Hellish Armies Questline Guide Now Available for Diablo 4 Season 5

Key Takeaways

• Infernal Hordes was the signature endgame activity of Diablo 4 Season 5, the Season of the Infernal Hordes, which launched in August 2024.
• Players unlocked the activity by completing the seasonal questline "The Eyes of the Enemy" in Hawezar after reaching World Tier 3 — a progression gate removed when Season 6 replaced World Tiers with the Difficulty/Torment system.
• Each run required surviving escalating waves of demons without exhausting revives, then defeating the Fell Council as the final boss.
• Burning Aether collected during waves was spent on Spoils of Hell chests containing gear, gold, summoning materials, and masterworking materials.
• Infernal Compasses controlled run difficulty and could be upgraded to higher tiers for harder encounters and better rewards.
• Aether Events appeared between waves as optional objectives granting bonus Burning Aether beyond standard wave-clear amounts.
• The Butcher could appear randomly during any run — a high-risk, high-reward encounter consistent with his unpredictable presence throughout Diablo 4.

Infernal Hordes was Season 5's most celebrated endgame addition. The guide below covers how every mechanic worked during the season's August 2024 – January 2025 run.

The Infernal Hordes Endgame Activity

Season 5, the Season of the Infernal Hordes, launched in August 2024. The season's headline addition was a wave-survival endgame activity where players fought through escalating demon assaults, collected Burning Aether from each wave, then spent that Aether on Spoils of Hell reward chests at the run's end. The activity replaced Nightmare Dungeons as the primary gearing loop for many builds during Season 5.

Unlocking Infernal Hordes in Season 5

To access Infernal Hordes in Season 5, players first reached World Tier 3 — the Nightmare difficulty in the World Tier system that D4 used through Season 5 — then completed the seasonal questline "The Eyes of the Enemy", located in the Hawezar region. Finishing that questline opened the Infernal Hordes activity for both Seasonal and Eternal characters. The World Tier system was retired in Season 6 and replaced with the Difficulty and Torment tier framework, so this specific unlock path no longer applies to current D4 content.

Two Questlines, One Season Journey

Season 5 divided its seasonal progression across two distinct questlines covering different phases of the Infernal Hordes arc. Players who worked through both received the full seasonal narrative alongside their endgame unlock, with the second questline opening access to higher-difficulty run tiers once the first was complete.

Surviving the Infernal Hordes

Objectives and Rewards

The primary objective in each Infernal Hordes run was surviving all waves of enemy assault without exhausting the allotted revives. At the end of the final wave, players confronted the Fell Council — the season's signature multi-target boss encounter. Defeating the Fell Council opened access to Spoils of Hell chests, which held high-quality gear (including Ancestral items), gold, boss summoning materials, and masterworking materials. Players spent their accumulated Burning Aether on whichever chest type matched their current priority.

Infernal Compasses, Aether Events, and the Butcher

Each run's difficulty was set by the Infernal Compass used to enter it. Higher-tier Compasses brought denser, more dangerous monster waves with correspondingly better loot pools. Compasses could be upgraded to higher tiers as players built up their characters through successive runs.

Between standard combat waves, Aether Events appeared — optional bonus objectives that granted additional Burning Aether beyond the standard wave-clear amounts. Choosing whether to engage them or focus on survival with limited revives remaining was a key moment-to-moment decision. The Butcher could also appear unexpectedly mid-run, as he did in other D4 activities — killing him yielded extra loot, though at the cost of a revive if the encounter went badly.

Infernal Hordes proved one of the better-received seasonal activities in Diablo 4's first two years, valued for its clear reward structure and escalating tension. Players who want to see where the game's endgame stands since Season 5 can explore Season 13 carry services to engage with the Lord of Hatred–era content.

Last reviewed 2026-06-18 against Season 5 Season of the Infernal Hordes — Maintained by WowCarry's D4 team.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was Infernal Hordes in Diablo 4 Season 5?

Infernal Hordes was the signature endgame wave-survival activity introduced in Season 5, the Season of the Infernal Hordes (August 2024). Players fought through escalating waves of demons, collected Burning Aether during each wave, then spent that Aether on Spoils of Hell chests containing high-end gear, gold, and crafting materials.

How did players unlock Infernal Hordes in Diablo 4 Season 5?

To access Infernal Hordes in Season 5, players first reached World Tier 3 (Nightmare) and then completed the seasonal questline "The Eyes of the Enemy" in Hawezar. World Tiers were removed in Season 6 and replaced by the Difficulty/Torment system, so this unlock path no longer exists in current content.

Who was the final boss of Infernal Hordes in Season 5?

The Fell Council served as the final boss of each Infernal Hordes run. Players faced them after surviving all waves. Defeating the Fell Council opened access to the Spoils of Hell reward chests.

What rewards did Spoils of Hell chests drop in Season 5?

Spoils of Hell chests could contain high-quality gear (including Ancestral items), gold, boss summoning materials, and masterworking materials. Players chose which chest to open based on their accumulated Burning Aether, with better chests costing more Aether.

What was Burning Aether in Diablo 4 Season 5?

Burning Aether was the seasonal currency earned by killing demons during Infernal Hordes waves. It accumulated throughout the run and was spent at the end on Spoils of Hell chests. Aether Events — optional bonus objectives between waves — provided extra Burning Aether beyond standard wave-clear amounts.

How did Infernal Compasses work in Season 5?

Infernal Compasses were the items used to enter Infernal Hordes runs. They came in multiple tiers, with higher-tier Compasses increasing enemy difficulty and the quality of potential rewards. Players upgraded their Compasses as they progressed through the activity.

Could the Butcher appear in Infernal Hordes in Season 5?

Yes. The Butcher could appear randomly during Infernal Hordes runs, as he did in other Diablo 4 activities. Killing him rewarded extra loot, though failing to survive the encounter cost a revive.

Is Infernal Hordes still available in Diablo 4?

Infernal Hordes was seasonal content from Season 5 and is no longer available in its original form. Diablo 4 is currently in Season 13, the Season of Reckoning, with the Lord of Hatred expansion featuring its own endgame activities and the Difficulty/Torment system that replaced World Tiers in Season 6.