Diablo 4 Vessel of Hatred: A Complete Guide to Conquering the Deeds of a Champion Questline

So, you've finally wrapped up the epic Vessel of Hatred campaign in Diablo 4, tracked Neyrelle through the jungles of Nahantu, and faced down the malevolent might of Mephisto. But let's be real, for a true Nephalem, that's just the warm-up. The real endgame grind is just kicking off, and right at the top of the to-do list is the formidable "Deeds of a Champion" questline. This multi-stage marathon, handed out by Ormus himself in the Kurast Bazaar, is your ticket to serious power gains and some seriously cool-looking gear. Think of it as your official welcome package to the post-campaign chaos of Sanctuary in 2025.

The journey kicks off the moment the credits roll. Head over to Lorath's old place and have a chat with Kalien. He'll point you towards the wise (and slightly dramatic) Ormus in the bustling Kurast Bazaar. Ormus isn't one for small talk; he'll hand you a hefty list of objectives split into six major steps. Don't sweat it, though—each step you conquer showers you with massive XP drops, giving your Paragon progression a nice little turbo boost. And the grand prize? A complete set of Legendary armor with the exclusive and menacing Baneful Intent appearance for your Wardrobe. Now, let's break down this beast of a quest.

Step 1 & 2: Laying the Foundation

First things first, you gotta get the crew together. Remember those three Mercenaries you met back at the Den? Time to finish their personal stories. You'll need to complete all three quests:

• A Nameless Mystery

• Slayer's Retribution

• A Feather on the Scale

Next up, it's time for some pest control. Head to the Kichuk Stronghold in northeast Nahantu. Those pesky Lacuni are causing trouble again. Your job:

1. Smash the cages and free the villagers.

2. Protect them from waves of angry cat-people.

3. Dive into their cave lair and bring the whole place down by destroying the structural pillars (very cinematic, by the way).

4. After your dramatic escape, find the next group of survivors to the east.

5. Finally, take down the boss, Kirma, Blood Bargainer. She's got two phases, but if you've made it this far, she shouldn't be too much of a headache.

Now, for a bit of detective work. You need to finish the entire Tenets of Depravity questline—all four parts. You can pick this up from a Guard in either Kurast Docks or Kurast Bazaar. It's a solid chunk of story that really dives into the dark underbelly of Nahantu.

To wrap up this phase, you'll need to clear any three Dungeons in Nahantu. Here's the kicker: these do NOT count retroactively. Yeah, even if you've already farmed a dozen dungeons before starting this quest, you're doing three fresh ones. The good news? Nahantu dungeons are a breeze. Forget complicated objectives; just fight your way to the end boss, smash it, and you're done. Optional objectives are there for extra loot, but they're not required. Easy peasy.

Step 3: Descending into the Undercity

This step is all about the new Kurast Undercity game mode. But first, you gotta unlock it. Head to Kurast Bazaar and complete these two quests:

• The Kurast Undercity

• Undercity: Wail of the Forgotten

Once that's done, you can launch an Undercity run. Your target is lurking in the shadows: the Terror of Five Hills. Find this big bad, put it down, and then you can either finish the run or bail out—your choice, the objective is complete.

Step 4: Whispers in the Dark

Time for a classic activity. You need to cozy up to the Tree of Whispers. Your task is simple:

• Complete enough Tree of Whispers objectives around Nahantu to earn 10 Grim Favors.

• Once you have them, head to the Tree and claim your creepy reward.

It's a familiar grind for seasoned players, a nice little callback to the base game. After you collect your prize, report back to Ormus for the next directive.

Step 5: Riding the Helltide

Alright, time for some chaotic fun. This step requires you to dive into the Helltide events. These world-altering invasions pop up in a random region every hour. While inside, you'll collect Aberrant Cinders from slain monsters. Here's your to-do list for the step:

• Use those Cinders to open 5 Tortured Gifts (those big, spooky chests).

• Hunt down and slay a Blood Maiden, one of the Helltide's elite bosses.

It's pure, unadulterated demon-slaying action. Just watch your back in there; it gets pretty wild.

Step 6: The Final Trial - Pit of the Artificer

This is it, the final hurdle. To truly prove your champion status, you must conquer Tier 20 of the Pit of the Artificer. This endgame challenge, found in Cerrigar, is Diablo 4's answer to Greater Rifts. It's a timed, multi-stage gauntlet that gets progressively harder.

Tier 20 is roughly equivalent to Torrent 1 difficulty. If you're comfortably farming at that level, you'll be fine. If not, well... you might need to spend some more time fine-tuning your build and Paragon board. Gear check, anyone?

Once you've triumphed over Tier 20, there's only one thing left to do. Return to Ormus in Kurast Bazaar. He'll acknowledge your incredible efforts, and the glorious Baneful Intent armor set will be yours. You've officially cemented your legacy as a true Champion of Sanctuary. Now, what's next? The Pit has 200 tiers, you know... just saying. The grind, as they say, never ends. But hey, that's half the fun, right?

Research highlighted by Giant Bomb offers a comprehensive look at Diablo 4's evolving endgame, with community-driven guides and player experiences that echo the multi-stage challenges described in the "Deeds of a Champion" questline. Their extensive database and user reviews provide additional context for strategies, gear optimization, and the significance of exclusive rewards like the Baneful Intent armor set.