The Ultimate Guide to Conquering Diablo 4's Main Campaign Bosses: Unveiling the Most Powerful Enemies

Diablo 4 presents players with an intriguing narrative as they navigate through the demon-infested realm of Sanctuary, determined to thwart Lilith's ascent to power. Along their journey, players must triumph over various formidable adversaries to advance, though not all of these battles leave a lasting impression. The boss encounters in Diablo 4 encompass a spectrum of peaks and valleys, with some showcasing captivating mechanics and formidable challenges, while others feel like missed opportunities or mere fillers.

While the primary focus of Diablo 4's storyline revolves around the main antagonist, Lilith, players will also encounter familiar adversaries from previous installments. Additionally, there exists a plethora of optional bosses found within dungeons and strongholds, as well as powerful world bosses, but these will not be discussed here. The evaluation of these primary story bosses will be based on their distinctiveness, memorability, and level of difficulty to overcome.

S-Tier

The highlight boss battle in Diablo 4 occurs during the second Act in the region of Scosglen, where players confront Astaroth, the Guardian of the Cathedral of Hatred. Released from his Soulstone prison by Lilith, Astaroth seeks vengeance against the Horadrim who imprisoned him and unleashes terror upon Donan and the inhabitants of Scosglen. Astaroth's exceptional boss design presents a challenging and distinctive fight, while also playing a significant role in the character's development within the game's narrative.

A-Tier

The battle against Astaroth stands out due to his tendency to change locations as soon as the player inflicts sufficient damage to his health bar. The intense atmosphere of this encounter is intensified by the setting of the burning Scosglen village of Cerrigar, the desperate attempts of its citizens to escape, and Astaroth's Cerberus-like mount. What truly raises the stakes in this boss fight is the heart-wrenching demise of Donan's son, Yorin, who serves as a vessel for Astaroth's soul, orchestrated by Lilith. This unforgettable moment is undoubtedly one of the highlights of the game.

Elias

Lilith

Airidah, Keeper of the Dead

Andariel, the Maiden of Anguish, is a boss in Diablo 4's third Act, where Lorath and the player work together to stop Elias from summoning her. However, the battle with Andariel in Act 4 is not as challenging as expected, unlike the intense build-up from the previous act. Airidah, a fascinating character, betrays the Druids to align with Lilith, hoping to gain the power they need to defend against the forces of Hell. Unfortunately, her fight is overshadowed by Astaroth's encounter, which occurs in the same Act.

B-Tier

Elias and Lilith, the two primary antagonists pursued by the player throughout the majority of the game, serve as formidable bosses. However, there is room for improvement regarding their characters. The player encounters Elias multiple times, as he has achieved immortality using Rathma's ancient technique. Consequently, the final confrontation with Elias feels repetitive once the player breaks his incantation. On the other hand, although Lilith, as the ultimate boss of the main campaign, poses a challenge, her fight becomes predictable, ultimately leaving her somewhat underwhelming.

X'Fal, The Scarred Baron

Vhenard

Lilith's Lament

Genbar, the Shrine-Keeper

Brol, The Tyrant King

Mohlon, Snake Queen

Valtha

Duriel, the Master of Agony

Although these bosses play significant roles in the narrative of Diablo 4, they lack the distinctiveness and intrigue found in others. X'Fal, the initial major antagonist, resides in the Icehowl Ruins during the prologue but fails to leave a lasting impression. While Genbar and Brol pose as obstacles for more formidable adversaries, they themselves are easily forgettable. Additionally, while Mohlon appears as a repulsive and formidable creature, it arrives too late in the game to provide a substantial challenge for the majority of players.

Vhenard and Valtha's characters are intriguing as they showcase Lilith's talent for corrupting individuals who are inherently good. However, their battles lack the necessary difficulty to be deemed noteworthy. Unfortunately, Duriel's potential is squandered in Diablo 4, which is disheartening considering his reputation as one of Diablo 2's most challenging bosses. Although he poses a slight challenge as a late-game boss, there is little indication or recognition of his status as one of the four Lesser Evils, unlike his twin sister Andariel.

Compared to the other boss fights, Lilith's Lament stands out slightly due to its uniqueness. During the battle, the player is accompanied by a Knight Penitent named Vigo, who lends a hand in combat. Following the encounter, Vigo reveals himself to be the same knight who let Lilith and Vhenard pass into the Yelesna Mines. He fights alongside the player as a way to make amends for his past actions. Although this twist is interesting, the actual boss fight is rather underwhelming in comparison to other Act bosses like Astaroth.

C-Tier

Tchort, Herald of Lilith

Eidolon of Orbei

Mother's Judgement

Uznu the Annihilator

Ninsa, Blight of Hatred

Karum, Hound of Hatred

The Diablo 4 bosses suffer from being forgettable and easily replaceable, lacking a significant impact on the game. Many of them are just variations of other demons, slightly more powerful, and primarily serve as obstacles during the final act. Uznu, Karum, and Ninsa all fall into this category, acting as mere distractions on the path towards confronting the true threat of Lilith during the intense descent into Hell. As such, they contribute little to the overall narrative of the game.

Diablo 4 can be played on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.