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Act 1: The Sightless eye
The first Diablo 2 Quest takes place in eastern Khanduras where the player helps the rogues to get back the Rogue Monastery from the evil Andariel, the Maiden of Anguish. This act begins from the Rogue Encampment and initiates the hunt for Diablo.
Gameplay
The Rogue Encampment is the only safe place in the region and consists of mostly rogues that have fled from the occupied monastery. These survivors were driven out from their own monastery by Andariel.
The Maiden of Anguish is now protecting the east waypoint, the only way that goes through the Monastery, preventing anyone from going after the Dark Wanderer (Diablo). The player’s character is not accepted by the sisterhood at first, but he gains their trust after defeating the Den of Evil (1st Quest) at the command of Akara – the high priestess of the order.
After gaining the trust of the sisters, the character is sent to rescue Deckard Cain from the demons that destroyed Tristram. After saving him, he follows and assists the player throughout the entire game, by identifying items and explaining the lore of the game.
During the journey, the player finds a Forgotten Tower where he defeats the Countess and retrieves the Horadric Malus of Charsi that she forgets to take upon leaving the Rogue Monastery.
The first act ends after the character defeats Andariel in the 4th level of the Catacombs. Then, you can travel to the desert of Lut Gholein with Warriv’s caravan.
Quest Rewards
Although the first five quests are optional, we recommend that you complete all of them as they provide useful rewards.
- The Den of Evil Quest awards you 1 skill point and 1 free skills/stat points reset, so you should definitely complete it at some point of the game.
- Completing the Sister’s Burial Grounds Quest lets you hire a free Rogue mercenary.
- The Search for Cain rewards the player a ring from Akara. Also, Deckard Cain will be able to identify your items.
- Defeating the Countess rewards you with a lot of treasure from her chest.
- Completing the Tool of the Trade allows you to imbue an item of your choice.
Act 2: The Secret of Vizjerei
In this act, the character travels to Lut Gholein in order to stop the Dark Wanderer from releasing Baal. Act II is more difficult than Act I and is harder to navigate due to the lack of paths. Unlike other acts of the game, Act II requires completing additional challenges before you can continue to the next Act.
Gameplay
The player reaches Lut Gholein located in the distant desert of Aranoch with the help of Warriv’s Caravan. The evil has spread already to the east by the Dark Wanderer.
Currently, an undead monster wondering in the sewers is attacking the city. As soon as night falls, the monster attacks the townsfolks of Lut Gholein. Thus, the player searches for the monster in the Sewers to save the city and helps Atma avenge her husband and son.
Further, your character discusses this problem with Jerhyn, the Lord of Lut Gholein, who with the collaboration of Drognan, concluded that the Dark Wanderer that had just visited the town was Diablo himself. It looks like Diablo is in search of the Tomb of Tal Rasha’s Chamber, where Baal, his brother, is caged. After this, the player has to gather the Horadric Staff’s parts that are the key to Tal Rasha’s Chamber.
After completing the Horadric Staff, the player then needs to find the true Tomb of Tal Rasha. The clues for finding it are in the Arcane Sanctuary. There, you have to deal with the maddened sorcerer known as the Summoner.
The player finally reaches the Tomb of Tal Rasha after finding the Canyon of the Magi, but all in vain. The Dark Wanderer has already freed Baal and then runs into Duriel, who is guarding the tomb and stopping anyone from following his masters.
After defeating Duriel, the character discovers the Archangel Tyrael imprisoned in the tomb’s inner chamber. He instructs you to travel east once again as the two Evil brothers (Baal and Diablo) will reunite with Mephisto, their elder brother, in Kurast. The player then sets sail towards the east with Meshif’s help.
Quest Rewards
You have to complete all the quests to be able to move to the next chapter, except for Arcane Sanctuary and Radament’s Lair. Completing Radament’s Lair awards you with a 10% discount on vendors’ prices and 1 free skill point.
Act 3: The Infernal Gate
In this chapter, the character goes to the Kurast Docks following Baal and Diablo. The Infernal Gate is the biggest chapter of Diablo 2 and it provides multiple challenging tasks.
Gameplay
When the player reaches Kurast Docks, he meets Hratli. He informs him that Mephisto’s evil has completely taken over the countryside. The corrupt Children of Zakarum, the priest caste, and local religious institutes, have taken complete control of the Capital of Kurast. Kurast Docks is the last remaining peaceful land where survivors from the attack fled to, but jungle’s evil monsters are already invading the docks.
During this journey, the player finds a rare Jade Figurine, and then later trades it for a charm called Elixir. It provides mythical and life-extending properties. However, the magic spells that were protecting the dock begin to weaken. Thus, you have to collect a sacred Skatsimi Blade – known as the Gidbinn. After that, the mage Ormus utilizes this blade to cast a spell and the town is safe once again.
In addition, the Lord of Hatred has imprisoned himself in the temple city of Travincal. To enter the lair of Mephisto, the player must destroy the vile object known as the Compelling Orb. However, you can only destroy the Compelling Orb if you collect the remains and assemble Khalim’s Will.
Meanwhile, the alchemist Alkor is looking for the writings of a sage who studied the Prime Evils and its diverse effects on the mortal kind. That black book was lost during the fight of Zakarum and the player helps to restore the book from an ancient temple in Kurast.
Ormus commands the player to free the corrupt land of Zakarum by destroying their priesthood, the high council of Zakarum. It is located within the boundaries of the temple city of Travincal. The character destroys the Compelling Orb using Khalim’s Will and discloses Mephisto’s Secret Lair.
