Rushing Strategies
In this guide, we cover the Rushing Strategies to get new Characters to end-game areas. This is commonly called Grushing, and Grush which stands Glitch rush or Game rush. Rushing through the Expansion is slightly different to the Classic rush (Crush). The Rushing Strategies are Hardcore friendly, especially with great communication between the Party and the Rusher. You can offer “Grushes” as a service, making them a source of income.
Roles
In a Grush there are 3-4 roles, each with specific tasks during the Rush.
Runner
Leecher
Rusher
Bumper
Expansion
Act 1
Runner
Leecher
Rusher
Bumper
Normal
- Can make the first game if it has not completed Quest 6 in Act 1.
- Invite everyone into your party.
- Enter Catacombs Level 4 and stay next to the TP provided by the Rusher until Andariel is dead.
- Head back to town after she is dead and go to Act 2 by talking to Warriv.
Normal
- Accept the party invite and always stay in the same Act as the Runner.
- Hug Warriv until he allows you to travel East and get to Act 2.
Normal
- Accept the party invite and make sure that everyone is in the correct Act at all times, especially before Act Bosses.
- Enter Catacombs Level 2 and teleport to Catacombs Level 4, make sure the first room of this area is safe and make a TP. (Communicate 1 for safe and 2 or nothing for not safe through the run).
- Once the Runner enters, kill Andariel and head to Act 2 Lost City.
Normal
- Always be Partied Up with Everyone.
- Go to the Throne of Destruction and make a safe TP. KEEP A TP UP!
- If possible, kill Baal's Waves to save some time. Anything that you do here is less time wasted later.
- Enter the Worldstone Chamber and Make a TP.
- DO NOT KILL BAAL!!!
- If you feel confident to get Baal's Life low without killing him, do so, or TP and wait in town until the Rusher arrives.
Nightmare and Hell
- In Nightmare and Hell you become a Leecher or Runner until you get to Act 5.
Runner
Leecher
Rusher
Act 2 Amulet
- Go to the east most side of town above Meshif and wait for the portal from the Rusher.
- When the TP appears, go in and kick the Altar, pick up the Amulet of the viper and head back to town.
- Pick up the Horadric Cube the Rusher drops for you to transmute the Horadric Staff later.
Finish Staff
- When the Rusher opens a Town Portal in the Maggot Lair Level 3, enter this area and grab the Staff of kings from the Sparkling Chest and head back to town.
- Put the Staff of Kings and the Amulet of the viper into the Horadric Cube and click “Transmute” to create the Horadric Staff. Take it out of the Horadric Cube so it's available for use later.
The Summoner
- Talk to the closest person in town and wait by portals for the Arcane Sanctuary TP. DO NOT GO IN until the Rusher has communicated it is safe. (usually done by saying 1 for safe and 2 or nothing for not safe)
- Wait inside Arcane Sanctuary until The Summoner dies, after he is dead, come back to town and talk to the closest NPC. Confirm to the Rusher the symbol of the correct Tal Rasha’s Tomb by opening up your Quest Log and clicking on Quest 6, which reveals the symbol.
Get to Act 3
- Wait by the portals again for the "Tal Rasha’s Tomb" TP.
- Enter the TP and put the Horadric Staff into the Orifice by clicking on it and placing it into the menu and hitting Accept button below.
- You can stay outside of Tal Rasha's Chamber until the Rusher has killed Duriel for safety. After Duriel is dead, run to the end of the chamber and talk to Tyrael.
- He opens a Portal for you, take the Portal and look for the Harem level 1 TP opened by the Leechers in town.
- Take the Portal to the Harem Level 1, use the stairs to return to Lut Gholein and talk to Jerhyn. Travel back to the Harem Level 1 again, and use the same TP to get close to Meshif. Talk to him to sail to Act 3.
- One of the Leechers hugs Drognan and waits for the Altar to be kicked by the Runner. When this is done, talk to him and move to the Palace.
