Murmuring Obol capacity by progressing through Diablo 4’s Renown system. Completing zone activities such as side quests, dungeons, and strongholds rewards Renown points, and reaching specific Renown tiers in each region grants permanent increases to your Obol storage. Earning these rewards on one character shares the expanded capacity across all characters in your account, making exploration and completing regional objectives a practical way to grow your Obol limit.
At the beginning of the game, you can only hold up to 500 Murmuring Obols at a time. In other words, you’ll need to head back to a Purveyor of Curiosity to spend your Murmuring Obols before tackling World Events if you don’t want to lose out on the precious currency.
However, you can increase the amount of Murmuring Obols you can hold by increasing your Renown in each of Diablo 4‘s regions, or by finding certain Altars of Lilith around Sanctuary. Some statues increase your stats, others increases your Murmuring Obol carrying capacity. If you’re looking to find altars that boost your capacity, consult our guides for Altars of Lilith in Fractured Peaks, Scosglen, Dry Steppes, Kehjistan, and Hawezar.
Best items to buy with Murmuring Obols in 2026
Murmuring Obols remain a key gambling currency in Diablo 4 as of 2026, best spent at Purveyors of Curiosities for targeted gear slots offering high-value affixes.
Top Gear Purchases
Prioritize slots like gloves and rings for their potential to roll multiple offensive stats and aspects critical to builds; gloves cost 40 Obols and often yield versatile affixes. Helmets and chest armor (both 40 Obols) follow closely, as they frequently drop with greater affixes-marked by a star-which boost stats by 1.5x and synergize with masterworking.
Whispering Keys
Buy Whispering Keys (20 Obols each) early for opening Silent Chests, which provide solid loot like rares and legendaries, though they’re less optimal later when focusing on specific gear.
Strategic Advice
Target one-handed weapons (50 Obols) for classes needing offensive aspects, avoiding pricier two-handeds (75 Obols) unless essential; amulets (60 Obols) offer broad stats but lower volume. Farm via Season 11+ events and Undercity for higher caps (up to 1,000 Obols) to sustain rolls.
Are Whispering Keys still the best early purchase in 2026
Whispering Keys are no longer considered the absolute best early purchase with Murmuring Obols in Diablo 4 as of 2026.
Current Early-Game Value
Early on, Silent Chests opened by these keys (20 Obols each) offer random rares and occasional legendaries, providing quick gear upgrades and materials when options are limited. However, their loot lacks targeting specificity, making them less efficient than direct gear gambles from Purveyors of Curiosities, especially post-Season 11 updates that enhanced Obol gear pools.
Better Alternatives
Gamble on gloves, helms, or one-handed weapons (40-50 Obols) instead for class-specific affixes and higher Legendary drop potential tailored to your build. Stockpile 2-3 keys for opportunistic Silent Chests during exploration, but prioritize gear rolls once you hit level 20+ or enter seasonal content.
