Diablo 4’s latest update brings back Compass to Carnage, a limited-time event focused on making Infernal Hordes more rewarding. At the same time, Blizzard pushed a hotfix that hit bugged damage setups, adjusted Blood Lance and Warlock Eviscerate interactions, and gave Ball Lightning a notable quality-of-life boost by restoring its core skill classification for build scaling purposes.

For players deciding how to spend their time in the current endgame loop, the big question is simple: do these changes make Infernal Hordes worth prioritizing over faster activities like Nightmare Dungeons, Helltides, or Tree of Whispers farming? This guide breaks down the event bonuses, what the hotfix means for top builds, how rewards appear to scale during runs, and where Infernal Hordes now fit into efficient progression.

What Changed in the Compass to Carnage Event

The event runs until May 26 and adds two major incentives to Infernal Hordes:

• Increased Infernal Compass drops, which makes it easier to chain more runs without feeling starved for entry items.
• More chaos waves inside Infernal Hordes, which is the more important reward lever because chaos waves can dramatically increase Aether gains.

Before this event, one of the biggest complaints about Infernal Hordes was not that the mode was bad, but that it was too slow compared to other efficient endgame options. A strong character could clear a short Nightmare Dungeon in a fraction of the time, collect rewards, and move on. Infernal Hordes often felt like a longer commitment with inconsistent payoff.

Compass to Carnage directly targets that weakness. If chaos waves are appearing more often, then each run has a much better chance of snowballing into a high-Aether result. That matters because Aether is what determines whether the final chest phase feels rewarding or merely acceptable.

Hotfix Overview: Blood Lance, Warlock Eviscerate, and Ball Lightning

The event did not arrive alone. Blizzard also rolled out a hotfix with a few high-impact build implications.

Blood Lance and Warlock Eviscerate Adjustments

The most important nerf targeted setups tied to unintended or effectively infinite damage behavior. Warlock Eviscerate interactions that enabled absurd damage scaling were clearly outside intended balance, so players relying on that bug should expect the build to fall back into a more normal performance range.

That is an important reminder for anyone investing heavily into a temporary meta exploit: bug-based builds can disappear overnight. If you are spending heavily on gear optimization, enchant rerolls, and tempering, keeping a reserve of Diablo 4 gold for sudden pivots is often smarter than committing everything to one interaction.

Ball Lightning Gets a Real Boost

Ball Lightning is the clear winner of this hotfix cycle. The skill now counts as a core skill again for scaling purposes, which improves how it interacts with itemization and build choices. Even if some tooltips or hover text do not fully reflect the change at a glance, the practical result is that core-skill-related bonuses matter again.

That opens the door for stronger gear decisions around Ball Lightning Sorcerer setups, especially on items where core skill support was previously awkward or devalued. It also improves the value of experimenting with updated affix priorities, unique combinations, and cooldown-focused setups. For players pushing endgame content, this is one of the best reasons to revisit the class.

Because enchantment costs, affix rerolls, and masterworking all add up quickly, this is exactly the kind of patch where Diablo 4 gold for rerolling affixes becomes a real consideration rather than a luxury. A build that regains proper scaling often deserves a full gear review.

How Infernal Hordes Feel During the Event

The practical effect of Compass to Carnage is not subtle. The main difference is the frequency of chaos waves. In ordinary runs, chaos waves could feel rare enough that a full 10-wave clear still produced only a modest spike in rewards. During this event, the mode appears much more willing to inject extra payoff moments into a run.

That matters for two reasons:

• Higher Aether totals make the final chests more attractive.
• Better run volatility means you have more chances to hit the kind of wave sequence that makes the mode feel exciting rather than routine.

When chaos waves trigger repeatedly, Infernal Hordes stop feeling like a slow, fixed-time activity and start feeling more like a scaling reward mode. That does not automatically make them the best farm in the game, but it does make them much closer to competitive.

For players who had ignored the mode entirely, this event is also a good time to spend the compasses already sitting in storage. If you have been focusing on Helltides, Whispers, or Pit pushing, there is a good chance you accumulated entry items without meaning to. Now is the moment to convert them into useful materials and target drops.

The answer depends on what you actually need.

Worth It for Targeted Rewards and Event Value

Infernal Hordes are much more appealing during Compass to Carnage if your goal is to:

• Use stored compasses efficiently
• Farm mode-specific rewards
• Build Aether quickly during boosted runs
• Work on season objectives tied to the activity
• Supplement your broader endgame rotation

If you hit several chaos waves in one run, the event can make Infernal Hordes feel dramatically better than usual. The extra compasses also reduce friction, which means you spend less time sourcing access items and more time actually playing.

Still Not the Best Pure Efficiency Farm

Even with the event active, Infernal Hordes are not automatically the top choice for raw time efficiency. A very fast build can still tear through other activities at a pace that is hard for a 10-wave Horde run to match. Tree of Whispers remains attractive because of its broad utility, and Helltides still offer strong value for materials, loot density, and general progression.

