Season of Belial’s Return Guide
Last Updated:May 1, 2025|Changelog
Diablo 4 strikes again with season 8 : Belial's Return released alongside the 2.2 Patch! Seasons within Diablo IV bear their mark on Sanctuary in the Seasonal Realm similarly to late Diablo 3 seasons, unearthing new quests and fresh mechanics to explore and master.
Season of Belial's Return
Deception has descended upon Sanctuary—Belial has returned, or has he? Only the Lord of Lies knows for certain, but that is the truth you must uncover in Season 8: Belial’s Return, wanderer. Starting on April 29, 10 a.m. PDT, you’ll ally with new friendly faces, harness Boss Powers, and dissipate peculiar Apparition Monsters in your pursuit of the truth.

Gameplay Trailer
Confront Belial in the Lord of Lies
Belial’s motive is unknown, but his return has unleashed mysterious Apparition Monsters into Sanctuary. The residents of the land won’t take Belial’s intrusion laying down. Some have taken it upon themselves to investigate these monsters. Meet Sayeena, a retired Vizjerei mage, and Jarius, who claims to be a Cathedral of Light knight. While initially wary of each other, Sayeena and Jarius are dedicated to snuffing out the source of these monsters. You must all band together to unravel Belial’s ploy.
Together, you’ll pursue the truth and gain immeasurable power along the way through new Boss Powers. Sanctuary’s fate is in the hands of your trio—failure is not an option.
To embark upon the Lord of Lies quest, speak to the Stranger located in Kyovashad’s city center next to the Waypoint. You must also have completed Diablo IV’s base game campaign and created a new character on the Seasonal Realm.
Deliver Retribution with Boss Powers

Using illusory magic, you can now command the very power foes once manipulated to send your wanderer to the dreaded “You Have Died” screen. Boss Powers are a new way to further deepen your builds using abilities siphoned from the carcasses of defeated World, Event, and Lair (formerly Endgame) Bosses. There are 24 Bosses across Sanctuary you can claim Boss Powers from. Each Boss Power has 2 effects—a Main and Modifier—that can be activated depending on the Power Slot you equip it to. You can have up to 1 Main and 3 Modifier Powers active at a time.
Whichever Main Boss Power you equip will be the star of the show, the ability you feel most in your build. Whereas the Modifier Boss Powers are meant to bolster the Main Boss Power you selected, taking it to new heights. Tinker with different combinations of Main and Modifier powers to find the mix that best supports your build’s fantasy.
Boss Powers can be acquired after killing targeted bosses across Sanctuary for the first time this season. Various World Bosses, new Apparition Incursion event bosses (more information about this can be found further in the article), and even Lilith herself are among the line-up of diabolical titans who provide Boss Powers.
A complete list of all 24 Boss Powers, including their Main and Modifier effects can be found below:
Wandering Death's Chest Beam (obtained after defeating the World Boss, Wandering Death)
- Main: While Channeling a Skill, spawn a beam that deals 300% Frostbite damage per second. Enemies hit take 50%[x] increased damage from you for 1 second.
- Modifier: Your Main Boss Power instantly Executes Non-Boss enemies hit with less than 15.5% Life. When you Execute enemies you gain 25 Primary Resource.
Ashava's Poison Breath (obtained after defeating the World Boss, Ashava)
- Main: Hitting an enemy affected by Damage over Time spawns a wave of acid that deals 1,200% Poisoning damage over 4 seconds. Applies 10% more Poisoning for each 1% of the target's current Life affected by Damage over Time.
- Modifier: Once per activation, damaging an enemy with your Main Boss Power also applies 45% Poisoning damage to it over 3 seconds.
Avarice's Explosive Ore (obtained after defeating the World Boss, Avarice the Gold Cursed)
- Main: When you gain excess Primary Resource, spawn a Piece of Ore. After 2.5 seconds the Piece of Ore explodes dealing 700% Fire damage. You can spawn up to 3 Pieces of Ore at once.
- Modifier: Activating your Main Boss Power spends all your Primary Resource to increase its damage by 0.01%[x] per Resource point spent.
Allek's Talons (obtained after defeating this Apparition in the Apparition Incursion event)
- Main: Casting a Basic Skill applies 200% Sparking damage over 4 seconds to enemies it hit.
- Modifier: Gain 5% Movement Speed, increased by 0.5% for each 1% Cooldown Reduction you have, up to a maximum of 11%.
