Torment 1 is the first real endgame difficulty in Diablo 4, sitting above Penitent and marking the point where Ancestral gear, better loot, and meaningful progression actually begin. Season 13: Lord of Hatred expanded the Torment system from 4 tiers all the way to 12, making the unlock path slightly different from what returning players might remember. This guide covers every step required to reach Torment 1, including the Seasonal Realm gate most players miss.
What Torment 1 Actually Unlocks
Before pushing into the Pit, it helps to know what Torment 1 delivers. The jump from Penitent is significant, not just in difficulty but in reward quality.
| Torment 1 Benefit | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Ancestral quality items become available | Higher-base gear for real endgame builds |
| 300% more experience from monsters | Paragon progression accelerates noticeably |
| 100% more Gold | Gold farming improves during normal endgame content |
| Higher Unique and Legendary drop pressure | Farming becomes more efficient over time |
Ancestral items are the core reason to push Torment 1 as soon as possible. Boss farming, War Plans, and the Horadric Cube all feel more connected once the character starts chasing stronger bases at this tier.
One thing to note: Torment 1 also applies a debuff of 250 armor reduction and a 25% resistance penalty. These debuffs grow more severe on higher Torment tiers, so build survivability matters before making the switch.
Prerequisites for Unlocking Torment 1
Two separate gates control access to Torment 1 in Season 13. Missing either one blocks progress.
Gate 1: Reach Level 70
Level 70 is the first checkpoint. At this level, a Priority Quest related to the Pit of the Artificers appears in Cerrigar, Scosglen, marked on the map with a Totem. Complete the base game campaign if the quest does not appear. Without the campaign completed and Level 70 reached, the Artificer’s Obelisk remains locked.
Gate 2 (Seasonal Characters Only): Complete Season Rank II
This is the step that catches most players. On the Seasonal Realm, reaching Level 70 alone does not unlock the Pit. The Artificer’s Obelisk stays locked until Season Rank II is complete. Paragon levels do not bypass this requirement. Whether the character is Paragon 1 or Paragon 50, the seasonal objective page must be pushed to Rank II first.
To check current progress, open the Season menu and look at the Season Rank tracker. If Rank II is not yet complete, finish enough objectives on the second seasonal reward page to push the rank forward, then return to the Artificer’s Obelisk.
On Eternal Realm characters, this Seasonal Rank gate does not apply. Level 70 alone opens the Pit.
How to Access the Pit of the Artificers
Once both prerequisites are met, the Pit becomes available through the Artificer’s Obelisk in Cerrigar, Scosglen.
To run the Pit, collect Artificer’s Stones. These drop from practically every game mode available in Diablo 4, including Helltides, World Bosses, and Nightmare Dungeons. Stock up before attempting higher-tier runs.
At the Obelisk, select a Pit Tier before entering. The Pit is a timed dungeon encounter: clear hordes of monsters and kill a boss at the end within 15 minutes. First-time players start with access up to Tier 7, which matches Penitent difficulty. Beating Tier 7 within the timer unlocks additional tiers and begins the path toward Torment.
How to Unlock Torment 1: Clear Pit Tier 10
Pit Tier 10 is the unlock requirement for Torment 1 in Season 13. Completing that run within the timer grants access to the first Torment difficulty.
The run must be completed cleanly. Failing, timing out, or abandoning the run does not count. Finish Pit 10, exit, then head to a World Difficulty Statue to switch.
Here is the full Torment unlock table for Season 13:
| Torment Tier | Required Pit Clear |
|---|---|
| Torment 1 | Complete Pit 10 |
| Torment 2 | Complete Pit 15 |
| Torment 3 | Complete Pit 20 |
| Torment 4 | Complete Pit 25 |
| Torment 5 | Complete Pit 30 |
Each Torment tier beyond the first requires progressively higher Pit clears. Torment 1 is the entry point, but the ceiling in Season 13 extends all the way to Torment 12.
Picking a strong class and build for early Pit clears makes a meaningful difference. Check the Diablo 4 Season 13 class tier list to compare leveling, farming, and endgame performance across all eight classes before pushing deeper into Torment tiers.