- Run to the Palace in the West of Lut Gholein and wait till the Guard allows you to enter it. Enter Harem Level 1 and open a TP for the Runner to use later, then return up the stairs.
- Wait here until the Runner talks to Tyrael, then talk to Jerhyn. Enter the Harem and use the TP to get close to Meschif. Talk to him to sail to Act 3.
Gathering Staff
- Search for The Claw Viper Temple in Lost City and make a safe TP next to the Tainted Sun Altar in The Claw Viper Temple Level 2. (Type 1 when safe)
- Head back to town and drop your Horadric Cube near the portals and go to the Far Oasis.
- Search for the Maggot Lair and find your way to the "Chest Room" in Maggot Lair Level 3, with Coldworm the Burrower, open the chest, and make a safe TP. (Type 1 when safe)
The Summoner
- Find The Summoner in the Arcane Sanctuary and open a TP in a safe area close to the plateau he stands on. Make an extra effort to NOT KILL THE SUMMONER before the Runner has entered your TP.
- Note: If you kill him by accident, you have to either escort the Runner all the way to Duriel or make a new game to try again.
- Figure out the correct Tal Rasha's Tomb by either asking your Runner/Party or checking which of the symbols is missing next to The Summoner.
Duriel
- Make your way to The Orifice located inside the correct Tomb and make a safe TP.
- Now you have a small amount of time while the Runner sets up the Duriel fight for you. Use this time to sell your Tome of town portal to Farah and buy it back. (refilling the quantity instantly for cheap) Note: this works for all quantity Items except Ethereals.
- Go back to kill Duriel then IMMEDIATELY head to Act 3 Spider Forest Waypoint to reveal the campsite and go back to town.
Runner
Leecher
Rusher
Organs
- Now that we are in Act 3 go straight to the center of town near the Waypoint and enter the Portal to Spider Cavern when available.
- Upon entering, pick up Khalim's Eye from the Golden Chest and head back to town.
- Repeat this process for both the Flayer Dungeon Level 3's Khalim's Brain and the Sewers Level 2's Khalim's Heart.
Smashing The Orb
- After you have all 3 Organs enter the portal to Travincal and pick up Khalim's Flail when SAFE to do so.
- Put Khalim's Eye, Khalim's Brain, Khalim's Heart, and Khalim's Flail into the Horadric Cube and click “Transmute” to create the Khalim's Will.
- Equip Khalim's Will and smash the Compelling Orb on the top side of the temple, then head back to town.
Mephisto
- Wait for the Durance of Hate Level 3 TP and go into it and wait for Mephisto's death.
- After Mephisto dies, move to the red Portal. A bridge rises, giving you access to the Red Portal. Use it to enter Act 4.
You're too late!!! - Mephisto
- Once you enter Act 3, go straight to the center of town where Deckard Cain is located and hug him.
- DO NOT GO INTO ANY PORTAL unless specified otherwise.
- The only Portal you ever take is in Act 3 to the Durance of Hate Level 3. (other than Harem Level 1)
- After Mephisto dies move to the Red Portal. A bridge rises, giving you access to the Portal. Use it to enter Act 4. Don't waste everybody's time by checking for loot!
Spider Cavern
- Now that we are in Act 3 town, leave out the front entrance to find the Spider Cavern in the Spider Forest.
- Make a safe TP next to the Golden Chest inside the Spider Cavern for the first Organ, Khalim's Eye.
Flayer Dungeon
- Go to Flayer Jungle Waypoint to reveal the campsite and then enter Flayer Jungle from the Lower Kurast Waypoint.
- Search for the Flayer Dungeon Level 1 near the Optional Quest The Gidbinn.
- Find the Flayer Dungeon Level 3 and make a safe TP next to the Golden Chest for the second Organ, Khalim's Brain.