Beastmaster's Training (obtained after defeating this Apparition in the Apparition Incursion event)
- Main: Whenever you cast a Summon Skill or call a Mercenary for Reinforcement, one of your Summons or Mercenaries Stuns surrounding enemies for 2 seconds and gains 75% Damage Reduction.
- Modifier: Your Summons deal 5%[x] more damage, increased by 0.25%[x] for each 1% Bonus Critical Strike Damage you have from items and Paragon, up to a maximum of 17%[x].
Blackmailer's Sabotage (obtained after defeating this Apparition in the Apparition Incursion event)
- Main: Casting a Core Skill while you have a Barrier Knocks Down Close enemies for 1.1 seconds. This cannot occur on the same enemy more than once every 5 seconds.
- Modifier: Whenever you gain Fortify, additionally gain 11% of the amount as Barrier for 6 seconds.
Flesh Reaper's Disruption (obtained after defeating this Apparition in the Apparition Incursion event)
- Main: Damaging a Vulnerable enemy removes the Vulnerable and then Stuns them and surrounding enemies for 0.5 seconds. This Stun applies 100% more Stagger to Bosses.
- Modifier: Gain 5%[x] Vulnerable Damage, increased by 0.5%[x] for each 1% of Crowd Control Duration Bonus you have, up to a maximum of 10.5%[x].
Hatred's Embrace's Haste (obtained after defeating this Apparition in the Apparition Incursion event)
- Main: Casting a Shadow or Fire Skill grants 1.1% increased Movement Speed for 3 seconds, up to 11%.
- Modifier: Gain 5%[+] Critical Strike Chance, increased by 0.5%[+] for each 1% of Shadow Resistance you have, up to a maximum of 12%[+].
Kirma's Sparks (obtained after defeating this Apparition in the Apparition Incursion event)
- Main: When you Evade, apply 200% Sparking damage over 4 seconds to Close enemies.
- Modifier: Your Evade Cooldown is reduced by 5%, increased by 0.2% for each 1% Lightning Resistance from bonuses you have, up to a maximum of 11%.
Outlaw Sharpshooter's Eye (obtained after defeating this Apparition in the Apparition Incursion event)
- Main: Dealing Direct Damage to a Distant enemy Slows them and surrounding enemies by 40% for 5 seconds.
- Modifier: You deal increased damage to Enemies the further they are from you, up to 10.5%[x].
Sinerat's Flames (obtained after defeating this Apparition in the Apparition Incursion event)
- Main: Using a Mobility Skill Burns Close enemies for 50% Burning damage over 4 Seconds.
- Modifier: Gain 5%[x] increased damage to all Elements. For each 1% of an Element's Resistance from bonuses, gain 0.2%[x] increased damage for that Element, up to a maximum of 15.5%[x].
Skerg's Toxins (obtained after defeating this Apparition in the Apparition Incursion event)
- Main: When an enemy deals damage to you, apply 600% Poisoning damage to them over 4 seconds.
- Modifier: When you take damage from a Damage Over Time effect, you have a 5% chance to be Healed instead, increased by 50% of your Poison Resistance from bonuses, up to a maximum of 12%.
Torusk's Rage (obtained after defeating this Apparition in the Apparition Incursion event)
- Main: Damaging a Crowd Controlled enemy makes them and surrounding enemies Unstoppable but you gain 10.5%[x] increased Damage, Attack Speed, and Movement Speed for 3 seconds.
- Modifier: Gain 5%[+] Attack Speed, increased by 0.25%[+] for each 1% Damage to Crowd Controlled Enemies you have, up to a maximum of 10.5%[+].
Belial's Crystal Decoy (obtained after defeating Belial in a Lair Boss ambush)
- Main: When you Cast an Agility, Defensive, or Macabre skill, spawn a crystal that Taunts enemies and explodes after 3 seconds, dealing 600% Shadow damage.
- Modifier: Activating your Main Boss Power Fears Nearby enemies for 0.75 seconds and deals 50% Shadow damage to them.
Lilith's Wind of Hate (obtained after defeating Lilith)
- Main: When you Cast a skill, attack enemies with a wave of spikes that lasts 2 seconds and deals 400% Physical damage. Enemies take 60%[x] increased damage from Wind of Hate each time it hits them, up to 300%[x].
