Diablo 4 – How To Get All Malignant Hearts Season 1

TL;DR

  • Malignant Hearts are exclusive to Seasonal Realm characters and require completing Cormond’s questline
  • Use Cage of Binding to capture hearts from Partly Corrupted enemies after defeating them twice
  • Malignant Tunnels offer targeted farming with Invokers for specific heart types
  • Match heart colors to socket types except Wrathful hearts which fit any socket
  • Visit Jewelers to add random colored sockets to rings and amulets without them

Malignant Hearts represent a revolutionary addition to Diablo 4’s Season 1, offering build-defining enhancements that can dramatically alter your gameplay approach. These powerful items function as specialized Aspects specifically designed for jewelry slots, providing unique bonuses unavailable through traditional gear.

Season 1 introduces substantial fresh content for players who create new Seasonal Realm characters. Beyond the engaging narrative questline, unique equipment pieces, and legendary Aspects, Malignant Hearts emerge as a distinct category of power modifiers. They exclusively fit into designated sockets on rings and amulets, categorized into four distinct classifications: Vicious (Red), Brutal (Blue), Devious (Purple), and the exceptionally rare Wrathful (Black) variant.

Each Malignant Heart classification delivers specialized bonuses tailored to different playstyles and build requirements. With 32 distinct hearts available throughout the season, dedicated collection becomes a rewarding long-term pursuit. Before optimizing your jewelry configurations, mastering the acquisition process proves essential for maximizing your seasonal progression.

Access to Malignant Hearts remains strictly limited to the Seasonal Realm, necessitating creation of a fresh character. Upon starting your seasonal journey, travel to Kyovashad within Fractured Peaks and locate Cormond, the new NPC who initiates the seasonal narrative focused on hunting corrupted Malignant enemies.

All of the Malignant Heart types in Diablo 4.

All of the Malignant Heart types in Diablo 4.

Malignant enemies serve as the primary source for heart acquisition, though the collection process involves more complexity than standard loot drops. When you encounter Partly Corrupted monsters and defeat them, a heart will visibly drop but remains uncapturable without the essential Cage of Binding tool.

The Cage of Binding enables a specialized ritual for securing Malignant Hearts from defeated foes. Players obtain this crucial item upon completing the Season 1 questline. After acquiring it, activate the cage on a dropped heart to transform the previously defeated Malignant into a Fully Corrupted version. This enhanced enemy presents greater combat challenges but guarantees a collectible Malignant Heart upon successful defeat.

Beyond the Cage of Binding method, Malignant Tunnels provide alternative farming opportunities. These specialized dungeons contain increased Malignant Monster concentrations alongside new Outgrowth enemy types. Upon reaching the tunnel conclusion, employ a Malignant Invoker to summon a Fully Corrupted enemy. Replicate the defeat-and-collect process to obtain additional hearts. Crafting Invokers becomes available at Cormond’s Wagon during progression through the seasonal narrative.

Advanced Farming Strategies

Seasoned players should prioritize Malignant Tunnels for targeted farming, as these environments offer predictable enemy spawns and dedicated heart-dropping opportunities. The Invoker system allows precision targeting of specific heart types, significantly reducing random acquisition time. For optimal efficiency, farm regular Malignant enemies while progressing through other content, using the Cage of Binding as opportunities arise naturally.

Common Acquisition Mistakes

Many players waste time attempting to collect hearts before obtaining the Cage of Binding. Another frequent error involves underestimating Fully Corrupted enemies – ensure your character possesses adequate combat capabilities before engaging these enhanced foes. Poor resource management when crafting Invokers can also hinder progression; stockpile necessary materials before dedicated farming sessions.

Upon acquiring a Malignant Heart, immediately identify its classification type. This must correspond with the socket color on your intended jewelry piece. For instance, Vicious (red) hearts exclusively fit red-designated sockets. The exceptional Wrathful Malignant Hearts break this pattern, accommodating any socket color regardless of classification.

If your ring or amulet lacks a heart socket, consult a Jeweler to add this specialization. The modification requires gold and specific materials investment, resulting in a randomly colored socket assignment on the modified jewelry piece.

Socket Optimization Techniques

Strategic socket management dramatically impacts build effectiveness. Prioritize acquiring jewelry with sockets matching your most valuable heart types. When using Jewelers to add sockets, consider the random color outcome – multiple attempts may be necessary for optimal socket configuration. Advanced players should farm multiple copies of powerful hearts to accommodate different socket configurations across various gear setups.

Build Synergy Considerations

Malignant Hearts should complement your overall build strategy rather than functioning as standalone upgrades. Red hearts typically enhance offensive capabilities, blue hearts improve defensive attributes, while purple hearts offer utility and control benefits. The rare black Wrathful hearts provide unique, often game-changing effects that can redefine entire playstyles. Consult our Class Guide for detailed synergy recommendations specific to your character specialization.

For comprehensive seasonal strategy including Malignant Heart integration, reference our Complete Guide covering all new mechanics. Weapon-specific heart interactions are detailed in our Weapons Unlock guide for damage optimization.

Action Checklist

  • Create Seasonal Realm character and complete Cormond’s questline to obtain Cage of Binding
  • Farm Partly Corrupted enemies, use Cage of Binding, then defeat Fully Corrupted versions
  • Complete Malignant Tunnels and use Invokers for targeted heart farming
  • Match heart colors to jewelry sockets or visit Jeweler for socket addition
  • Optimize build synergy by aligning heart effects with character specialization

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