In this page, we cover the logistics of the event, how best to experience and complete it, and the rewards that can be obtained.

The Darkening of Tristram is an anniversary event for Diablo 3 that allows players to replay the original levels of Diablo 1.

1. Finding the Anniversary Event

The Anniversary Event is found in Act I, The Old Ruins waypoint. While the event is active, it will be marked with a demonic pentagram on the map, labeled 'The Darkening of Tristram'. Take the road south of the waypoint towards the center of Old Tristram, and you will come across a legacy-styled town portal labled 'Tristram'. Go through it and you will enter the Anniversary Event, immediately recognizable by the grainy filter effect on the screen.

It is highly recommended to start the Anniversary Event solo with a fresh level 1 character, as a pet cosmetic reward depends on that (the selected difficulty does not matter). For maximum efficiency, do subsequent completionist clears in a group, with geared farming characters that do not depend on In-geom procs for speed, such as Unhallowed Essence Multishot Demon Hunters.

Note that there is a 'precusor event' found in regular game locations, whose completion is necessary for a portrait reward (discussed below). Almost all of the Anniversary Event awards are tied to achievements, found under the 'General — Special Events' tab, making it easy to track your progress.

2. Banner Cosmetics

Ogden's Sign and Ogden's Brew: These sigil and accent are awarded upon killing all four main bosses of the event — The Butcher, Skeleton King, Arch-Bishop Lazarus and The Dark Lord. Note that while it is impossible to miss Lazarus and The Dark Lord, The Butcher and the Skeleton King are in side areas on Levels 2 and 3, respectively. Butcher's room on Level 2 is on the main path and clearly marked with blood on both entrances, making it harder to pass by. Skeleton King is in a side area called 'King Leoric's Tomb' off the main path to Level 4, and can be missed if you rush the dungeon.

3. Item Transmogs

Red Soul Shard legendary gem and head transmog: The Red Soul Shard legendary gem is a guaranteed drop off The Dark Lord. To obtain the Red Soul Shard head transmog, simply slot the gem in your helm. You do not need to use the gem to wear this transmog from then on, as it follows the rules of regular transmogrification in the game.

The Butcher's Cleaver transmog: The Butcher's Cleaver is a guaranteed drop from The Butcher in the Anniversary event. Notice that it is a blue item (making it rather easy to pass by), but will grant you the transmog on pickup, similarly to a legendary item. It can be applied to other 1 handed axes, swords and maces.

Wirt's Leg transmog: Wirt's Leg is a craftable new weapon, added for transmog purposes. It can be applied to other 1 handed axes, swords and maces. To obtain the plan for its creation, you need to follow the steps outlined below. Note that all of them are happening inside the pixelated Anniversary Event area, which — as noted above — is reached by going south of the The Old Ruins waypoint and walking through the pixelated portal.

Reach Level 9 in the Labyrinth, and look for The Black Mushroom object (guaranteed spawn). Clicking it will yield a Rotten Mushroom.

Go back to the Old Tristram starting area of the event, and go to Adria's Hut that's inside the event (down the road towards the Cathedral, then to the right). Inside, click on the Cauldron object to obtain Witch's Brew.

Take Witch's Brew to Farnham's Corpse, down from the entrance portal.

Take Drunkard's Debt to Ogden's Corpse, upwards from the entrance portal.

Take Garda's Letter to Pepin's Corpse, left of the entrance portal.

Take Healer's Prescription to Griswold's Corpse, right of the entrance portal, and he will drop you the plan for Wirt's Leg.

Teleport back to town, teach it and craft one at the Blacksmith; you will find it under the Maces tab.

4. Pets

Butcher pet: As previously mentioned, it is recommended to do your first clear of the Anniversary Event solo and with a level 1 character, as this yields the 'An Eerie Red Glow Blurs Your Vision' achievement and the Butcher pet at the end.

The Royal Calf pet: Obtaining this pet naturally follows crafting a Wirt's Leg. Instead of the usual Forgotten Soul, salvaging a Wirt's Leg yields a Map of the Stars reading the sequence '2-1-3'. Head back to Adria's Hut in the event area, and note the cow corpses outside. Click them in the described sequence, or more specifically: middle, left, right. This triggers the Abandoned Farmstead entrance to the right; a small area whose only notable feature is the 'Wirt's Stash' chest in the middle. It contains the Royal Calf pet.

5. Portrait Frames

Classic Demon portrait: The classic D1 health bar frame is awarded from the Protector of Tristram achievement, unlocked upon killing all 40 unique monsters in the Anniversary Event. These unique monsters mirror their Diablo 1 counterparts as close as possible in appearance and location; the bolded ones are fixed (i.e. Blackjade and Red Vex), while others will require multiple runs to find. Judging by PTR testing, the achievement could be done in about 6-7 runs. Broken down by levels, the unique monster list is:

Level 2 — Shadowbite, Rotfeast the Hungry;

Level 3 — Madeye the Dead, Brokenhead Bangshield;

Level 4 — Gharbad the Weak , Snotspill, Blacklash the Burning;

, Snotspill, Blacklash the Burning; Level 5 — Bloodskin Darkbow, Foulwing, Shadowcrow;

Level 6 — Deathshade Fleshmaul, Bilefroth the Pit Master, Bloodgutter;

Level 7 — Blighthorn Steelmace, Gorestone, Nightwing the Cold;

Level 8 — Firewound the Grim, Zhar the Mad , Baron Sludge;

, Baron Sludge; Level 9 — Breakspine, Brokenstorm, Oozedrool;

Level 10 — The Flayer, Goldblight of the Flame, Blackstorm;

Level 11 — Bluehorn, Fangspeir;

Level 12 — Viperflame, Viletouch, Lionskull the Bent;

Level 13 — Warlord of Blood , Rustweaver, Witchmoon;

, Rustweaver, Witchmoon; Level 14 — Steelskull the Hunter, Graywar the Slayer, Stareye the Witch;

Level 15 — The Vizier ;

; Unholy Altar — Red Vex, Blackjade ;

; Level 16 — Sir Gorash

Classic Angel portrait: The classic D1 resource bar frame is awarded from the 'I Sense a Soul in Search of Answers' achievement, unlocked upon collecting all 7 Cultist's Page items. This achievement is part of a "precursor event" that starts a few hours prior to the unlocking of the Diablo 1 dungeon (but is available for the duration of the whole event). It involves hunting down Temporal Priests, who look a like a gray version of the yellow Cultist-type enemies. They can be found in the following locations:

Act I: The Weeping Hollow, Festering Woods, Cathedral levels 1, 2 and 4, Halls of Agony levels 1, 2 and 3;

Act II: Dahlgur Oasis, Desolate Sands;

Act III: Keep Depths 1, 2 and 3, Stonefort, Rakkis Crossing, Arreat Crater 1, Tower of the Damned 1, The Core of Arreat;

Act IV: Gardens of Hope 1, 2 and 3, Silver Spire 1 and 2, Hell Rift 1

Act V: Westmarch Commons, Westmarch Heights, Paths of the Drowned, Battlefields of Eternity, Greyhollow Island;

There can only be one Temporal Priest spawn per location, and he can drop duplicate pages; but on the upside, they are a guaranteed drop and can be traded.

Note: On the live 2.4.3 patch the pages could be traded between non-seasonal characters, but not between seasonal characters. This is likely a bug. Last test: January 9th 2017.

6. Remaining Achievements

For achievement completionists, The Dark Passage has a chance to spawn on level 2, The Chammber of Bone is a guaranteed spawn side area on level 6, and The Halls of the Blind are a guaranteed section of level 7.

7. Changelog