Diablo 4: How to Unlock Torment 1 and Farm Its Endgame Rewards

Since the launch of Vessel of Hatred, Diablo 4's difficulty system has changed significantly. In Season 15: Season of Hell's Legacy, the game now uses four Standard Difficulties followed by Torment I through Torment XII, with progression tied to The Pit.

Torment I is the first Torment difficulty and the point where Ancestral Gear becomes available. This guide covers how to unlock Torment I, what it offers, and how to prepare for it.

Diablo 4 Difficulty System

Diablo 4 now has two main stages of difficulty progression.

The first stage consists of four Standard Difficulties: Normal, Hard, Expert, and Penitent. These difficulties cover the leveling process and help prepare your character for endgame content.

After that comes the Torment system, which currently ranges from Torment I to Torment XII. Progression through these tiers is linked to The Pit, so clearing higher Pit tiers is the main way to unlock higher Torment difficulties.

This structure replaces the older World Tier system and provides a more gradual path into the endgame.

What Does Torment 1 Unlock?

Torment I is the first major gear breakpoint in the current endgame.

Ancestral Gear

Ancestral Gear starts dropping in Torment I. These items form the main gear progression for characters entering the Torment system and give you more room to optimize your build.

Ancestral Legendary and Unique items can also have Greater Affixes, making them important targets once you begin looking for stronger rolls and more specialized gear.

Better Endgame Rewards

Higher Torment difficulties provide stronger endgame rewards as you progress through the system.

In Season 15: Season of Hell's Legacy, Blizzard increased Legendary item drop rates in Torment I through Torment V, making the early stages of Torment progression more rewarding.

This makes Torment I a useful farming point for characters transitioning from leveling gear into a dedicated endgame setup.

More Endgame Farming

Torment I also serves as the entry point for several Torment-based endgame activities. As your character becomes stronger, you can combine The Pit with boss farming and other endgame activities to improve your equipment and gather the materials needed for further progression.

How to Unlock Torment 1

The current requirement for Torment I is straightforward.

Reach Level 70

Your character needs to reach Level 70, the current character level cap.

After reaching the level cap, further character progression comes through the Paragon system rather than additional character levels.

Clear Pit Tier 10

Once you reach Level 70, enter The Pit and complete Pit Tier 10.

Clearing Pit 10 unlocks Torment I. From there, higher Torment tiers require progressively higher Pit clears.

The first five Torment tiers increase in five-Pit increments, while Torment VI and above require larger jumps. Torment XII is currently the highest Torment tier.

What Changed About Torment Defense?

If you are following an older Diablo 4 Torment guide, you may still see information about fixed Armor and Resistance penalties.

Older versions of the Torment system applied penalties such as -250 Armor and -25% All Resistances in Torment I. Those values belonged to the earlier difficulty system and should not be treated as current Torment I mechanics.

For the current system, you should instead focus on your character's actual defensive setup, including Armor, Resistances, Life, damage reduction, and build-specific defensive mechanics.

Higher Torment tiers are still considerably more dangerous, so survivability remains an important part of endgame progression.

How to Prepare for Torment 1

You do not need a perfectly optimized character to enter Torment I, but your build should be ready for a noticeable increase in difficulty.

Upgrade Your Main Gear

Replace weak leveling equipment with gear that supports your build's core damage and defensive mechanics.

At this stage, prioritize useful affixes and strong item combinations instead of simply equipping every item with a higher number.

Improve Your Defensive Setup

Before pushing into Torment I, make sure your Armor and Resistances are in a good position.

You should also have enough Life and defensive tools to survive sustained combat. If your character is dying frequently in The Pit, adding more damage alone is unlikely to solve the problem.

Optimize Your Build

Torment I is a good point to move from a temporary leveling setup into a dedicated endgame build.

Review your:

• Skills and Passives
• Legendary Aspects
• Paragon setup
• Defensive stats
• Resource generation
• Cooldown management
• Main damage multipliers

You do not need perfect rolls for your first Torment I clear. The goal is to build a setup that can clear content consistently while maintaining enough survivability.

Use The Pit to Test Your Build

The Pit is both the gateway to Torment and a useful way to measure your character's progression.

If you can clear Pit 10 comfortably, you can start farming Torment I. If the clear is slow or survival is a problem, improve your gear and build before pushing further.

Torment 1 Farming Priorities

Once you unlock Torment I, focus on turning the increased difficulty into meaningful character upgrades.

Prioritize:

• Ancestral Gear for major equipment upgrades
• Legendary and Unique items that fit your build
• Masterworking materials for upgrading strong gear
• The Pit for continued progression
• Lair Bosses for targeted Unique farming
• Endgame activities that provide useful crafting materials

If you are missing specific gear or materials, MMOSO can also help you fill those gaps and get your build ready for the next Torment tier.

Season 15 also increases Legendary drop rates in Torment I through Torment V, giving newly unlocked Torment characters more opportunities to build out their endgame equipment.

You do not need to rush into the next Torment tier. Once Torment I becomes comfortable, use the gear and materials you earn there to improve your build and push the next Pit breakpoint.

Torment 1 Progression Path

A practical progression route is:

Level 70 → Improve Your Build → Clear Pit 10 → Unlock Torment I → Farm Ancestral Gear → Upgrade Core Equipment → Push Higher Pit Tiers → Unlock Higher Torment Difficulties

Torment I is the starting point of the current Torment progression. Once you can farm it consistently, continue using The Pit and other endgame activities to strengthen your character and work toward the higher Torment tiers.