Escalating Nightmares is a new activity that was added when Season 9: Sins of the Horadrim became live and now serves as another endgame activity.
Aside from being one of the best ways to obtain experience, equipment, materials, and even Seasonal Currency, many more rewards can be obtained as well.
These, however, provide more of a challenge and are often best done once you reach Torment I and higher world difficulties to get better rewards.
How To Start Escalating Nightmares?
Escalating Nightmares can start by using an Escalation Sigil, which is similar to a Nightmare Sigil, with the only difference being the activity that it activates.
Using an Escalation Sigil will activate an Escalating Nightmare (Similar to how a Nightmare Dungeon is started), and once this happens, you can teleport to the dungeon.
Where To Get Escalating Sigils?
Escalation Sigils are obtained from Horadric Caches at the end of a Horadric Strongroom activity, which has a chance to occur in Nightmare Dungeons and Escalating Nightmares.
Once you are in a Nightmare Dungeon or Escalating Nightmare, there is a chance for a Horadric Strongroom to be accessed. (Guaranteed if your sigil has the “Horadric Strongroom” affix)
Escalating Nightmare Walkthrough
Escalating Nightmares have 3 tiers, and each one of these is a dungeon that has added or altered affixes as you progress to the next one.
Complete the dungeons as you regularly would with a Nightmare Dungeon, and at the end, a portal will appear, showing you the affixes of the next dungeon.
Escalating Nightmares done on Torment I and higher difficulties will allow you to progress to a fourth stage, which is where you will fight Astaroth and his Amalgam of Rage.
This is a slightly different version of Astaroth than when you previously encountered him in the past seasons, and defeating him provides you with an abundant amount of loot.
Escalating Nightmare Rewards
Defeating Astaroth is similar to most bosses, but unlike the Lair Bosses, there is no hoard to be opened, and he drops his loot upon death.
Depending on the affixes of Astaroth’s Lair, you may obtain Lair Boss Keys, Ancestral Items and more that don’t often drop in dungeons.
These include Seasonal Currency, equipment, crafting materials, Gold, and more, with better rewards dropping in higher difficulties.
Verdict
Nightmare Dungeons are one of the best ways to start before you start doing Escalating Nightmares, allowing you to obtain Escalation Sigils from Horadric Strongrooms.
It is best to do Escalating Nightmares when on Torment I or higher difficulties, as these will allow you to proceed to Astaroth’s Lair after Tier 3.
Since Seasonal Currency and crafting materials drop from Escalating Nightmares, this activity is one of the most vital ones to do if you want to progress quickly in any season.
