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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
| 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
| 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.
| 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
| 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.
| 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 Monument At the far north point of the Stronghold, on the table. |
 |
Eriman's Pyre At the northwest end of the Stronghold, on the ground. |
 |
Belfry Zakara On the ground right outside the entrance. |
All Hawezar Stronghold Locations
| 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
| 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.
| 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.
| 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
| 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.
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.
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.
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.
| How to Unlock The Seasons of the Malignant |
|---|
|
|
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
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
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?
List of Seasons: How Do Seasons Work?
Season 1 Questline Walkthrough
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