The storyline for Season 1 (Season of the Malignant) introduces Cormond and the new Seasonal Mechanic called Malignant Hearts in Diablo 4. Read on to learn how to unlock the questline and what quests you need to complete to progress the story in Season 1.
List of Contents
- Season 1 Questline Walkthrough
- What to Do After the Season 1 Questline
- Season 1 Questline Rewards
- How to Unlock Season of the Malignant
- Diablo 4 Related Guides
Season 1 Questline Walkthrough
| No. | Quest Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Burning from Within |
| 2 | A Plague of Hatred |
| 3 | Holding Back the Flood |
| 4 | Answers in the Ashes |
| 5 | A Prayer for Salvation |
| 6 | Hope's Guardian |
| 7 | Ruins of the Faith |
| 8 | The Cold Hard Truth |
| 9 | A Merciful Fate |
Burning from Within
| Objectives |
|---|
| ・Look for survivors on the road・Enter the Forest Clearing・Search the Forest Clearing・Slay the strange demon・Inspect the Malignant Heart・Speak with Cormond at the wagon・Take the Bag of Cages from Cormond's Chest・Return to Cormond with cages |
During this quest, you will meet Cormond after saving him from a strange demon and he will teach you about the Malignant Hearts.
All Malignant Hearts and How to Use
A Plague of Hatred
| Objectives |
|---|
| ・Find Cormond outside of Orbei・Speak with Cormond・Defeat Malignant in the Ravening Pit・Craft a Brutal Malignant Invoker at Cormond's Workbench・Find a Brutal Outgrowth |
In this quest, you will learn how to craft Invokers and Cormond will teach you how to use them on Malignant Outgrowths that you can find inside Malignant Tunnels.
Holding Back the Flood
| Objectives |
|---|
| ・Complete Chapter 1 of the Season Journey・Complete Chapter 2 of the Season Journey |
To complete this storyline, you just need to finish Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 of the Season Journey.
How to Complete Season 1 Journey Fast
Answers in the Ashes
| Objectives |
|---|
| ・Investigate Cormond's Wagon・Defeat the Malignant Ambush・Read Note from Cormond・Find Cormond at the Orbei Monastery・Speak with Cormond・Enter the Crypts of Orbei・Bring Cormond to the Sealed Door・Defeat the Skeleton Ambush・Find the Records Room with Cormond・Search the Records Room・Talk to Cormond・Defeat Varshan the Consumed |
Meet up with Cormond in the monastery and explore the Crypts of Orbei to find the secrets behind the Cages of Binding and defeat Varshan the Consumed.
A Prayer for Salvation
| Objectives |
|---|
| ・Speak with Cormond near Zarbinzet・Collect Crusader Missives near Crusader's Monument・Collect Paladin Prayer Book near Eriman's Pyre・Collect Tithe Ledger near Zakarum Belfry |
During this questline, Cormond will ask you to fetch 3 items in different areas around 2 Hawezar Region Strongholds and 1 Hawezar Region Dungeon, Belfry Zakara, to learn more about the Cages of Binding.
You don't have to clear the Strongholds and the Dungeon to get these items. Simply go to the spot shown in the images below, grab the item, and leave to continue the storyline. That said, these Strongholds are around level 35-40 so if you're dying repeatedly, take the time to level up first.
| Item | In-Game Location |
|---|---|
| Crusader's MonumentAt the far north point of the Stronghold, on the table. |
| Eriman's PyreAt the northwest end of the Stronghold, on the ground. |
| Belfry ZakaraOn the ground right outside the entrance. |
All Hawezar Stronghold Locations
Hope's Guardian
| Objectives |
|---|
| ・Complete Chapter 3 of the Season Journey・Check in with Cormond |
After completing the Chapter 3 Seasonal Journey, speak with Cormond to complete this questline.
How to Complete Season 1 Journey Fast
Ruins of the Faith
| Objectives |
|---|
| ・Meet Cormond at the Zakarum Ruins・Follow Cormond・Defeat the Malignant・Follow Cormond・Speak with Cormond・Perform the Sign of the Light near the statue・Find the second statue・Enter Karamat's Reach・Regroup with Cormond・Defeat the Vengeful Spirits・Listen to Cormond・Open the gate to the next room・Search the chamber・Slay the Angry Spirit・Speak with Cormond |
Look for Cormond at the Zakarum Ruins and explore the hidden path under the statue that leads to Karamat's Reach.
Find the Second Statue Location
| In-Game View | Map View |
|---|---|
|
|
For the Find the Second Statue objective, you'll find the Hidden Sign of the Light Statue just a bit south from Cormond, on the opposite side of an overgrown ruin.
