In Diablo 4, one of the more mysterious and occasionally confusing seasonal objectives is Azmodan's Greater Hoard, a task that forms part of the Season Journey during the ongoing seasonal content. Unlike standard objectives where you simply defeat a named enemy or collect a certain number of items, the Greater Hoard objective involves multiple steps, hidden conditions, and a specialized seasonal mechanic. Many players find themselves defeating Azmodan multiple times without progress, not realizing that the objective requires more than just killing the demon. This guide will break down each step, explain how the seasonal mechanics work, and provide strategies for completing the Greater Hoard objective efficiently.

 

Understanding the Greater Hoard Objective

At first glance, the Greater Hoard objective seems straightforward: defeat Azmodan and open his hoard. However, Diablo 4 is less explicit about the precise conditions. Completing this objective requires understanding three main factors:

 

Obtaining the Corrupted Tongue of Azmodan - a special seasonal item that is key to unlocking the hoard.

 

Defeating the correct version of Azmodan - not every encounter counts.

 

Opening Azmodan's Hoard with the collected tongues - simply defeating him is insufficient.

 

The Greater Hoard objective ties directly into Season 11's seasonal mechanics, which include corrupted essences, hoard chests, and world boss rotations. Players often stumble because they assume that any Azmodan kill will trigger the chest, or that collecting Corrupted Tongues is automatic. Understanding the sequence and requirements is essential to completing the task.

 

Step 1: Collecting Corrupted Tongues of Azmodan

The first step is acquiring the Corrupted Tongues of Azmodan, the seasonal Diablo 4 Items necessary to open his hoard. These tongues do not drop automatically from every Azmodan encounter. Instead, they are obtained through a multi-step seasonal loot system involving other Lesser Evils, such as Andariel, Belial, and Duriel.

 

To collect these tongues:

Defeat the other Lesser Evil bosses in the open world or seasonal invasions. These bosses drop Corrupted Essences, which are used to open Lesser Evil Hoard Chests.

 

Open the corresponding hoards with the correct essences. When you do, there is a chance that the Corrupted Tongue of Azmodan will appear in the loot.

 

Since this drop is random, it may require several runs to collect enough tongues for opening Azmodan's hoard. Players should expect to farm these encounters multiple times to guarantee a sufficient supply.

 

The key point here is that obtaining Corrupted Tongues is indirect. You must engage with other seasonal mechanics, defeat specific bosses, and interact with their hoards before you can even attempt to complete the Greater Hoard objective.

 

Step 2: Defeating the Right Version of Azmodan

Once you have at least one Corrupted Tongue, the next challenge is defeating Azmodan under the correct conditions. Not all appearances of Azmodan in the world count toward the Greater Hoard objective. The hoard only spawns in specific circumstances:

 

World Boss Version - Azmodan appears as a rotating world boss event. These events are scheduled and typically announced in-game or tracked by the community. Only defeating Azmodan in this context triggers the spawn of his Greater Hoard.

 

Summoned Seasonal Variant - In some areas, like near Zarbinzet in the southern regions of Hawezar, Azmodan can be summoned using seasonal materials. This version also produces the Greater Hoard chest upon defeat.

 

Killing Azmodan in other contexts, such as story-based encounters or minor seasonal invasions, does not trigger the hoard. Many players mistakenly think that defeating him anywhere will complete the objective, leading to frustration. The key takeaway is that you must engage the world boss or summoned seasonal version for the hoard to appear.

 

Step 3: Opening Azmodan's Hoard

After defeating Azmodan in a valid context, the Greater Hoard chest will appear in or near the boss arena. Simply having Corrupted Tongues is not enough - you must use them to open the chest. Interacting with the chest consumes the tongues you spend, and the objective registers as complete once you open it with at least one tongue.

 

Some critical details to keep in mind:

There is no minimum number of tongues required. Opening the chest with just one tongue will complete the objective.

 

Using multiple tongues at once tends to improve the quantity and quality of loot, so it is generally advisable to save up several before opening the hoard.

 

The chest disappears if you leave the area or fail to open it, so it is important to be prepared before defeating Azmodan.

 

Once the chest is opened with a Corrupted Tongue, the Greater Hoard objective updates, and your progress toward seasonal rewards is recorded.

 

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Several common mistakes can prevent players from completing the Greater Hoard objective:

 

Defeating the Wrong Version of Azmodan: As noted, only the world boss or summoned seasonal versions trigger the hoard. Story-based or minor encounters do not count.

 

Failing to Collect Corrupted Tongues: Even if you defeat Azmodan correctly, you cannot open the hoard without at least one tongue. Ensure you farm the Lesser Evil hoards beforehand.

 

Opening the Chest Prematurely: Using only one tongue is sufficient, but for maximum loot efficiency, stockpile several before opening.

 

Leaving the Boss Arena Too Quickly: The hoard must be opened in the area where Azmodan dies. Exiting the map prematurely may prevent the chest from spawning or the objective from registering.

 

Understanding these pitfalls allows players to plan their approach and avoid wasted runs.

 

Strategies for Efficient Completion

Completing the Greater Hoard objective can be significantly streamlined with some strategic planning:

 

Farm Corrupted Essences First: Focus on defeating Andariel, Belial, and Duriel to gather their respective essences. Opening their hoards increases the chance of obtaining Azmodan's Tongues.

 

Monitor World Boss Rotations: Keep track of when Azmodan is scheduled to appear as a world boss. Community trackers or in-game timers are helpful to ensure you are present during the correct spawn.

 

Save Your Tongues: Collect multiple Corrupted Tongues before attempting to open Azmodan's Hoard to maximize loot output.

 

Group Up for Boss Fights: World Boss Azmodan can be challenging, especially on higher Torment levels. Teaming up reduces fight time, increases survival odds, and allows for smoother hoard farming. You can also buy Diablo 4 materials to craft stronger gear.

 

Be Patient With RNG: Corrupted Tongues have a random drop rate from Lesser Evil hoards. Multiple runs may be necessary, so plan accordingly and expect some repetition.

 

Seasonal and Endgame Considerations

Azmodan's Greater Hoard objective is not just about completing a single seasonal task - it also ties into endgame progression. Opening the hoard often rewards high-tier loot, crafting materials, and experience, making it valuable for both seasonal journey progression and overall character development. Players seeking to maximize their seasonal rewards should consider:

 

Timing their runs with other objectives to efficiently gather Corrupted Essences and complete multiple goals in one play session.

 

Stockpiling loot and managing inventory to avoid losing rare drops when opening multiple hoards.

 

Exploring higher Torment difficulties once comfortable, as loot quality scales with difficulty.

 

Successfully completing the Greater Hoard objective not only advances the seasonal journey but also contributes to optimizing your character's power level and preparing for future seasonal challenges.

 

Conclusion

Azmodan's Greater Hoard objective in Diablo 4 may seem confusing at first due to the hidden mechanics and indirect progression system. Unlike traditional objectives, it requires a sequence of actions: collecting Corrupted Tongues of Azmodan, defeating the correct version of Azmodan, and opening the hoard chest. By understanding these mechanics, monitoring world boss spawns, and strategically farming Lesser Evil hoards, players can complete the objective efficiently and enjoy the substantial rewards it provides.

 

The key takeaways are simple but critical: collect tongues first, fight the right Azmodan, and open the hoard in the boss area. By following this approach, the Greater Hoard objective becomes clear, manageable, and highly rewarding - turning a potentially confusing seasonal task into a straightforward and enjoyable part of Diablo 4's content.