Diablo 4's Season of the Construct, also known as Season 3, introduces a thrilling new endgame activity: Vaults. These specialized dungeons, filled with deadly traps, elemental Constructs, and lucrative rewards, offer players a fresh challenge in the dark and treacherous world of Sanctuary. Paired with the season's customizable Seneschal companion and the intricate economy of Diablo IV Items, Vaults provide a dynamic and rewarding experience for players seeking to push their builds to the limit. This guide explores the mechanics, locations, strategies, and rewards of Vaults, equipping you with everything you need to conquer this new endgame content.

What Are Vaults?

Vaults are a new type of dungeon introduced in Season of the Construct, designed by the Horadrim scientist Zoltun Kulle and his apprentice Ayuzhan to guard against evil forces. Unlike traditional dungeons, Vaults are laden with elemental traps and populated by a new enemy family called Constructs, which come in Fire, Lightning, Ice, and Poison variants. These dungeons emphasize skillful navigation, requiring players to dodge hazards while battling enemies to secure valuable loot. There are five Vaults in total: four elemental "Baby Vaults" (Fire, Lightning, Ice, and Poison) and the unique Vault of the Loom, home to the season's main boss, Malphas. Vaults are accessible through the Gatehall hub in Kehjistan or as marked locations in the open world, making them a central pillar of the seasonal experience.

Accessing Vaults

To enter a Vault, players must meet specific requirements and gather key resources:

Seasonal Character and Campaign Completion: Vaults are exclusive to the Seasonal Realm, so you'll need to create a new character for Season of the Construct. Completing the main campaign is also required, though you can use the Skip Campaign feature after the prologue for faster access.

Pearls of Warding: These are the primary currency for Vaults, used to gain stacks of Zoltun's Warding, a buff that grants access to special reward chests. One Pearl provides 10 stacks of Zoltun's Warding, which are consumed when hit by traps. Pearls can be obtained through:

Arcane Tremor Events: These open-world events involve defeating Constructs and collecting Arcane Cores from Obelisks. Depositing three Cores into a brazier summons a Herald Construct boss, which drops Pearls of Warding, Shattered Stones, and other loot.

Vault and Nightmare Vault Runs: Completing Vaults can yield additional Pearls, especially if you maintain Warding stacks.

Seasonal Quests: Progressing through the Season of the Construct questline, starting with speaking to Ayuzhan in the Gatehall, rewards Pearls and other seasonal items.

Vault Sigils for Nightmare Vaults: Nightmare Vaults, available at World Tier III and above, require Vault Sigils crafted at the Occultist using Pearls of Warding and other materials. These sigils unlock higher-difficulty versions of the four elemental Vaults, offering better rewards but increased challenges with affixes similar to Nightmare Dungeons.

Vault of the Loom Requirements: This unique Vault requires 7 Shattered Stones to enter and has no Nightmare equivalent. Shattered Stones are dropped by Herald of Malphas Elites, Son of Malphas (a random spawn in Vaults or Arcane Tremors), or can be purchased from other players in the in-game marketplace.

Navigating Vaults: Mechanics and Strategies

Vaults are designed to test both combat prowess and environmental awareness. Here's how to navigate them effectively:

Zoltun's Warding: At the start of a Vault, interact with the Statue of Zoltun Kulle to exchange Pearls for stacks of Zoltun's Warding (1 Pearl = 10 stacks). Your goal is to reach the end of the Vault with at least one stack intact to unlock the Wardwoven Chest, which has a high chance of dropping Legendary items, Governing and Tuning Stones for your Seneschal, and additional Pearls. Each trap hit consumes one stack, so dodging is critical. Save multiple Pearls for tougher runs to maximize your Warding stacks.

Traps and Hazards: Vaults are filled with elemental traps like fire jets, lightning bolts, ice spikes, and poison clouds. These require precise movement and timing to avoid. For example, floor plate traps activate when stepped on, and ranged sawblade projectiles from Constructs demand quick dodging. Practice recognizing trap patterns early in the season to minimize Warding loss. High-mobility builds, like those for Rogues or Spiritborn, excel here due to their ability to evade hazards.