How to Switch to Torment 1 Difficulty
Unlocking Torment 1 through the Pit does not automatically change the world difficulty. The character stays on the current difficulty until the player manually switches.
Head to a World Difficulty Statue in any major hub and interact with it to access the difficulty menu. Torment 1 appears as a selectable option once Pit 10 is cleared.
World Difficulty Statue locations:
- Cerrigar, Scosglen (inside the town, near the Artificer’s Obelisk)
- Kyovashad, northeast corner (the first major city in the base campaign)
- Kurast Bazaar, the central hub for the Vessels of Hatred expansion
Any of these statues work. Choose the most convenient one and switch directly after finishing the Pit run.
Troubleshooting: Torment 1 Not Unlocking
If Torment 1 is not selectable after clearing Pit 10, run through this checklist:
| Problem | What to Check |
|---|---|
| Pit is still locked at Level 70 | Complete Season Rank II on the Seasonal Realm character |
| Torment 1 not selectable at the statue | Confirm Pit 10 was fully completed within the timer |
| Difficulty changed for one player but not the group | Party is limited by the lowest unlocked member |
| Unlock steps seem complete but nothing works | Confirm the character is on the correct realm (Seasonal vs Eternal have different gates) |
Party play adds a layer of complexity. A group runs at the lowest Torment level available across all members. If one player has Torment 1 unlocked and another does not, the group needs to sort the unlock before farming together efficiently.
If login issues are blocking access during seasonal launch windows, Diablo 4 Error Code 300008 covers the timeout error that tends to appear during high-traffic periods.
How to Prepare Before Switching to Torment 1
Torment 1 is a real step up from Penitent. Enemies hit harder, bosses apply more pressure, and builds that coasted through normal difficulties may struggle without some tuning first.
The main prep checklist before switching:
- Stable damage output: The character should clear Pit 10 cleanly within the timer without burning consumables constantly.
- Capped or improving defenses: 250 armor reduction and 25% resistance loss hit at Torment 1. Builds with thin defenses will feel it immediately.
- Useful Legendary Aspects: At minimum, the build’s core skill should have the relevant Aspect codex item equipped.
- A plan for Ancestral farming: Know which bosses to target before entering Torment 1. The Diablo 4 Season 13 boss loot table covers exactly which boss drops which Unique, so farming stays focused from the start.
The Warlock class is one of the stronger options for Pit clears and early Torment farming in Season 13. The Hell Fracture Warlock build in particular handles both Pit clears and screen-clearing endgame content effectively. Warlock players pushing deeper into endgame should also check the Anathema of the Primes unique weapon, which transforms how the Archfiend Demonform operates at higher Torment levels. Play Now!
Frequently Asked Questions
Does reaching Level 70 automatically unlock Torment 1 in Diablo 4 Season 13?
No. On Seasonal characters, completing Season Rank II is required before the Pit unlocks. After the Pit is accessible, clearing Pit Tier 10 within the timer grants Torment 1. Level 70 alone only opens the Pit on Eternal Realm characters.
What Pit tier is needed to unlock Torment 1 in Diablo 4 Season 13?
Pit Tier 10 unlocks Torment 1 in Season 13. The run must be completed fully within the 15-minute timer. Failing, timing out, or abandoning the run does not count toward the unlock.
Why is the Pit still locked at Level 70 on a Seasonal character?
Seasonal characters must complete Season Rank II before the Artificer’s Obelisk opens. Paragon levels do not bypass this requirement. Open the Season menu, check current rank progress, and finish enough objectives on the second seasonal reward page to push past Rank II.
Where do you switch to Torment 1 difficulty after unlocking it?
Head to any World Difficulty Statue in a major hub. Cerrigar in Scosglen, the northeast corner of Kyovashad, and Kurast Bazaar all have one. Interact with the statue and select Torment 1 from the difficulty menu.
Can a full party unlock Torment 1 together in Diablo 4?
Yes, the Pit can be run in a group. However, the group’s active difficulty is limited to the lowest Torment tier available among all members. Each player needs their own Torment 1 unlock before the party can farm at that difficulty together.
