The Infernal Machine Begins Operation

Now that v1.05 is live and the Infernal Machine is operational, a lot of players are asking questions about how it works. We’ve had thorough coverage of it in the Wiki for some weeks, with info based on PTR testing testing, so that’s a recommended read. It tells where all the Keywardens can be found, how to get the keys, what to do with them, where to find the Heretic’s Abode, and even has links to video of battles with the new Uber bosses, plus numerous sample Hellfire ring screenshots.

If you want more, check the blog Blizzard posted yesterday, which shares the key knowledge.

To craft the Infernal Machine, players will first need to collect four components from powerful Keywardens in each Act of Inferno:

The Key of Destruction will drop from Odeg the Keywarden in Act I – Fields of Misery

The Key of Hate will drop from Sokahr the Keywarden in Act II – Dahlgur Oasis

The Key of Terror will drop from Xah’Rith the Keywarden in Act III – Stonefort

The Blacksmithing Plans will drop from Nekarat the Keywarden in Act IV – Silver Spire Level 1

Players will be able to encounter the Keywardens in any difficulty, but only in Inferno and with a full five stacks of Nephalem Valor will they have a chance to drop pieces of the Infernal Machine. While Monster Power is not required, each level will increase the drop rate of both the keys and the plans by 10%, all the way up to a guaranteed 100% drop chance at Monster Power 10.

Each of the double uber boss battles is said to be about as hard as Diablo on Inferno. Note what’s in the blue quote there, that you MUST have 5 stacks of NV for them to have any chance at all, and that even then it’s uncommon. You really need to do them with Monster Power turned up to have good odds.

The Hellfire Ring has been tweaked slightly since the PTR also, but it remains controversial. You can specify exactly which of the four attributes you want to roll with a guaranteed +170-200, and all Hellfire rings get +35% experience, plus 4 random mods, and the proc to launch Hellfire balls. (Which was bug-fixed, not nerfed, though some fans remain touchy about that.) The ring follows the usual unique-equipped rules (you can only wear one), but it no longer has a minimum level requirement, and it can be equipped on your Follower as well, to grant you larger exp gain.

Curious fans are already asking if anyone’s built a Hellfire Ring on the realms yet. That seems premature to me, since I’ve hardly even had time to test out Monster Power, but as dedicated and blessed with free time as some players are, I’m sure it’s been done. And then probably complained about, when the random rolls weren’t any good.

Have you guys begun to construct your own Infernal Machines? Are you planning to do so? The ring prize is interesting, but far from character-defining, as the Hellfire Torch charm was in Diablo II. The HR seems like more of a curiosity or an optional quest, rather than a, “must have your char sucks” type of object, which can be good news or bad news, depending on your perspective.