Construct Enemies: Constructs mirror existing enemy types but have elemental variants, making them more unpredictable. Focus on crowd-control skills to manage groups and prioritize Elites, which drop valuable loot like Shattered Stones. Your Seneschal companion, customizable with Governing and Tuning Stones, can provide support with abilities like Focus Fire or crowd-control effects like stunning.

Nightmare Vaults: These are tougher, with higher-level monsters and affixes that increase difficulty (e.g., increased enemy damage or environmental hazards). They also offer a chance for an "Extra Shrine" affix, boosting shrine effects in the dungeon's early sections. Craft multiple Vault Sigils to farm these for better loot, including more Wardwoven Chests requiring 10 stacks of Zoltun's Warding.

Vault of the Loom and Malphas: The Vault of the Loom is the pinnacle of the seasonal content, housing Malphas, a stationary Demon boss possessing a massive Construct. Malphas attacks with ranged sawblade projectiles and activates conduits in the arena's corners, triggering additional traps. Focus on destroying these conduits to disable traps, positioning yourself in safe corners to dodge attacks. The fight is manageable with a well-optimized build, especially if you've upgraded your Seneschal with high-rank Governing and Tuning Stones.

Rewards and Loot

Vaults are highly rewarding, offering a range of loot critical for endgame progression:

Wardwoven Chests: Unlocked with at least one stack of Zoltun's Warding, these chests drop Legendary items, Governing and Tuning Stones, and occasionally Mythic Uniques (Item Power 925). Completing a Vault with no Warding stacks left still grants minor chests with Legendary items and a guaranteed Tuning Stone.

Governing and Tuning Stones: These enhance your Seneschal companion, with 12 Governing Stones dictating abilities and 27 Tuning Stones adding modifiers like critical strike chance or damage boosts. Stones drop from Vaults, Arcane Tremors, or can be crafted with Shattered Stones at the Jeweler. Fusing duplicates increases their rank, up to 10 for regular Stones and 1 for unique Evernight and Genesis Stones.

Other Loot: Vaults drop gold, crafting materials, and Vault Sigils for Nightmare runs. The Vault of the Loom offers a 35% chance for an additional Legendary item from its final chest.

Tips for Mastering Vaults

Optimize Your Build: Use high-damage, high-mobility builds to clear enemies quickly and dodge traps. Check resources like Mobalytics or Maxroll for top-tier Season 3 builds tailored for Vaults.

Upgrade Your Seneschal: Invest in Governing and Tuning Stones early to make your companion a reliable ally. Stones that boost critical strike damage or add crowd-control effects are particularly effective.

Farm Arcane Tremors: These events are the best source of Pearls of Warding and Shattered Stones, essential for Vault runs and crafting. Prioritize them in Kehjistan's open world.

Practice Trap Dodging: Learn trap patterns in regular Vaults before tackling Nightmare Vaults or the Vault of the Loom. Mobility skills like Teleport (Sorcerer) or Dash (Rogue) are invaluable.

Team Up: Vaults can be tackled in groups, making it easier to manage traps and enemies. Coordinate with friends to maximize Warding stacks and share loot.

Conclusion

Vaults in Diablo 4's Season of the Construct offer a thrilling blend of challenge and reward, transforming the endgame with their trap-filled dungeons and customizable Seneschal companion. By mastering Zoltun's Warding, dodging deadly hazards, and optimizing your build, you can unlock Wardwoven Chests brimming with Legendary items and powerful Stones. Whether you're exploring the elemental Baby Vaults or facing Malphas in the Vault of the Loom, preparation and strategy are key. To enhance your gear and Seneschal further, consider using the in-game marketplace to buy Diablo 4 materials like Shattered Stones or Pearls of Warding for a smoother progression. Dive into the Gatehall, conquer the Vaults, and claim your place among Sanctuary's legends.