Diablo 4 Season 9: The New Nightmare Dungeon Affixes 

Diablo 4's endgame has always walked a tightrope between punishing challenge and Diablo 4 Items satisfying reward. With Season 9's Sins of the Horadrim, Blizzard is putting that balance to the test with major updates to Nightmare Dungeons, including the debut of Escalation Nightmares and a full slate of reworked dungeon affixes- both positive and negative.

But the real question is: Are these changes enough to make Nightmare Dungeons a compelling, worthwhile grind in Diablo 4's current landscape? Let's dive into what's new, what works, and what still needs fixing.

Escalation Nightmares: The Gauntlet Has Been Thrown

At the heart of Season 9's dungeon overhaul is Escalation Nightmares- a chained sequence of three back-to-back Nightmare Dungeons, each inheriting the affixes of the one before it. This means that if you enter the chain with a moderately difficult sigil, by the third dungeon, you could be dealing with a brutal cocktail of modifiers that stress-test your entire build.

This new format forces players to adapt or die. No longer can you cherry-pick sigils for the most efficient routes or least annoying affixes- Escalation dungeons demand flexibility and forethought. A single poor affix (looking at you, Suppressor or Drifting Shade) can snowball into a full run-breaker if your build isn't prepared.

The New Astaroth Fight Is a Highlight

Survive all three dungeons in the Escalation chain, and you'll face off against an Exalted version of Astaroth, reworked into a high-stakes tag-team encounter with his mount. This fight is more than a reskin- it's a fast-paced, chaotic battle that demands high skill and offers meaningful loot and bragging rights in return.

If you're craving a challenge that feels like it respects your time and skill, Escalation Nightmares and the new Astaroth fight deliver.

Positive Affixes: Sort of A Game-Changer
One of the most welcome additions in Season 9 is the introduction of positive affixes to Nightmare Sigils. These are boons that reward exploration, add beneficial mechanics, and finally give players a reason to get excited about dungeon modifiers.

Here are a few examples of the new positive affixes:

Horadric Reserves- Spawn loot chests with gold, Obols, and crafting D4 materials.
Equipment Delves- Grant collectible buffs that enhance equipment caches.
Power Shrines- Summon high-impact shrines like Channeling or Artillery.
Forgotten Wisdom- Increases experience gains and spawns XP wells.
Treasure Breaches- Spawn packs of Diablo IV Items for sale powerful, loot-laden enemies.