The 2023 Post-Nerf Dungeon Comparison, in Context
This is an archive of Diablo 4’s launch-era dungeon-farming discussion. The original article ranked normal dungeons after changes to elite density, with Uldur’s Cave placed first for solo farming. It also listed hourly XP estimates without preserving enough test conditions to reproduce them. Those figures should not guide a current character.
The useful questions are which dungeons the comparison meant, what Blizzard actually changed and whether an old route’s benefits still match your goal. For present character progression, use the separate current Diablo 4 leveling guide.
What Blizzard Changed During 2023
The official notices show why a single “post-nerf” label is insufficient. The game changed again after the initial density adjustments.
| Historical update | Confirmed change | Effect on reading an old farm guide |
|---|---|---|
| June 2023, Hotfix 9 for 1.0.2 | Further dungeon elite-density adjustments; Blizzard described a goal of standardizing elite density. | An earlier elite-pack count may no longer describe the same route. |
| June 27, 2023, Patch 1.0.3 | More XP from Nightmare Dungeon monsters and completion; direct map teleport to the selected Nightmare Dungeon. | Both reward and travel assumptions behind normal-dungeon comparisons needed rechecking. |
| August 8, 2023, Patch 1.1.1 | Increased monster density in Nightmare Dungeons and Helltide. | A June normal-dungeon ranking did not settle later-season activity choices. |
Read Blizzard’s original Hotfix 9 notice and 2023 patch-note archive for context. Neither supplies the hourly XP rates previously printed here.
Find the Dungeons Named in the Original Comparison
Region names help you locate the old candidates without treating them as a current ranking. The Diablo IV Companion dungeon database groups these entries by region. In particular, Champion’s Demise is in the Dry Steppes, not Kehjistan.
| Region | Dungeons discussed in the original article |
|---|---|
| Dry Steppes | Champion’s Demise, Charnel House, Guulrahn Canals |
| Hawezar | Blind Burrows, Iron Hold, Ruins of Eridu |
| Kehjistan | Uldur’s Cave |
| Fractured Peaks | Mercy’s Reach, Anica’s Claim |
Finding an entrance does not establish that its Nightmare version is available in your current activity selection, or that a partial clear awards the completion you need. Check the active objective and your current game interface before committing to a repeated route.
What the Original Ranking Could and Could Not Tell You
The old comparison favored Uldur’s Cave for a relatively direct solo route and considered branching dungeons for groups. Those are route-selection ideas worth understanding: a party only benefits from splitting if its members can clear safely, and a quick opening section is less useful when your goal requires the final objective.
For a contemporary creator perspective, watch Moxsy’s launch-era dungeon XP-farm comparison. Read it alongside the patch timeline above: a result from that version does not establish the best farm on a later patch.
For a useful personal comparison, keep the patch, character setup and timing method consistent. Include the entire loop and compare the same units: a per-run reward cannot be ranked directly against an hourly total.
Use a Route That Matches the Reward You Need
If you need a dungeon completion, finish the objectives. If an activity is part of a quest or another progression chain, include that credit in the decision. When comparing repeatable routes yourself, count travel, resets, deaths and inventory stops alongside combat time, and keep difficulty and build conditions consistent.
The related Champion’s Demise archive explains its opening-area farm and original completion sequence.
