What is The Pit in Diablo IV?

The Pit (of the Artificers) is a timed, scaling solo dungeon used to farm masterworking materials (Obducite, Ingolith, Neathiron) and unlock Torment difficulties. Tiers run 1-150. Each run costs 3 Runeshards and has a 10-minute timer.

How do I unlock The Pit?

The Pit unlocks at Level 60 through a Priority Quest in Kyovashad. You also need Runeshards, which drop from any Torment-tier activity — Helltide chests, Nightmare Dungeons, Whisper Caches, World Bosses.

How does the Pit timer work?

Each Pit run has a 10-minute base timer. Killing elites adds time, dying subtracts time. The Pit Boss spawns once you fill the progress bar. Finishing under time = full rewards + tier unlocked +1. Finishing over time = partial rewards, no tier-up.

What unlocks each Torment tier?

Pit 20 unlocks Torment I, Pit 35 unlocks T2, Pit 50 unlocks T3, Pit 65 unlocks T4. Lord of Hatred syncs the ladder 1:1 with the new 12-tier Torment system.

Diablo IV

Complete guide to The Pit of the Artificers in Diablo IV. Runeshards, tiers 1-150, timer mechanics, masterworking material rewards, Torment unlock mapping.

Endgame 9 min read

The Pit of the Artificers

By the DiabloBytes team · Updated April 2026

The Pit is D4's timed solo dungeon for measuring build power and farming masterworking materials. Every serious build gets tested in the Pit — clearing higher tiers unlocks Torment difficulties and drops the Neathiron needed to push a Legendary to rank 12 Masterwork. Pit pushing is how competitive players rank builds and how tier lists get calibrated.

Core Mechanics

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Entry cost 3 Runeshards per run (consumed on failure). Drops from any Torment-tier activity.
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Timer 10 minutes base. Killing elites adds time. Dying subtracts time.
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Pit Boss Spawns once the progress bar fills. Boss kill = run complete.
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Tier unlock Finish under timer = tier +1 unlocked.
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Tier range 1-150.

Torment Unlock Ladder

Pit Tier	Unlocks
Pit 20	Torment I
Pit 35	Torment II
Pit 50	Torment III
Pit 65	Torment IV
LoH expansion	Pit syncs 1:1 with new 12-tier Torment ladder

Rewards

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Obducite Rank 1-4 Masterworking. Drops from Pit T31-60.
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Ingolith Rank 5-8 Masterworking. Drops from Pit T46-100.
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Neathiron Rank 9-12 Masterworking. Drops from Pit T61+.
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Stygian Stones Convert 1:1 into Greater Lair Boss Keys (VoH change).
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No Glyph XP The Pit has no Glyph altar. Glyph XP happens only in NMDs.

Push Strategy

◆ Stack Elemental Resistances to cap — Torment penalties make this non-negotiable
◆ Bring Movement Speed — timer-negative deaths hurt, but slow clears hurt more
◆ Elite density beats boss damage at low-to-mid tiers
◆ Boss single-target is the bottleneck at higher Pit tiers — build for bossing
◆ If the boss takes >90 seconds, you are at your build ceiling. Drop a tier.
◆ Accept the timer. Over-timer clears still pay Obducite, just no tier-up