Why amulets with passive ranks matter (and why Undercity is the grind)

Amulets that roll passive ranks are among the biggest single-slot damage upgrades in Diablo IV Season 11. For many Paladin setups, the most sought-after outcomes include passives like Righteousness (holy damage scaling), The Best Offense (damage while fortified), and Iron Shapes Iron (critical strike damage). Even without top-tier Greater Affixes, an amulet that adds multiple ranks to the right passives can outperform higher item power alternatives simply because those ranks multiply the parts of your build that already scale well.

The downside: this is one of the harsher RNG farms in the game. You’re not just hunting “an amulet,” you’re hunting an amulet base with the right main stat, plus specific passive ranks, plus acceptable supporting affixes. The Undercity method below is built around one goal: more high-quality amulet rolls per hour.

Quick setup checklist before you start

The Undercity loop is only “fast” if you remove friction between runs. Do these steps first so each run is a clean sprint from entrance to boss.

1) Set Kurast Bazaar as your main hub

Open your map and mark Kurast Bazaar as your favorite hub. You’ll be teleporting here repeatedly to reset, sell, salvage, gamble, and jump back into the next run.

2) Run Torment IV and use a speed-farming build

Do this on Torment IV with a build tuned for movement and screen-clearing. The Undercity rewards this approach because the real limiter is how quickly you can reach the final floor and roll the boss chest/loot table, not how thoroughly you can clear every pack.

• Prioritize movement speed, low downtime, and reliable AoE.
• Keep defensive layers “good enough” to avoid deaths that waste the run.
• Use elixirs and any consumables that boost clear speed.

3) Mobility trick: Bac + Jah for Teleport-style evade

One of the strongest speed tools for this farm is equipping the runeword Bac+Jah, which replaces your evade with a Sorceress-like teleport. This single change often saves more time than any gear upgrade because it lets you blink through dead space, reposition instantly, and keep momentum while beacon-hunting.

4) Divine Gifts: Purified Essence of Anguish

In your Divine Gifts, equip the Purified Essence of Anguish. The key value here is the 30% increased movement speed plus extra Obols, which feed directly into more gambling attempts between runs.

Because you’ll earn Obols during the loop, spend your current Obols before starting so you don’t cap mid-run. Since the target is amulets, gambling amulets is logical, but it’s also fine to gamble whatever slot your character still needs.

6) Optional: hire Subo as your mercenary

Subo is a practical pick because the scouting helps you notice enemies and goblins you might otherwise miss while sprinting. It’s not mandatory, but it can add small value without slowing you down.

The core method: Tributes of Radiance + passive ranks bargain

At the Undercity entrance, the most consistent approach for farming passive-rank amulets is to use Tributes of Radiance and pay the 50 million gold option for the passive ranks bargain. The cost is steep, but the targeting is the entire point—this is the method that most directly increases the odds of seeing the amulet type you want.

Season 11 gold acquisition is strong enough that, for many endgame characters, the limiting factor becomes time and attention rather than raw gold. If you’re serious about passive-rank amulets, this is where you spend.

Routing the Undercity: how to hit attunement fast

Your objective inside the Undercity is not full clears. It is to build attunement quickly, then leave as soon as you’ve reached the threshold that makes the run “worth finishing.” The fastest way to do that is prioritizing the right beacons and minimizing detours.

Take a look at: a broader breakdown of what to run and skip in Season 11

Step 1: Hunt Tormented Spirit Beacons first

As you move through the early floors, look specifically for Tormented Spirit Beacons. These provide more attunement than regular beacons, so each one is effectively a time-saver compared to clearing extra packs.

You may encounter a mechanic where chains appear, briefly forcing you to stay close to the beacon. Treat it as a short pause: wait it out (it’s quick), then immediately continue. Don’t let it bait you into clearing side rooms.

Step 2: Stay on the main path, but tap normal beacons if they’re “free”

As a general rule, don’t deviate from the main route. However, if a regular Spirit Beacon is directly on your path, activate it—these “free” activations add up and can replace time you’d otherwise spend hunting for one more tormented beacon.

On floor 2, you’ll often find the Grand Spirit Beacon. Many players complete it every run, but for pure efficiency it’s commonly a skip because it can take too long relative to the attunement gained—especially if you’ve already found a couple of tormented beacons.

• Do it if your build deletes it instantly and your layout makes it convenient.
• Skip it if it pulls you off-route, spawns time-wasting mechanics, or your damage is inconsistent.

Step 4: The key threshold: at level 4 attunement, sprint to the exit

Once you reach level 4 attunement, stop doing “extra” content. Ignore optional fights and side objectives and rush to the exit. Past this point, your time is better spent reaching the final floor and rolling the boss rewards rather than padding the run.

Final floor: boss kill and what you’re actually looking for

Enter the final floor and defeat either Andariel or one of the Undercity bosses. This is the moment you’re converting your routing efficiency into item rolls—so keep the fight consistent and safe rather than flashy.

Amulet evaluation: keep rules simple

To avoid wasting time staring at loot, use a quick filter mentality:

• Main stat first: for example, Strength if your build scales from it.
• Passive ranks are the prize: prioritize amulets with multiple relevant passive rank rolls.
• Item power is secondary: a 750 can beat an 800 if the passives are right.

If you’re playing a Paladin-focused setup, passive ranks like Righteousness, The Best Offense, and Iron Shapes Iron are common “dream” outcomes because they scale damage in ways that stack well with typical endgame gearing.

Reset loop: how to chain runs faster

The reset technique is straightforward but saves real time over long sessions:

• After your first completion, do not teleport to town. Leave the dungeon normally so you return to the entrance and can start again immediately.
• After the second run, your inventory will usually be close to full. Then go to town to salvage/sell and clear space.
• Whenever you return to town, gamble your Obols before re-entering so you don’t waste overflow during the next run.

This cadence reduces loading screens and hub time, which is crucial because passive-rank amulets are a volume game.

Common mistakes that slow your amulet farm

Take a look at: another fast Season 11 farming loop for high-value endgame drops

Clearing every pack feels productive, but it’s usually slower than focusing on tormented beacons and hitting attunement quickly. Treat enemies as obstacles unless they’re directly in your path.

Taking every Grand Spirit Beacon by habit

If it’s not fast for your build, it’s not efficient. Make it a deliberate choice, not an autopilot action.

Letting Obols cap

Obols are part of the loop’s value. If you cap out, you’re losing additional “amulet lottery tickets” that you could be rolling between runs.

Ignoring movement speed and traversal tools

Small speed increases compound across dozens of runs. Bac+Jah teleport-evade and Purified Essence of Anguish are both high-impact because they reduce dead time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Torment IV required for this Undercity amulet method?

For best results, yes. The method assumes Torment IV reward scaling and a build that can sprint and kill the final boss consistently.

No—skip it when it’s slow. If your build completes it quickly and it’s directly on-route, it can still be worthwhile.

What matters more: item power or passive ranks on the amulet?

For many builds, passive ranks are the bigger damage swing. A lower item power amulet with the right passive ranks can outperform a higher item power alternative.

How do I make runs faster if my damage is fine but clears feel slow?

Stack movement speed, use elixirs, and lean into traversal tools like Bac+Jah teleport-evade. Then focus on tormented beacons and stop side-tracking once you hit level 4 attunement.

What should I gamble with Obols while farming amulets?

Gambling amulets is the most direct complement to this farm, but it’s also efficient to gamble any slot where a single roll could unlock a major build upgrade.