Diablo 4's Season 5, known as the Season of the Infernal Hordes, has introduced a variety of exciting changes, particularly in how players obtain and utilize unique items. With the expansion of Mythic Uniques, players now have more opportunities to strengthen their characters and explore new build possibilities. However, these powerful items are often locked behind some of the game's toughest challenges:Pinnacle Bosses. To face these formidable foes, players must first collect specific summoning materials, which are essential for unlocking these battles.

This guide will walk you through the process of gathering summoning materials, detailing where to find them and how to use them effectively. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or a newcomer to Diablo 4, this guide will help you navigate the challenges of Season 5 and prepare you for the ultimate boss fights.

 Understanding the Use of Summoning Materials

Before delving into the specifics of collecting summoning materials, it’s crucial to understand their purpose. Summoning materials are the key to challengingPinnacle Bosses—powerful enemies that drop some of the most coveted items in the game, including the newly enhanced Mythic Uniques like theHarlequin Crest andTyrael’s Might. Pinnacle Bosses are available in two challenge modes:Normal andTormented.

Normal Mode offers a modest kill bonus and a 1.5% chance of dropping a Mythic Unique.

Tormented Mode is more challenging, requiring three times as many materials, but it offers a fivekill bonus and a roughly 7% chance of obtaining a Mythic Unique.

Given the difficulty of Tormented Mode, it’s essential to ensure that your gear is fully upgraded, possibly requiring substantial amounts of  Diablo 4 Gold. This mode is not for the faint of heart, but the rewards are well worth the effort.

 Collecting Summoning Materials

Each Pinnacle Boss requires a specific set of summoning materials, many of which are tied to repeatable endgame activities. Below is a detailed breakdown of where to find these materials and how to efficiently farm them.

 1. Stygian Stones

Stygian Stones are among the most elusive summoning materials in Diablo 4, primarily obtained throughInfernal Hordes activities. These events, particularly at Tiers 7 and 8, occasionally reward players with Stygian Stones when opening resource boxes. On average, each event might yield two or more stones.

Stygian Stones are a crucial component for summoning theTormented variants of all Pinnacle Bosses. Since these stones are relatively rare, it’s recommended to focus your efforts on participating in hightier Infernal Hordes activities, where the drop rates are slightly more favorable.

 2. Exquisite Blood

Exquisite Blood is another essential material, especially for summoning theTormented Lor Zir. The best way to farm Exquisite Blood is by defeating theBlood Maiden in Helltide, which has a high drop rate for this item. To summon the Blood Maiden, players need to use three Baneful Hearts at the altar, often marked asWhisper objectives on the map.

Additionally,World Events offer a smaller chance of dropping Exquisite Blood. You’ll need to collect 27 bottles of Exquisite Blood to summon Tormented Lor Zir, who drops theFractured Winterglass Unique, a Sorcererspecific piece of equipment. The summoning altar for Lor Zir is located in theDarkened Way dungeon in the Fractured Peaks.

 3. Distilled Fear

Distilled Fear is primarily obtained by completingNightmare Dungeons at level T21+ or through encounters withTreasure Goblins. While Treasure Goblins can drop Distilled Fear, they are not a guaranteed source, making Nightmare Dungeons a more reliable farming method.

With 27 Distilled Fear, you can summon theTormented variant of Beast in the Ice, found in theGlacial Fissure dungeon in Fractured Peaks, just south of Kyovoshad. Known as one of the most dangerous of the Normal Pinnacle Bosses, Beast in the Ice requires a strong build to defeat, especially if you're farming for Distilled Fear in Nightmare Dungeons.

 4. Living Steel

Living Steel is a unique material that always drops fromTortured Gift chests during Helltide. A standard chest will yield one Living Steel, but for more efficient farming, you can spend 275 Aberrant Cinders to open theGift of Living Steel chest, which contains five Living Steel and spawns twice per Helltide.

You’ll need 27 Living Steel to summonTormented Grigoire, located in theHall of the Penitent dungeon in Kehjistan. Grigoire is one of the more timeefficient bosses to farm, as Living Steel is relatively easy to obtain through Helltide events. Players can often challenge Tormented Grigoire multiple times after completing various quests in Helltide.

 5. Malignant Hearts

Malignant Hearts are primarily acquired fromWhisper Caches, although the contents of these caches are random. Additionally, Malignant Hearts can be obtained fromElite enemies in Helltide and World Boss fights. If you collect body parts such as hearts, heads, hands, or skeletons, these can be exchanged for Malignant Hearts at the Alchemist.

To summonTormented Varshan, who is located in theMalignant Burrow next to theTree of Whispers in Hawezar, you’ll need 15 Malignant Hearts. While fewer hearts are required compared to other summoning materials, the random nature of Whisper Caches means that farming them can be somewhat timeconsuming.

 6. Pincushioned Dolls

Pincushioned Dolls are specific to summoningAndariel, one of the toughest Pinnacle Bosses in Diablo 4. You can obtain Pincushioned Dolls by defeating theBeast in the Ice on Normal difficulty, which rewards one doll. On Tormented difficulty, defeating the Beast yields five dolls.

To summonTormented Andariel, found in theHanged Man’s Hall, players will need six Pincushioned Dolls. Given the difficulty of farming these dolls, it’s recommended to challenge the Beast in the Ice on Tormented difficulty if your build can handle it, as this will significantly reduce the time required to gather the necessary materials.

 7. Sandscorched Shackles

Sandscorched Shackles are obtained by defeatingLor Zir on Normal difficulty, which rewards one Shackle. On Tormented difficulty, defeating Lor Zir will drop five Shackles. Since summoning Andariel also requires Pincushioned Dolls, farming Lor Zir on Tormented difficulty is the most efficient way to gather these materials.

To summon Andariel, you’ll need two Shackles for the Normal variant and six for the Tormented variant. Given the relative ease of obtaining Sandscorched Shackles, this is one of the more straightforward summoning materials to farm.

 8. Shards of Agony and MucusSlick Eggs

Shards of Agony are dropped byGrigore in Standard difficulty (one Shard) and in Tormented difficulty (five Shards). These are required to summon the powerful Pinnacle BossDuriel, found in theGaping Crevasse dungeon in Kehjistan. To summon Duriel, players will need six Shards of Agony and sixMucusSlick Eggs.

MucusSlick Eggs are obtained by defeatingVarshan on Normal difficulty (one Egg) and on Tormented difficulty (five Eggs). To summon Duriel, you’ll need two Eggs for the Normal variant and six for the Tormented variant. Given the powerful loot that Duriel drops, including hightier Mythic Uniques, farming these materials is well worth the effort.

 Conclusion: Mastering the Endgame in Diablo 4 Season 5

Diablo 4’s Season 5 offers a rich and challenging endgame experience, with Pinnacle Bosses serving as the ultimate test of your character’s strength. Collecting summoning materials is an integral part of preparing for these battles, and understanding where and how to farm these materials efficiently is key to progressing in the game.

Whether you're aiming to collect the most powerful Mythic Uniques or simply looking to test your skills against Diablo 4’s toughest enemies, this guide provides you with the knowledge needed to succeed. By following these strategies, you’ll be wellequipped to face the challenges of Season 5 and emerge victorious in your quest for supremacy in Sanctuary.