Unlocking Torment 1 in Diablo 4 is the gateway to the game's true endgame, and it comes down to three things: hitting the level cap, finding The Pit, and clearing a single qualifying run. Since the difficulty system was reworked for the Vessel of Hatred expansion, Torment is no longer a "world tier" you select at will. You have to earn it. This guide walks you through every requirement, from your first campaign to flipping the difficulty over to Torment I.
The current difficulty order runs Normal, Hard, Expert, Penitent, then Torment I through Torment IV. To climb from Penitent into Torment, you need to prove your character is ready by conquering The Pit of the Artificer. Here's exactly what you need and how to do it.
What you need before you start
- A character at Level 60 (the current level cap) with at least a few Paragon points assigned.
- The main campaign completed, plus the Vessel of Hatred campaign to reach Penitent difficulty.
- Access to The Pit of the Artificer, opened at the Artificer's Obelisk in Cerrigar.
- Enough gear and damage to clear Pit Tier 20 inside the run timer.
How to unlock Torment 1 in Diablo 4
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Step 1: Finish the campaigns to reach Penitent
Torment is locked behind Penitent difficulty, and Penitent is locked behind story progress. Beat the base Diablo 4 campaign to unlock Expert, then complete the Vessel of Hatred campaign to unlock Penitent. If you skipped the story, you can speed through it, but you do need to reach this point before Torment becomes available.
The difficulty ladder: clear both campaigns to reach Penitent, the tier right before Torment. -
Step 2: Reach Level 60 and spend your Paragon points
You must be at the Level 60 cap before the path to Torment opens. Keep questing, running dungeons, and clearing events until you hit 60, then assign the Paragon points you've earned. A character that is still under-leveled simply won't be offered The Pit, so don't rush ahead until your XP bar is full.
Max your character at Level 60 and allocate Paragon points before attempting The Pit. -
Step 3: Open The Pit at the Artificer's Obelisk
Once you're Level 60, look in your quest log for The Pit of the Artificer priority quest. Fast-travel to the Cerrigar waypoint in Scosglen and head to the Artificer's Obelisk just to the top-left of the waypoint. Interact with it to spend Runeshards (collected from completing Nightmare Dungeons) and open a Pit portal at the tier of your choice.
The Artificer's Obelisk sits beside the Cerrigar waypoint in Scosglen. -
Step 4: Clear The Pit at Tier 20
This is the real gate. Set the Pit to Tier 20 (or higher) and enter. Inside, you have about 15 minutes to slay enough monsters to fill the progress bar, which spawns the Pit boss. Defeat that boss within the time limit to complete the run. The moment you successfully clear a Tier 20 Pit, the Torment difficulties unlock account-wide for that realm.
Fill the monster bar to summon the boss, then beat it before the 15-minute timer runs out. -
Step 5: Switch the difficulty to Torment I
With the Tier 20 clear under your belt, open the difficulty selector — from town, the world map, or a difficulty obelisk — and you'll see Torment I available to pick. Select it to play the entire world at Torment difficulty, with tougher enemies and much better loot, including the higher item tiers and materials that fuel the rest of the endgame.
Open the difficulty menu and choose the newly unlocked Torment I tier.
Tips for clearing Pit Tier 20
- Stock up on Runeshards. Each Pit run costs Runeshards, earned from Nightmare Dungeons. Run a couple before you head to the obelisk so you have attempts to spare.
- Don't over-extend on the tier. Tier 20 is the requirement, not a target to beat by a wide margin. Opening exactly Tier 20 keeps the difficulty manageable for a fresh Level 60 build.
- Prioritise dense packs. The clock only stops when the boss dies, so funnel through groups of monsters quickly to fill the progress bar before hunting the boss.
- Tune your build first. A well-itemised build with solid Paragon and a working damage rotation clears Tier 20 far more comfortably than raw level alone.
Troubleshooting
I'm Level 60 but The Pit quest isn't showing
Make sure you have spent at least a few Paragon points and that you've finished both the base and Vessel of Hatred campaigns. Reloading the zone or checking the priority section of your quest log usually surfaces The Pit of the Artificer.
I can't interact with the Artificer's Obelisk
You need Runeshards to open a Pit. Run a Nightmare Dungeon or two to collect them, then return to the obelisk in Cerrigar and the open-Pit option will be available.
I cleared Tier 20 but Torment isn't selectable
Confirm the run actually completed — the boss must die before the timer expires. A failed or abandoned run doesn't count. Once you get a valid clear, the difficulty selector will list Torment I.
Frequently asked questions
What level do you need to unlock Torment 1 in Diablo 4?
You need to reach Level 60, the current level cap, and have assigned at least some Paragon points before you can attempt the Pit run that unlocks Torment.
What Pit tier do I have to beat for Torment 1?
You must complete The Pit of the Artificer at Tier 20 or higher. Beating the boss within the timer unlocks the Torment difficulties.
Where is the Artificer's Obelisk?
It's in Cerrigar, in the Scosglen region. Fast-travel to the Cerrigar waypoint and walk just to the top-left to find the obelisk that opens The Pit.
Do I have to unlock Torment 1 again on each character?
Each character needs to meet the requirements itself: reach Level 60 and clear a Tier 20 Pit. Your gear and knowledge make this much faster the second time around.
What changes when I play on Torment 1?
Enemies hit harder and have more health, but loot improves significantly, opening up the higher item tiers, Greater Affixes, and materials needed for late-game progression.
Final thoughts
Unlocking Torment 1 in Diablo 4 is less about grinding and more about ticking off a clear checklist: finish the campaigns to reach Penitent, push your character to Level 60, open The Pit at the Artificer's Obelisk in Cerrigar, and clear Tier 20 before the timer ends. Do that once and the full Torment ladder opens up, ready for you to climb toward Torment IV. For official details on the latest season and difficulty changes, check the official Diablo 4 website.
