The Dry Steppes region in Diablo 4 is a barren desert area inhabited by barbarians, mercenaries, and blood mages who practice cannibalism. Despite its harsh conditions, exploring this desolate land is highly rewarding due to the abundance of hidden treasures, dungeons, non-playable characters (NPCs), and other exciting features.
If you’re planning to navigate through the Dry Steppes region of Sanctuary, this guide is designed specifically for you. In the following sections, we will provide comprehensive information about the Dry Steppes region in Diablo 4, including its map details, dungeons, strongholds, NPCs, and more.
Update on 7 July 2023: We've updated this article with any new information and details for Diablo 4's Dry Steppes region.
Diablo 4 Dry Steppes Overview & Lore
The Dry Steppes represent a region devastated by war, characterized by rugged canyons and scalding hot water. The land seems inspired by Central Asia, and you might even say it’s similar to Kehjistan, but its environment is quite different.
Various factions engage in savage conflicts while unrest steadily grows. In their quest for power, some individuals even resort to cannibalism. Many inhabitants of the world of Sanctuary believe that living in the Dry Steppes necessitates embracing a life of either relentless brutality or desperate struggle.
According to the developers at Blizzard, here is the official description of the area:
In the Dry Steppes, lives are worth less than water. Rugged barbarians, ruthless mercenaries, and cannibalistic blood mages fight for survival in the harsh and unforgiving salt flats that only the most hardy—or desperate—call home.
Therefore, if you are considering traversing the Dry Steppes, it is crucial to be prepared for a grueling battle for survival. The demons, cannibals, and Barbarians who inhabit the region will not allow you to pass through unharmed, making endurance and resilience vital.
Dry Steppes Location in Sanctuary
The Dry Steppes is located in the northwestern region of Sanctuary’s landmass and sits between Kehjistan (towards the north), Scoslgen (towards the south), and Fractured Peaks (towards the east). IT can be accessed from any of these areas as the regions of Diablo 4 are made to seamlessly flow into each other.
Diablo 4 Dry Steppes Map & All POI
Displayed below are the key locations found within the Dry Steppes region of Diablo 4, including dungeons, Waypoints, strongholds, and other notable features. It is important to note that these areas are not randomly generated, ensuring that all players can explore and uncover these locations consistently, as the map remains unchanged.
These locations provide a sense of structure and consistency within the Dry Steppes, allowing players to navigate and explore the region with a clear understanding of its landmarks and points of interest.
Dry Steppes Unique Materials
In each region of Sanctuary, players can discover rare materials or resources that can be utilized for crafting new items or enhancing their power. Within the Dry Steppes, the notable resource is Reddamine, a unique fungus that thrives exclusively in this area. The properties of Reddamine are renowned for their stimulating and energizing effects, likely attributed to the fungus’ ability to survive in the harsh environment of the Steppes.
Reddamine holds significant value as an herb that players can employ in the creation of potions, elixirs, and incense. It is highly recommended to collect Reddamine during your visit to the Dry Steppes, as it can be instrumental in brewing useful concoctions that provide various benefits and advantages.
Dry Steppes Content: Dungeons, Strongholds & Side Quests
Just like other regions in the game, the Dry Steppes in Diablo 4 presents players with dungeons, strongholds, and side quests that offer rewards, experience points, and a new currency called Renown, which contributes to reputation. Moreover, scattered throughout the area, you can discover Altars of Lilith that grant permanent stat enhancements, essential for building your character.
Below is a summarized overview of the content areas awaiting exploration and completion in the Dry Steppes:
- Waypoints: 8
- Strongholds: 3
- Side Quests: 38
- Side Dungeons: 21
- Altars of Lilith: 33
Moreover, the Dry Steppes contains 51 distinct areas that players can uncover, driving the narrative forward while offering access to additional items, adversaries to defeat, and potential encounters with non-playable characters. It is important to regularly review your region’s progress by accessing the Map to check the number of remaining Side Quests and Dungeons necessary to obtain all available Skill Points, Potion Charges, and Paragon Points.
All Diablo 4 Dry Steppes Waypoints
As mentioned previously, there are a total of 8 Waypoints that players can access in the Dry Steppes Region, which gives you fast travel capabilities, a useful resource since traversing this land can be lethal if you’re not prepared. So with the help of the incredibly useful Maxroll.gg, below are the 8 Waypoints you can find in the Dry Steppes:
- Farobru Waypoint – “Located in town, the eastern part of Kotama Grasslands.”
- Ked Bardu Waypoint – “Located in town, the central part of Kotama Grasslands.”
- Fate’s Retreat Waypoint – “Located in town, the western part of Chambatar Ridge.”
- The Onyx Watchtower Waypoint – “Located in Stronghold once cleansed of evil.”
- Ruins of Qara-Yisu Waypoint – “Located in Stronghold once cleansed of evil.”
- Jirandai Waypoint – “Located in town, the southern part of Untamed Scarps.”
- Hidden Overlook Waypoint – “Located in town, the eastern part of Jakha Basin.”
- Alzuuda Waypoint – “Located in town, the western part of the Fields of Hatred.”
Dry Steppes Stronghold Locations in Diablo 4
Now we come to one of the most important locations that players will need to clear as they explore every area in the game, Strongholds. These are event areas inhabited by various enemies that need to be eliminated to transform the location into a friendly part of the Region. Typically, once a Stronghold is cleared of enemies, it transitions into a player-friendly town. However, there are instances where it may transform into a dungeon instead.
The Dry Steppes contain three strongholds that you’ll need to find, so to help you out, we’ve listed their locations below.
- The Onyx Watchtower – Located Southeast of Ked Bardu.
- Temple of Rot – Located North of Jirandai Waypoint, or Southeast of the Fields of Hatred within Dry Steppes.
- The Ruins of Qara-Yisu – Located in the Southeastern part of the Region, all the way North of the Hidden Overlook Waypoint.
By successfully conquering a Stronghold in Diablo 4, players will earn Renown Points specific to that area. Moreover, the rewards for completing a Stronghold extend beyond Renown. Players may gain access to various world rewards, such as unlocking new dungeons, quests, and Waypoints.
Some Strongholds may even grant shortcuts to other areas as a completion reward, as well as introduce new NPCs for players to interact with. Additionally, completing a Stronghold could lead to the appearance of new vendors, uncovering fragments of lore, or revealing a path to another Altar of Lilith.
Dry Steppes Central Town: Ked Bardu
Ked Bardu acts as the main thriving town center in the Dry Steppes, offering a substantial expanse and a multitude of NPCs for players to engage with. Here, players can find incredibly useful and important vendors such as the:
It is important to note that the use of the town portal in the Dry Steppes will reliably transport the player back to Ked Bardu, establishing a dependable point of return for future adventures. Furthermore, if more precise and essential information regarding the Dry Steppes becomes accessible, this article will be promptly updated to ensure the provision of the most accurate details.
If you’re wanting a more top-level look at Diablo 4’s vast realm of Sanctuary, which includes diverse regions like the Dry Steppes, we suggest watching the accompanying video provided below.
And that brings us to the end of this comprehensive summary of everything we currently know about the Dry Steppes region in Diablo 4. This overview encompasses its placement within the world of Sanctuary, the existence of dungeons and Strongholds, and noteworthy elements such as side quests and the central town hub.