With Season 11: Divine Intervention, Diablo IV introduces a new competitive experiment aimed squarely at performance-focused players: the Tower and global leaderboards. Launching as a limited beta, the Tower strips away traditional loot-driven pacing and replaces it with a tightly timed dungeon format built around speed, execution, and optimization.
This guide breaks down exactly how the Tower works, how the leaderboard system is structured during the beta, and what kind of players will get the most value out of stepping inside.
In this guide, we’ll cover:
- How to unlock the Tower and where to access it in Season 11
- The 10-minute timed dungeon format and how progression is earned
- How Orbs, Towers, Pylons, and the final boss encounter function
- How global leaderboards are structured, segmented, and reset
- How the Tower compares to other Diablo IV endgame activities
- What rewards (and limitations) to expect during the beta
- Whether the Tower is worth your time based on your playstyle
TL;DR: The Tower at a Glance
- Launch Date: January 12 at 11:00 a.m. PST.
- Unlock the Tower: Reach Rank 2 of the Season Journey; enter via the same Obelisk used for The Pit in Cerrigar.
- The Format: A 10-minute timed dungeon sprint.
- The Goal: Kill tower adds and collect progress orbs to spawn the final boss before the clock hits zero.
- Leaderboards: Divided by solo brackets and group brackets.
- Rewards: Primarily bragging rights for now; one-time rewards and deeper progression incentives are planned for future seasons.
Diablo 4 Tower Beta: Access and Mechanics
The Tower is a new game mode that prioritizes performance over traditional grinding. This guide covers everything from entry requirements to how the leaderboard system functions during the Beta.
- Status: Beta (expect tuning shifts based on news and patch notes).
- Entry Point: You access the Tower through the Artificer’s Obelisk.
- Session Length: Exactly 10 minutes.
- Difficulty: You can select certain tiers based on your Pit progression; completing a higher tier in the Tower can also unlock further difficulty levels.
- Entry Cost: Currently no resource cost, allowing players to keep the competition fresh without farming materials.
What is the Tower in Diablo 4 Season 11?
Unlike the Hellish Descent Capstone Dungeon or Nightmare Dungeons, the Tower is a pure speed trial consisting of multiple floors of escalating intensity.
Because of the strict time limit, your current gear and skills must be optimized for mobility. High skills cost in resource-heavy builds may struggle here, as the game favors efficiency and burst damage.
How to Earn Progress: Orbs, Towers, and Pylons
To succeed, you must move quickly between floors to locate elite packs and fill your meter.
- Progression Orbs: Eliminating Elites and Goblins drops progression orbs that significantly fill your bar.
- Destroy Towers for Powerful Shrines: Throughout the run, you will find Towers. Destroying them grants powerful shrines known as Pylons—temporary buffs that play a key role in fast clears.
- Pylon Mechanics: You are guaranteed four Pylons per run. The first three (which may include a Speed Pylon, Power Pylon, or Channeling Pylon) appear in a random order. The fourth pylon will always be a repeat of one you have already used.
- The Tower Guardian: Once the bar is full, the final boss, The Tower Guardian, spawns. You must defeat them within the 10-minute window to record a score.
How Global Leaderboards and Reset Rounds Work
The leaderboard system is highly segmented to ensure you are competing against other players with similar setups.
- Solo Brackets: Divided by class (Barbarian, Spiritborn, etc.).
- Group Brackets: Separate ladders for 2, 3, and 4-player teams.
- Ranking: Rankings are determined first by the highest Tower Tier completed, then by fastest completion time. If players finish the same tier, the clock is the tiebreaker.
The Reset Schedule:
To keep the meta from stagnating, rankings reset every two weeks.
| Round | Dates |
| Round 1 | Jan 12 – Jan 26 |
| Round 2 | Jan 26 – Feb 9 |
| Final Rounds | Until Season 11 Close |
The Tower vs. Other Endgame Activities
While the mode evolves over multiple seasons, it currently serves a different purpose than the standard loot loop.
| Activity | Primary Reward Loop | Core Test |
| The Pit | Masterworking Mats | Boss Scaling |
| Helltides | Crafting Mats / Loot | Density Farming |
| The Tower | Bragging Rights | Execution & Speed |
Who should skip the Tower? If you are primarily looking to expand your stash tabs or hunt for Uber Uniques, this mode may feel unrewarding. It is designed for those who want to see their name on the global leaderboards.