The Cold Hard Truth
| Objectives |
|---|
| ・Meet Cormond outside of Velkhova・Clear the Malignant from Velkhova・Speak with Cormond・Enter the Velkhova Church Undercroft with Cormond・Find the ritual site with Cormond・Prepare the Ritual・Defend Cormond from the Malignant・Kill Varshan・Capture Varshan's heart・Check on Cormond |
Defeat the Malignant Enemies from Velkhova to get inside the Velkhova Church Undercroft where Cormond will perform a ritual to fight Varshan the Consumed.
How to Beat Varshan and Echo of Varshan
A Merciful Fate
| Objectives |
|---|
| ・Meet Cormond at his wagon outside of Velkhova・Speak with Cormond |
After killing Varshan the Consumed, check in on Cormond to receive the Invoker of Varshan Recipe and complete the Season 1 Questline.
What to Do After the Season 1 Questline
100% Completion List for Season 1
- Continue leveling up to Level 100
- Use the Invoker of Varshan to summon Echo of Varshan and get the higher level Invoker of Varshans (Foul Invoker of Varshan, Tormented Invoker of Varshan) to fight it in progressively higher World Tiers
- Complete the Season 1 Journey
- Complete the Season 1 Battle Pass
- Farm Malignant Hearts for your build
- Complete a Tier 100 Nightmare Dungeon (recommended for madmen only)
Once you've finished the main storyline, there is still a full adventure awaiting you in Season 1. Complete each of the above as well as you can to say you've truly finished the Season. Just be sure to take breaks and enjoy the journey, as accomplishing all of these will take well over 100 hours and Season 1 lasts 3 months, so there's plenty of time to work your way through it.
Season 1 Questline Rewards
Invoker of Varshan Recipe
Cormond will reward you with Varshan's Modest Effects bag after completing the final quest. You can open it to receive the Invoker of Varshan Recipe.
How to Use Invoker of Varshan
Cormond's Ally Challenge
Completing the whole questline for Season 1 (Season of the Malignant) finishes the Cormond's Ally challenge and you will obtain the Malignant, Purifier title.
Challenge Rewards and Titles
How to Unlock Season of the Malignant
| How to Unlock The Seasons of the Malignant |
|---|
|
Finish The Campaign To Unlock New Quests
The Seasons of the Malignant questline can be accessed once you finish the game by completing the Epilogue. The new mechanics such as Malignant Hearts and the Battle Pass, on the other hand, can be accessed by any Seasonal Character as soon as the update goes live.
Campaign Walkthrough and List of Main Quests
Play A Seasonal Character
The Season of the Malignant content can only be accessed in the Seasonal Realm, which entails having to create and play a Seasonal Character.
How to Create a Seasonal Character
You Can Skip The Campaign
It's important to note that once you have finished the campaign on any character, you'll be eligible to skip the entire campaign with any future characters.
This carries over to any Seasonal Characters you create, so you can immediately access the content on a seasonal character by skipping the campaign.
Should You Skip Campaign for Season 1?
Diablo 4 Related Guides
List of Seasons: How Do Seasons Work?
Season 3
| Season 3 Guides | |
|---|---|
| Season 3 Questline Walkthrough | Kulle's Heart Quest - Journal Entry Locations |
| Season 3 Battle Pass | Season 3 Journey |
| Best Season Blessing | Arcane Tremors Explained |
| How to Farm Shattered Stones | How to Farm Elemental Cores |
| How to Get Pearls of Warding | How to Farm Igneous Cores |
| Seneschal Companion Guide | Governing Stones Guide |
| Tuning Stones Guide | Vaults and How to Unlock Them |
| How to Open Wardwoven Chests | How to Unlock Nightmare Vaults |
| How to Get Vault Sigils | New Season 3 Uniques |
| Weekly Gauntlet Dungeon Challenge Guide | - |
Season Guides
| Battle Pass Explained | |
|---|---|
| Season 1 Battle Pass | Season 2 Battle Pass |
| Season 3 Battle Pass | - |
| Season Journey Explained | |
| Season 1 Journey | Season 2 Journey |
| Season 3 Journey | - |
| All Season Mechanics | |
| Malignant Hearts (Season 1) | Vampiric Powers, Blood Harvest (Season 2) |
| Seneschal Construct, Arcane Tremors (Season 3) | - |
| Season FAQs | |
| What Carries Over to Seasons? | How to Transfer Renown to Seasonal Characters |
| Is Seasonal Rebirth Coming to Diablo 4? | How to Get Smoldering Ashes |
| Should You Make a Seasonal Character? | Can You Transfer Items to Seasonal Characters |
