Unlocking Lost Witchcraft Powers in Diablo 4: A Guide to Forgotten Altars

Season of Witchcraft has brought exciting new mechanics to Diablo 4, including the introduction of Witchcraft Powers—special passives that enhance your character's abilities and open up new build possibilities. With 25 of these powers available, most can be acquired through the Witches' Coven, but there's a unique twist: four of them are hidden behind Forgotten Altars, scattered throughout Sanctuary's dungeons. Here's your guide to locating these elusive shrines and unlocking their powerful bonuses.

What Are Forgotten Altars?

Forgotten Altars are mystical shrines scattered across Diablo 4 gold dungeons that unlock four of the Lost Witchcraft Powers. Unlike the other Witchcraft Powers, which can be purchased at the Witches Coven, these require players to find and interact with Forgotten Altars during their dungeon runs. However, finding these Altars isn't as simple as walking into any dungeon—it's all about difficulty, luck, and the right approach.

Where to Find Forgotten Altars

Forgotten Altars are hidden in dungeons across Sanctuary, but they're not easy to come by. They only begin to spawn in Torment difficulty (T1 and higher), starting with a very low 1% spawn rate at Torment I and capping at 5% in Torment V. While the altars can appear in various dungeon types—including normal dungeons, Nightmare Dungeons, and the Pit—they don't appear in every dungeon, and it's unclear if they spawn in the Kurast Undercity.

Best Dungeon for Forgotten Altars: Hoarfrost Demise

For players specifically looking to farm Forgotten Altars, the best dungeon to target is Hoarfrost Demise in the Fractured Peaks. Located just north of the Bear Tribe Refuge Waypoint, Hoarfrost Demise is an excellent choice due to its small, predictable layout. The first floor typically consists of a few short corridors, and the lower level is often a series of ring-shaped paths, making it easy to navigate.

The dungeon is relatively simple to clear with a fast-paced class build, but if you're primarily focused on hunting Forgotten Altars, you can skip the enemies and concentrate on mapping out the area. Forgotten Altars appear with a distinct icon on the minimap, so be sure to keep an eye out for it as you explore.

Alternative: The Pit

If you're also looking to level up your Glyphs while searching for Forgotten Altars, consider farming The Pit. While the spawn rates are lower in this larger, more sprawling dungeon, it offers the chance to maximize your efficiency by combining both Glyph farming and Altar hunting. Keep in mind, though, the bigger maps make this a slower grind, so be prepared for longer runs.

Increasing Forgotten Altar Spawn Rates

For players looking to speed up their Altar hunting, there's a way to increase the spawn rates: Draughts of Whispers. These consumables, which can drop from Whisper caches or during Headhunt events and Roothold Dungeons, double the chances of finding a Forgotten Altar. Additionally, they increase the chance of encountering a Fugitive Head by 50%. If you need other consumables or buy D4 Items, you can quickly buy them at MMOexp.

To get the best results, use Draughts of Whispers when farming at Torment IV or higher. This will bump your chances from 5% to 10%, significantly improving your odds of finding a Forgotten Altar in each run.

Forgotten Altars offer one of the most rewarding experiences in Diablo 4 for players looking to unlock the powerful Lost Witchcraft Powers. While the process of finding them is certainly a challenge, especially given their low spawn rates, the effort is worth it for the passive bonuses they provide. Focus on dungeons like Hoarfrost Demise, consider using Draughts of Whispers to boost your chances, and explore the vast dungeons of Sanctuary to uncover these hidden powers.