- Modifier: Hitting an Elite enemy with a Main Boss Power creates an inert Blister Clone with 10% of their Maximum Life for 15 seconds. Killing the Blister removes 2.1% of the Elite's Life. An Elite can have up to 1 Blister active at once, and a Boss can have up to 2 Blisters. Enemies with Resilience cannot spawn Blisters.
Duriel's Burrow (obtained after defeating the Greater Lair Boss, Duriel)
- Main: When you Evade, you now burrow underground, immobilizing surrounding enemies for 5 seconds and dealing 100% damage on your entry and exit. You deal 100% damage every 0.25 seconds while burrowed. Evade's Cooldown is increased by 4 seconds, and Cooldown Reduction on Evade is 50% as effective.
- Modifier: Activating your Main Boss Power grants you 21%[+] increased Dodge chance for 5 seconds. Whenever you Dodge an attack you Immobilize Nearby enemies for 3 seconds.
Belial's Eye Beams (obtained after defeating the Exalted Lair Boss Belial, Lord of Lies)
- Main: After you drink a healing potion, gain 50% Damage Reduction for 2 seconds and summon eye beams that Corrupt enemies for 438% damage over 3.5 seconds. Then, your Healing Potion becomes disabled for 5 seconds. You may drink your Healing Potion at full Life.
- Modifier: Activating your Main Boss Power grants Stealth for 2 seconds. After entering Stealth, you deal 11%[x] increased Overpower Damage for 2 seconds.
Andariel's Flaming Skull (obtained after defeating the Greater Lair Boss, Andariel)
- Main: After standing still for 1 second, summon a skull for 4 seconds that rotates around you and breathes fire that Burns enemies for 450% damage over 3 seconds.
- Modifier: Enemies take 10.5% more damage from your Damage over Time effects.
Beast in the Ice's Sleet (obtained after defeating the Initiate Lair Boss, Beast in the Ice)
- Main: After casting 3 Skills which apply Crowd Control or Stagger effects, shoot out sleet spikes that deal 800% Cold damage and Freeze enemies for 2 seconds.
- Modifier: Your Main Boss Power now Chills enemies it damages for 2.5%[x].
Grigoire's Lightning Square (obtained after defeating the Initiate Lair Boss, Grigoire)
- Main: After you cast a Core Skill, lightning tiles outward for 1.2 seconds dealing 250% Lightning damage per strike.
- Modifier: Once per activation, damaging an enemy with your Main Boss Power Stuns enemies it hits for 0.25 seconds.
Lord Zir's Blood Pool (obtained after defeating the Initiate Lair Boss, Lord Zir)
- Main: After you damage an enemy, spawn a pool of blood that deals 400% Bleeding damage per second over 4 seconds. You can have up to 3 active pools.
- Modifier: Activating your Main Boss Power Heals you for 17% of your Maximum Life over 3 seconds.
Varshan's Life Steal (obtained after defeating the Initiate Lair Boss, Varshan)
- Main: Every 1 second, attach a leeching beam to the closest enemy which deals 700% Corrupting damage to them and restores 15% of your Maximum Life.
- Modifier: Activating your Main Boss Power inflicts Nearby enemies with 200% Corrupting damage over 2 seconds.
Urivar's Lobbed Bombs (obtained after defeating the Initiate Lair Boss, Urivar. Requires the Vessel of Hatred expansion)
- Main: After you Cast an Ultimate Skill, lob 4 bombs that deal 400% Fire damage. Gain 15% Cooldown Reduction.
- Modifier: Killing an enemy with your Main Boss Power reduces your Ultimate Skill's Cooldown by 0.2 seconds.
Harbinger of Hatred's Volley (obtained after defeating the Greater Lair Boss, Harbinger of Hatred. Requires the Vessel of Hatred expansion.)
- Main: After damaging a Vulnerable enemy, shoot piercing projectiles that last 1.3 seconds, dealing 250% Fire damage and applying Vulnerable. Deals 40%[x] increased damage to Vulnerable enemies.
- Modifier: Casting a Basic Skill while at Maximum Resource spends it all to make all Nearby enemies Vulnerable. Activating your Main Boss Power grants 11%[x] increased Vulnerable Damage for 5 seconds.
Incur Deadly Apparitions in a New Event

Belial makes his first bid for Sanctuary since Lilith met her tragic end. His Apparition Monsters—illusory foot soldiers who sow his lies into reality—have been spotted throughout Sanctuary.
