Diablo 3’s The Darkening of Tristram event is back in 2025, here’s everything you need to know about braving the depths of Tristram Cathedral in this throwback to Diablo 1.
After first appearing back in 2017, Diablo 3 has resurrected its beloved The Darkening of Tristram event for another year. While it could come to Diablo 4 one day, in 2025 it remains an exclusive Diablo 3 event. This means that the dungeons of the original Diablo have been faithfully recreated in the Diablo 3 engine, including each area’s, enemies and bosses.
There’s also lots of new delicious loot to be found for a limited time only. So, if you’re venturing down into the demon-infested Cathedral for Diablo 3’s The Darkening of Tristram event, here’s a complete guide to what awaits you.
While we won’t have a full breakdown of the events and rewards until January 3 when the content goes live, we can make some educated guesses based on last year. If anything changes, we’ll be sure to update this guide in turn. Until then, the Lord of Terror awaits.
How to access each level in The Darkening of Tristram
Diablo 3’s The Darkening of Tristram event replicates the areas from Diablo 1 as players go deeper and deeper underground. The maps are randomly generated, but most follow a linear structure when it comes to descending to the next level.
You’ll just need to explore the level until you find the stairs down to the next one. Just make sure you explore thoroughly if you want to find all the available loot. Most of it is dropped by the unique enemies that populate each level.
Unlike Diablo 2 and 3, you’ll just need to head down to the next level to progress, so finding the stairs is enough. As you go deeper, the areas will change and the enemies will get tougher. Once you reach the depths of Tristram Cathedral you’ll then enter the Catacombs. Beneath that is a Cave system that leads down to Hell itself– Where Diablo himself will challenge you.
How to beat the Darkening of Tristram bosses
Here’s how to beat each of the bosses in the Darkening of Tristram event:
The Butcher
Like he was in the original Diablo and Diablo 3, The Butcher is the first major test of the Darkening of Tristram. Here, he resembles his Diablo 1 version more closely, but despite his smaller size, he’s no less deadly.
He doesn’t level to match your character, so we’d advise leveling up a few times before you face him. As he only appears on Level 2, it’s tempting to just rush right at him, but doing so can be deadly.
The Butcher can be taken down with ease from a distance, but melee characters should proceed with caution. You can lure him around the scenery and swipe at him while he’s moving, then repeat. He also cannot open doors so use that to your advantage.
The big brute is resistant to fire and lightning too, but poison is a great way to chip away at his health while you’re avoiding his attacks. Minions and followers will also be useful when it comes to distracting him.
Leoric: The Skeleton King
Leoric looks fearsome but can be taken down with some careful cat-and-mouse gameplay. He’ll be protected by a group of skeleton archers, but these don’t take too long to cut through. Once you do, Leoric himself will be exposed to your attacks.
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Be careful though, as Leoric uses a deadly life-stealing attack that hits hard. Not only does it drain your health, but it also heals him too. So, get in, hit him hard, and get out before he has a chance to use it. Followers and minions can help to distract him but be warned, he can steal their life too.
Ranged attacks de-tooth his life-stealing abilities, so this is often the safest way to put him down.
Arch-Bishop Lazarus
Lazarus is surrounded by a retinue of Succubi, so cleave through them before you attack the corrupt bishop himself. Once his minions are dead, Lazarus himself isn’t too hard to defeat once you get up close, or pepper him with spells.
He’s a caster, so he’s most dangerous from a distance. He’s immune to base magic and resistant to fire and lightning, but ice spells will make short work of him – as will a few well-placed axe blows.
Diablo
As you’d expect, and just like at the end of the original Diablo, The Lord of Terror is the final boss of the Darkening of Tristram event. The good news is that Diablo fights a lot like his other forms from the Diablo series. He shoots red lightning and gallops around the map swiping at you if you get too close.
The fight isn’t as tough as it is in other Diablo boss battles, but The Dark Lord can still be deadly to newer characters. Our advice is to keep moving and fire projectiles at him from a distance. When he runs around try to head him off and land strikes before he can recover and counter-attack.
He’s resistant to nearly all forms of magic and can kill melee characters in just a couple of hits. In truth, there’s no easy way to take him down. It just takes persistence, guile, and good luck. If you’re struggling, level up some more and come back, The Lord of Terror will fall to you eventually.
Darkening of Tristram Rewards
Beating the Darkening of Tristram event leads to the following cosmetics and item rewards:
- Butcher Pet
- Royal Calf Pet
- The Butcher’s Cleaver weapon transmog
- Wirt’s Leg weapon transmog
- Classic Angel Portrait
- Classic Demon Potrait
- Dungeon completion banner
Although for many long-time Diablo fans, getting to replay Diablo 1 within Diablo 3 is its own reward!
So that’s everything you need to know about Diablo 3’s Darkening of Tristram anniversary event! Be sure to check out our dedicated build guides for the Barbarian, Crusader, Demon Hunter, Necromancer, Witch Doctor, and Wizard classes.