Future Updates and Player Feedback
Blizzard is using this Beta to gather data for future updates. While you can view your standings in the collections menu, the developer has hinted that more tangible rewards will arrive after the mode evolves.
Current focus areas for feedback include:
- Pacing: Does the 10-minute timer feel fair for all skills?
- Variety: Do the floors provide enough monster diversity?
- Progression: How should one-time rewards be integrated into future seasons?
Final Verdict: Is it worth your time?
The Tower is the most honest metric Diablo 4 has added to date. It ignores the fluff and asks one question: can you master the timed dungeon format? Step inside the Obelisk starting January 12 to secure your spot on the boards.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Diablo IV Tower and Leaderboards Beta?
The Tower is a new competitive endgame mode in Diablo IV designed around timed dungeon runs rather than loot efficiency. Players compete on global leaderboards based on how effectively they clear high-pressure runs, making execution, routing, and build optimization far more important than raw gear drops.
When does the Diablo IV Tower Beta launch?
The Tower and Leaderboards Beta launches on January 12 at 11:00 a.m. PST. It is available only during Season 11: Divine Intervention and can be accessed exclusively in the Seasonal Realm.
How do you unlock the Tower in Diablo IV?
To unlock the Tower, you must reach Season Rank 2 in the Season Journey. Once unlocked, the Tower is accessed via the Artificer’s Obelisk in Cerrigar, which also serves as the entry point for The Pit.
How long is a Tower run?
Each Tower run lasts exactly 10 minutes. The timer begins once you leave the starting area, and all progress—building the bar, spawning the boss, and defeating it—must occur within that fixed time limit.
What is the main objective of the Tower mode?
The objective is to fill the progress bar as quickly as possible by killing enemies and collecting Orbs, then defeat the final boss before the timer expires. The faster and cleaner your execution, the higher your leaderboard placement.
What are progression Orbs and why are they important?
Progression Orbs are dropped primarily by Elite enemies and Treasure Goblins. While normal monster kills contribute to progress, Orbs provide the most significant boost and are essential for spawning the final boss within the tight time window.
What are Towers and Pylons in the Tower mode?
Throughout a run, players can find destructible Towers. Destroying these Towers grants Pylons, which provide powerful temporary buffs such as increased speed or damage. Efficient use of Pylons is a key factor in high-ranking runs.
How many Pylons can you get per Tower run?
Each Tower run guarantees four Pylons. The first three appear in a randomized order, while the fourth is always a repeat of one you’ve already encountered, encouraging players to plan routes around preferred buffs.
What happens when the Tower boss spawns?
Once the progress bar is filled, the Tower Guardian (final boss) spawns immediately. You must defeat this boss before the original 10-minute timer ends—there is no bonus time granted for the boss fight.
How do Diablo IV Tower leaderboards determine rankings?
Leaderboards rank players by the highest Difficulty Tier completed during a run. If multiple players complete the same tier, their placement is determined by fastest completion time, rewarding both difficulty and efficiency.
Are Tower leaderboards separated by class and group size?
Yes. Leaderboards are divided into solo brackets by class and group brackets for 2-, 3-, and 4-player teams. This structure ensures players compete against others using comparable setups and team sizes.
How often do Tower leaderboards reset?
Leaderboards reset every two weeks throughout the season. These resets prevent a single early meta from dominating and give players multiple opportunities to refine builds and improve rankings.
Does it cost anything to enter the Tower?
During the beta, the Tower has no entry cost. Players can attempt runs freely without spending keys or materials, keeping the competition focused entirely on skill and execution rather than resource availability.
Is the Tower a good way to farm loot?
No. The Tower is not designed for loot farming. While enemies drop items as usual, the primary rewards are leaderboard placement and competitive recognition. Players looking to farm gear will find better returns in other endgame activities.
Is the Diablo IV Tower worth playing in Season 11?
The Tower is worth playing if you enjoy competitive challenges, optimizing builds for speed, and testing your execution under pressure. Players who prefer relaxed farming or progression-focused gameplay may find the beta unrewarding in its current form.