You must cull them from your home by participating in the new Apparition Incursion event. Any character playing on any Difficulty Level can participate in this event. The event occurs in a different part of Sanctuary’s wilderness every few minutes, so keep an eye on your map for its current location.
Belial makes his first bid for Sanctuary since Lilith met her tragic end. His Apparition Monsters—illusory foot soldiers who sow his lies into reality—have been spotted throughout Sanctuary.
You must cull them from your home by participating in the new Apparition Incursion event. Any character playing on any Difficulty Level can participate in this event. The event occurs in a different part of Sanctuary’s wilderness every few minutes, so keep an eye on your map for its current location.
Grow Your Reputation

Sending Belial’s Apparition Monsters packing is no easy task. Overcome Belial’s band of illusion spreaders, complete Apparition Incursion events, and slay Bosses across Sanctuary to earn Reputation. This Reputation can be exchanged for long-forgotten caches containing uncommon items, such as a Resplendent Spark, Hoard Keys, and more.
Lair Boss Rework
- Bosses formerly known as Endgame or Ladder Bosses have been broken out into 3 tiers: Initiate, Greater, and Exalted Lair Bosses to convey their varying difficulty and rewards.
- Initiate Lair Bosses: Beast in the Ice, Grigoire, Lord Zir, Varshan, and Urivar (available for Vessel of Hatred owners only).
- Greater Lair Bosses: Andariel, Duriel, and Harbringer of Hatred (available for Vessel of Hatred owners only).
- Exalted Lair Bosses: Belial, Lord of Lies.
- You must be on Torment Difficulty I or higher to fight any Lair Boss.
- Lair Boss Loot
- Lair Bosses no longer require boss materials to summon and provide a vastly reduced reward upon death. Instead, when a Lair boss dies, a chest called a Hoard will spawn containing its loot. Each player must individually use Lair Boss keys to open their Hoard.
- The first Unique item dropped by a Lair Boss will be from their unique pool. Further Unique Items will have a 50% chance to be from the general Unique pool. In Torment Difficulty III, an additional guaranteed Unique item from the item pool will drop.
- When playing in a party, Lair Bosses have a 33% chance per additional party member to drop an extra Unique Item from their unique pool.
- More loot will drop from Lair Bosses. Lair Bosses now drop 7 Unique Items in Torment IV, instead of 6.
- Lair Boss Keys
- Each boss requires a number Lair Boss Keys to unlock their Hoard. Here’s a breakdown:
- Initiate: 12
- Greater: 3
- Exalted: 2
- This is one specific item for each boss, such as: Malignant Heart (Varshan), Living Steel (Grigorie), Distilled Fear (Beast in the Ice), Exquisite Blood (Lord Zir), Judicator’s Mask (Urivar), Shard of Agony (Duriel), Pin-Cushioned Doll (Andariel), Hatred Hearts (Harbringer of Hatred, Betrayer’s Husk (Belial, Lord of Lies).
- All Initiate Lair Bosses have the chance to drop a Stygian Stone, which can be converted into any Greater Lair Boss Key of your choice.
- Lair Boss Keys can stack up to 99.
- Increased the number of Lair Boss Keys you receive each time:
- Helltide Chests will drop more Living Steel.
- Nightmare Dungeons will drop more Distilled Fear.
- Blood Maiden will drop more Exquisite Blood for each contributed Baneful Heart.
- Legion Events drop more Exquisite Blood.
- World Bosses drop more Exquisite Blood.
- Random Boss Keys are more likely to be a key other than Malignant Heart.
- Each boss requires a number Lair Boss Keys to unlock their Hoard. Here’s a breakdown:
- Locating Boss Lairs—the home of Lair Bosses Boss Lairs have a unique map icon to help distinguish them.
- Once discovered, you can now teleport directly to a Boss Lair using the new teleport feature.
- Each Boss Lair description on the map lists the required Lair Boss Key and if you currently own a sufficient amount.
Developer’s Note: We’ve received feedback that players would jump into a party, have a member of their party pay the material cost to summon a boss, kill the boss to earn the rewards, then leave the party. This behavior felt unfair to players who were paying the material cost to summon the boss, so now each player must pay the material cost to reap a boss’ rewards from their Hoard. Additionally, we received feedback that it felt unfair to pay the material cost to summon a boss to test your build against, only to die and not receive any rewards. Now, you can fight any Lair Boss on Torment Difficulty I and higher to determine if you have what it takes to best the boss before sinking materials into them.
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Written by Chewingnom