Finishing Khalim's Will
- Enter the Kurast Bazaar Waypoint to find the Sewers Level 1 and make a safe TP next to the Sewers Level 2's Golden Chest for the third and final Organ, Khalim's Heart.
- Now go to Travincal, make a safe TP within 2 screens of the actual Council Members until the “Runner/Bumper” shows up and then kill all the Council Members.
- Make sure they have access to Khalim's Flail as they need it to smash the Compelling Orb and continue their progress.
Mephisto
- Take the Durance of Hate Level 2 Waypoint and head to Durance of Hate Level 3.
- Once in Durance of Hate Level 3 you as the Rusher need to make the area safe for a TP in the center circle next to the Red Portal, this sometimes means killing the Council Members in this area to prevent Hydras from spawning and killing your Party Members.
- Once someone enters the area, kill Mephisto. Head straight to River Of Flame after he is dead.
Runner
Leecher
Rusher
- Made it to Act 4! Now we wait for the Chaos Sanctuary TP and hide behind the wall, so we don't die to Diablo's Fire Nova.
- As soon as Diablo dies, take a TP to town and talk to Tyrael to enter the Red Portal sending you to Act 5.
- Immediately go hug Tyrael until it is time to go to Act 5. This act is fast!
- Now that we are in Act 4, we need to prepare The Chaos Sanctuary/Diablo by killing the "Seal Bosses" and popping all the Seals.
- Make a safe TP behind one of the walls on the North side of The Chaos Sanctuary and kill Diablo once the Runner/Bumper shows up.
- After Diablo dies, go straight to Act 5.
Runner
Leecher
Rusher
Bumper
- Now that we are in Act 5 go into the Portal for the Siege on Harrogath Quest (Socket Quest) if the Rusher is supplying this.
- Wait in Act 5 town until the Baal Quest is done. After Baal dies, there will be music playing and Quest 6 is done.
Nightmare and Hell
If you are playing Softcore, just repeat this for the next difficulties. If you are Hardcore then it is recommended for the Bumper to take over the Runner role for Nightmare and Hell as it is just safer.
- Wait until the Baal Quest is done
- If you are feeling generous or want Socket Quests, you can go to Frigid Highlands and make a safe TP on the right of the stairs in the Bloody Foothills and then kill Shenk the Overseer when the first person is inside.
- If the Bumper doesn’t have the Ancients Quest completed in the current difficulty, take the Ancients Way Waypoint and head to the Arreat Summit. Open a TP and kill the Ancients as soon as the Bumper enters the Summit. Then use the Waypoint to the Worldstone Keep and teleport to the Throne of Destruction.
- If the Bumper has the Ancients Quest done, take the TP they prepared in the Throne Room/Worldstone Chamber, whatever the Bumper was able to prepare.
- Kill the Waves, Baal and join the new game as soon as it opens.
Nightmare and Hell
- Once we get to Nightmare Act 5 you need to wait for the Portal to Arreat Summit for the Ancients quest from the Rusher, hide and stay alive. If you do end up dying, STAY DEAD!
- After the Ancients Quest is done, go back to town and wait for the safe TP in the Throne of Destruction.
- When you're in the Throne, stay behind the Rusher to gain a bit of Experience and stay alive.
- After Baal Waves are dead, follow Baal into the Worldstone Chamber. Again, it is important that if you die, you STAY DEAD until the quest is complete!
Classic
There are only a few things to say about Classic rushing also known as Crushing. Crushing does not require a Bumper, since we don’t have to deal with a Quest that has a Level Requirement (The Ancients). It can be more efficient to have 2 Rushers, however, this is not required. Something very important to note though about Crushing is that you must get to Hell Act 3 before you convert to Expansion if you choose. If you revert earlier, the game will put you back into Nightmare, and you'll need to Level-Up to 40 or find a Bumper after all.
Optional Quests
Act 1
Act 2
Act 3
Act 4
Act 5
- Den of Evil (Quest 1). This quest found in Blood Moor gives you a Skill Point from Akara and the ability to respec once per difficulty.
