How to Do the Echo of Varshan: A Veteran’s Guide

So, you’re looking to tackle the Echo of Varshan, eh? Good. This is where the real endgame of Diablo 4 begins. Forget those early world bosses; Varshan is a gateway to considerably tougher challenges and better loot. The process boils down to collecting specific body parts from various sources within The Malignant Burrow, assembling them at his altar, and then bringing the pain. Prepare yourself; this isn’t a walk in the park, but with the right knowledge, you’ll be farming Varshan in no time. Let’s break down the process into manageable steps, shall we?

Gathering the Necessary Components

The key to summoning the Echo of Varshan is obtaining a specific set of body parts: Malignant Heart, Gnarled Femur, Blackened Tibia, and a Whispering Skull. Think of it like baking a grotesque cake.

Locating and Farming Body Parts

These gruesome ingredients aren’t just lying around. You’ll need to actively farm them within the Malignant Burrow, accessible beneath the Tree of Whispers.

• Whispering Skull: These frequently drop from Whisper Caches, which you receive after completing Whispers of the Dead. Focus on completing Whispers in regions adjacent to the Malignant Burrow for quicker access once you have all the components. Also, they can drop from monsters within the Malignant Burrow itself.
• Gnarled Femur, Blackened Tibia, Malignant Heart: These three body parts are most reliably found in the Grotesque Debt reward cache you earn from Tree of Whispers. The type of body part you get is seemingly random, so you’ll likely have to complete multiple sets of Whispers before you have all the components. They also drop from Elite monsters inside of the Malignant Burrow itself.

World Tier Matters

The World Tier you’re playing on significantly impacts the drop rate of these components. Higher World Tiers (especially World Tier 3 and 4) will yield a much greater chance of finding these items. Don’t waste your time grinding on World Tier 1 or 2 unless you’re exceptionally under-leveled.

Summoning the Echo of Varshan

Once you’ve collected all the necessary components, it’s time to summon Varshan. Head to the Malignant Burrow beneath the Tree of Whispers.

The Malignant Altar

Navigate through the dungeon until you find Varshan’s Altar. This is where the magic happens (or, more accurately, the summoning).

Placing the Components

Interact with the altar and place the Malignant Heart, Gnarled Femur, Blackened Tibia, and Whispering Skull into the designated slots. Once all components are in place, the summoning will begin.

Battling the Echo of Varshan

Varshan is a challenging boss with a variety of attacks and mechanics. Preparation is key.

Understanding Varshan’s Abilities

Varshan utilizes a mix of melee and ranged attacks. He can summon adds, unleash poison attacks, and perform powerful charge attacks. Knowing his attack patterns is crucial for survival. Be particularly wary of his corrupted growth attack, which can quickly overwhelm you if you’re not careful.

Key Strategies for Victory

• Bring Poison Resistance: A significant portion of Varshan’s damage is poison-based. Maximize your poison resistance through gear, elixirs, and skills.
• Control the Adds: Varshan frequently summons adds. Prioritize eliminating these quickly to prevent being overwhelmed. Crowd control abilities are invaluable here.
• Dodge the Charge: His charge attack is telegraphed but deals significant damage. Learn to dodge this effectively.
• Exploit Vulnerable Windows: Pay attention to Varshan’s attack patterns and exploit the brief windows of vulnerability after his major attacks.

Gear and Build Recommendations

• High Damage Output: Varshan has a substantial health pool. You’ll need a build that can deal consistent and high damage.
• Survivability: Don’t neglect survivability. Adequate health, armor, and resistances are crucial for withstanding his attacks.
• Crowd Control: As mentioned earlier, crowd control is invaluable for managing the adds.
• Specific Class Synergies: Certain classes and builds synergize particularly well with this fight. Research builds tailored for boss encounters to optimize your damage output and survivability.

Rewards and Significance

Defeating the Echo of Varshan is not just about bragging rights. He drops valuable loot, including Unique Items and Legendary Aspects, essential for progressing your character.

Guaranteed Item Power

Varshan guarantees item power level drops that will assist you in progressing your character to the highest levels.

The Path to Duriel

More importantly, defeating Varshan on World Tier 4 grants you the necessary components (Mucus-Slick Egg and Shards of Agony) to summon Grigoire, The Galvanic Saint. Defeating Grigoire will give you the components to summon Lord Zir, and defeating both Grigoire and Lord Zir will allow you to summon Duriel, King of Maggots, the current end-game pinnacle boss with the best chance of dropping Uber Uniques.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some common questions I receive regarding the Echo of Varshan:

1. Can I Do Varshan Solo?

Yes, the Echo of Varshan is soloable, but it requires a well-optimized build and a good understanding of his mechanics. If you’re struggling, consider teaming up with other players.

2. What Level Should I Be to Fight Varshan?

Ideally, you should be at least level 70 to tackle Varshan on World Tier 3, and level 80+ for World Tier 4. Being under-leveled will make the fight significantly harder.

3. Does World Tier Affect the Loot?

Absolutely. Higher World Tiers not only increase the drop rate of components but also improve the quality and item power of the loot dropped by Varshan.

4. What Are the Best Classes for Farming Varshan?

Each class has viable builds for Varshan. However, classes with high damage output and good survivability, such as Barbarians and Necromancers, tend to perform well. Sorceresses are a good glass canon option and Rogues excel at single target damage, while Druids can provide good balance.

5. How Many Times Can I Fight Varshan?

You can fight Varshan as many times as you can gather the necessary components. There’s no limit.

6. Is There a Cooldown on Tree of Whispers Caches?

There is no cooldown. You can immediately accept the next Whispers of the Dead to continue your search for body parts.

7. Where is the Malignant Burrow Located?

The Malignant Burrow is located beneath the Tree of Whispers in Hawezar. It’s easily accessible once you’ve unlocked it.

8. What’s the Best Way to Farm Whispers of the Dead?

Focus on completing quick and easy Whispers, such as dungeon completions and world events. Prioritize efficiency to maximize your cache rewards.

9. Does Party Size Affect Component Drop Rates?

While party size can increase the number of enemies you encounter, it doesn’t directly affect the individual drop rate of components. However, more enemies generally mean more opportunities for drops.

10. Can I Trade Components with Other Players?

No, the components required to summon Varshan are not tradeable. You’ll need to farm them yourself.

11. What Happens If I Die During the Varshan Fight?

You will respawn outside the dungeon and have to run back to the altar. Varshan’s health will remain where it was when you died.

12. What is the optimal strategy for collecting necessary components to summon Duriel in Season 4?

To efficiently collect components for Duriel, prioritize completing Tree of Whispers, which drops gifts of the tormented and living steel from Helltides. Once you have a good amount of those, complete the necessary steps to summon Grigoire and Lord Zir. Focus on doing these in World Tier 4 to maximize your chance of loot dropping.

So, there you have it – a comprehensive guide to tackling the Echo of Varshan. With preparation, the right build, and a bit of persistence, you’ll be farming him for loot in no time. Now get out there and show Varshan who’s boss! Good hunting, champions!