In other words, the event improves Infernal Hordes substantially, but it does not erase the fact that time is the most important resource in an ARPG. If your only metric is speed-to-reward, you should still compare the mode against your best Nightmare Dungeon route, your preferred Helltide loop, and your current Whisper board path.

That comparison also affects your Diablo 4 endgame gold economy. Faster content often means more salvage, more sellable loot, and more consistent upgrade funding over time.

Best Reasons to Run Infernal Hordes During This Event

1. You Need More Aether Per Run

The event’s increased chaos wave frequency is the main reason to queue up. More chaos means more opportunities for large Aether spikes, and that directly improves the value of staying through the full run.

2. You Want to Burn Through Stockpiled Compasses

Many players skipped Infernal Hordes because the mode was not attractive enough. If that sounds familiar, this event is a natural catch-up window. Increased Infernal Compass access also helps maintain momentum once you start running the mode again.

If there are uniques, materials, or progression goals tied to the mode, a boosted event is the best time to focus on them. Even if the loot explosion is not revolutionary, the consistency is better than normal.

4. You Need a Change of Pace From Standard Farming Loops

Not every decision has to be made on spreadsheet efficiency alone. Infernal Hordes can be more engaging than repetitive dungeon spam, especially when chaos waves trigger often enough to keep the run dynamic.

How to Get More Infernal Compasses

If you run low on compasses, Helltide remains one of the most practical places to replenish them. Opening chests during Helltide sessions gives you a solid chance to stock up while also collecting materials, gear, and other useful drops.

This is one reason Helltide still complements the event so well. You can use Helltides to sustain your entry items, then spend those compasses in Infernal Hordes when you want to capitalize on the boosted event value. It is a healthy loop for players balancing several progression goals at once.

It also fits naturally into broader Diablo 4 gold farming routes, since Helltide remains one of the better all-purpose activities for generating materials, loot turnover, and currency support alongside progression.

What Builds Benefit Most From the Current Patch

Ball Lightning Sorcerer

This build gains the most obvious momentum from the hotfix. Restoring Ball Lightning’s core-skill status improves item synergy and makes previous gearing logic relevant again. Players who shelved the build should seriously consider revisiting it, especially for high-end pushing and fast clear content.

If you are rebuilding around it, expect costs from enchanting, aspect adjustments, and masterworking. That is where Diablo 4 gold for upgrading gear and a healthy build experimentation budget become important.

Tanky Barbarian Variants

Extremely durable Barbarian builds remain excellent for Infernal Hordes because the mode rewards consistency. A setup that can stand inside dangerous effects, survive pressure, and keep damage rolling without interruptions is ideal for wave-based content. Mobility and survivability together make the mode feel much smoother.

Any build relying on unintended scaling, especially infinite or near-infinite damage behavior, should now be treated with caution. These setups are poor long-term investments if your goal is stable progression.

Should You Invest Activity Progression Into Infernal Hordes?

For many players, the honest answer before this event was no. The mode simply did not compete well enough with alternatives. During Compass to Carnage, that answer changes to maybe, especially if you enjoy the activity or need what it offers.

If Blizzard wants Infernal Hordes to become a permanent staple, the event is a strong proof of concept. More chaos waves make the mode feel alive, and better average returns help justify the time commitment. Players who previously ignored Horde-related progression systems may now have a reason to test them.

That said, it is still wise to avoid overcommitting until you know your goals. If you are focused on boss access, Whispers, or maximizing overall account progression, Infernal Hordes should probably be one part of a rotation rather than your only farm.

Overall Verdict

Compass to Carnage is a meaningful buff to Infernal Hordes, not just a cosmetic event label. The extra compasses are useful, but the real improvement is the increased chaos wave frequency. That change gives runs more upside and makes the mode feel less like a slow obligation.

Infernal Hordes still do not completely dethrone the fastest endgame options for pure efficiency, but they are much more reasonable to run during this event, especially if you want activity-specific rewards, need to spend stored compasses, or simply want a more varied endgame loop.

The hotfix also reshapes the build landscape in a noticeable way. Ball Lightning rises, bugged damage setups fall, and durable all-purpose builds remain excellent for wave content. If you are adjusting gear after the patch, keeping enough D4 gold on hand for rerolls, upgrades, and respecs will make that transition much smoother.

FAQ

Is Compass to Carnage enough to make Infernal Hordes the best farm?

No. It makes the mode much better, but the best option still depends on your build speed and goals. Nightmare Dungeons, Helltides, and Whispers can still be more efficient in some cases.

What is the biggest reason to run Infernal Hordes during this event?

The increased chaos wave frequency. More chaos waves usually means more Aether, which is the main reason the event feels noticeably better than the baseline version.

Yes. The important change is that Ball Lightning counts as a core skill again for scaling, which improves item synergy and makes the build more attractive for endgame play.

Where should I farm more Infernal Compasses?

Helltide is one of the best supporting activities. Opening chests there can help replenish compasses while also advancing materials and loot progression.

Should I spend a lot of resources rebuilding after this patch?

Only if the build is stable and intended. For proven setups like Ball Lightning, investing in gear can make sense. For bug-based builds, save your resources and avoid wasting gold on short-lived interactions.