The player has to defeat Mephisto in the 3rd level of the “Durance of Hate” in order to move into the next Act.
Quest Rewards
To pass The Infernal Gate and get access to Act 4, you have to complete the Blackened City, Khalim’s Will and the Guardian Quests.
- Completing the Jade Figurine (Golden Bird Quest) will reward +20 points to your character’s life.
- Finishing the Gidbinn quest awards you with a free Iron Wolf mercenary from Aheara and a Rare Ring from Ormus.
- Completing the Lam Esen’s Tome provides you with +5 Stat points.
Act 4: The Harrowing
This is the final act of the classic (non-expansion) version of Diablo 2. In this chapter, the player reaches the Pandemonium Fortress in order to destroy Diablo and stop his evil plans. This act is shorter than the other acts and includes only 3 quests.
Gameplay
The player travels to the Pandemonium Fortress, known as the Last Bastion of Light located in the Burning Hills. There the character collaborates with the Archangel Tyrael and Deckard Cain. Here the Archangel thanks the player for saving him from Tal Rasha’s Chamber and asks for a favor. Once, his lieutenant, Izual, was imprisoned and twisted by the power of Lords of Hell. Now he is a fallen angel and strays the Plains of Despair imprisoned within a diabolical vessel. Thus, you need to free the spirit of Izual by defeating the demon.
The character accepts to accomplish the wish of the Archangel by destroying the demonic host and freeing the Angel. However, Izual told the Prime Evils about the power of Soulstones and how to corrupt them. Tyrael realizes this mistake as he knows that with the inclusion of Soulstones at the command of the forces of Hell, they will become unstoppable and immortal.
Considering the problem, Deckard Cain commands you to destroy Mephisto’s Soulstone at the Hellforge to prevent the evil spirit from manifesting itself in the mortal living again.
Tyrael prepares the hero for his last battle with the Lord of Terror. After battling numerous demons, the character manages to destroy the Lord of Terror in a challenging battle. The player returns to the Pandemonium after the victory and he is hailed as a champion. However, there is still one last brother remaining to defeat.
Quest Rewards
To continue to Act 5, you have to complete Terror’s End Quest. If you play the Classic version, this will unlock Nightmare difficulty.
- Defeating Izual and completing the Fallen Angel Quest provides +2 skill points.
- Completing the Hellforge Quests rewards you with some top-quality gems, and in case of expansion, a Rune.
Act 5: Lord of destruction
This act is named after the Lord of Destruction himself, the Prime Evil Baal. The player tracks down Baal to the Barbarian lands of the Northern Steppes.
Gameplay
The character travels through the portal that Tyrael opened after the fight with Diablo in the Chaos Sanctuary and reaches Harrogath.
The hero defeats one of Baal’s strongest generals, Shank the Overseer, and finishes the quest of the Siege on Harrogath. The Blacksmith, Larzuk, offers the player to socket one of his items as a gift.
Qual-Kehk sends the player to test his abilities out in the Frigid Highlands to save some of the barbarians that the forces of Baal have imprisoned. The player gains the trust of Qual-Kehk, after successfully rescuing the barbarians. As a result, Qual-Kehk allows some of the barbarians to help the player in his quest.
News of the player’s success spreads and Malah decided to ask for help to find Anya, the daughter of the Head of the Council of Elders, who has recently disappeared. Malah blames Nihlatak for her disappearance. The character follows Malah’s clues which lead to the Crystalline Passage. Here you can find Anya trapped in a prison of ice. After the successful recovery of Anya, Nihlatak disappears.
Anya realizes that the real plan of Nihlathak is to spare Harrogath by giving Baal the Relic of the Ancients. Unfortunately, this has allowed Baal to pass the Worldstone Keep effortlessly. Baal intends to doom the whole Sanctuary by corrupting the divine Worldstone. Thus, he intends to meet Nihlatak at his temple. As a result, the hero follows the traitor hoping to stop him before the whole world is doomed. The player successfully locates Nihlatak and defeats him. However, Baal already has the relic.
In pursuit of Baal, the player encounters the Ancients, spirits of the Nephalem. A fight ensues and the player emerges victorious, which allows him to continue to the Worldstone Chamber. Baal is already waiting for the player to come to the chamber and he gathers his best warriors from Hell to fight against the hero. The clash inside Worldstone results in Baal escaping to the core of Arreat. Here the hero battles and successfully defeats Baal, ending the rule of the Prime Evils over Worldstone.
Unfortunately, Tyrael then appears to inform you that although Baal has fallen, he successfully managed to corrupt Worldstone. This has weakened the boundaries between the Sanctuary and Burning Hell, allowing swarms of hellish souls to enter the mortal world.
As a result, Tyrael destroys Worldstone, after allowing the hero to seek safety. This causes Mount Arreat to explode, destroying the homeland of the Barbarians.
Quest Rewards
For unlocking the next difficulty of Diablo 2, you have to complete the Eve of Destruction and Arreat Summit Quests.
- Finishing the Siege on Harrogath Quest lets you socket an item from the blacksmith Lazruk.
- Completing the Rescue on Mount Arreat Quest allows you to hire Barbarians mercenaries.
- Finishing the Betrayal of Harrogath Quest lets you customize an item of your choice from Anya’s
- Completing the Prison of Ice Quest awards you a scroll that adds the +10 to your Resistances
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