Note: In order for this quest to be complete, the person who needs the quest has to kill at least 1 monster in the Den of Evil and be in the area upon the last monster dying. However, for additional players that also need the quest, they only need to be in Act 1 for it to be completed.
- Radament's Lair (Quest 1). This quest in the Sewers Level 3 gives you a Skill Point from the Book of Skill that drops from Radament himself.
Note: The Glowing Super Chest that drops the Horadric Scroll is not needed for this quest. This requires a person who needs the quest be within 2 screens of distance upon Radament's death.
- The Golden Bird (Quest 1). This quest gives you 20 Life from the Potion of Life that Alkor gives you upon giving him the quest item The Golden Bird.
Note: The The Jade Figurine is only able to drop by an Elite Pack killed by the person that specifically needs it. You also only need to talk to Meshif then Alkor to complete this quest (Cain is not needed). - Turn in The Gidbin to Ormus for a random Rare Ring.
- Lam Esen's Tome (Quest 4). This quest grants you an additional 5 Attribute points upon returning Lam Esen's Tome to Alkor.
Note: This quest is always in the Ruined Temple, the mossy temple with stairs facing South West direction inside the Kurast Bazaar.
- The Fallen Angel (Quest 1). This quest gives you 2 Skill Points upon Killing Izual in the Plains of Despair and returning to Tyrael.
Note: Izual always spawn right above a fissure in the ground.
Only requires a person who needs the quest be within 2 screens of distance upon Izual's death. - Hell's Forge (Quest 2). This quest in the River of Flame gives you Gems and a Rune upon smashing Mephisto's Soulstone at the Forge.
Note: If there are multiple people in Act 4 that all need this quest, it will drop all the Gems for each of them but only 1 of the Runes. It is common to unparty for this quest in Nightmare and Hell Difficulties to save that chance at a higher Rune.
Reward 1: A random regular, two random Flawless, and one random Perfect Gem.
Reward 2: A random Rune between El Rune and Sol Rune in Normal.
Reward 2: A random Rune between Sol Rune and Um Rune in Nightmare.
Reward 2: A random Rune between Hel Rune and Gul Rune in Hell.
- Siege on Harrogath (Quest 1). This quest at the end of Bloody Foothills gives you what is commonly known as a Larzuk Quest or Socket Quest after killing Shenk The Overseer which allows you to add a socket to a Weapon, Armor, Helmet, or Shield.
Note: Only requires a person who needs the quest be within 2 screens of distance upon Shenk's death. - Prison of Ice (Quest 3). This quest gives you The Scroll of Resistance (a permanent +10 additional All Resistances on use) from Malah upon saving Anya in the Frozen River.
Note: The Rusher can talk to Anya while in the Frozen River to trigger Malah to give someone the Malah's Potion upon talking to her.
Video Guide
Summary
- Make sure whoever makes the games had Quest 6 in Act 1 (Andariel Quest) available.
- Party up
- Bumper should be Character Level >=40.
- Make sure everyone is in the same Act before completing key quests.
- Make safe TPs and communicate when needed with your team (1 = safe and 2 = Not safe)
- Talk to Cain or other NPCs in town if you get stuck!
- Make sure you are in the correct difficulty!
- Be aware as the Rusher of how many TPs you have.
- As a Rusher, use Waypoints like Spider Forest or Flayer Jungle to help discover the map.
- This is a service, and it’s common to ask for a player's Hellforge Quest / Socket Quest as payment for this service.
I personally think Grushing is one of the most fun things to do if you have an experienced team, and you time it to be competitive! Making it a game of great organization is a great way to enjoy this much desired chore. I hope you guys found this helpful. GET OUT THERE AND CRUSH IT or GRUSH IT!
Credits
Written by BTNeandertha1
Reviewed by Teo1904