One of the standout features in Diablo 4 Season 7 is the introduction of Witch powers. However, to start unlocking these new abilities, you must first complete the quest called “Poison in the Roots.” This seasonal quest is essential for accessing the special mechanics of the Season of Witchcraft, allowing your character to connect with new magic through a dark ritual. Players may find the puzzles within this quest challenging to navigate.
Once you finish “Poison in the Roots,” you’ll be on your way to acquiring Lost Witchcraft powers in Season 7 of Diablo 4. While you need to create a new character for this seasonal content, you can quickly level up to enjoy these fresh gameplay elements. By gathering Grim Favors and Restless Rot, you can enhance your character’s abilities with unique Witchcraft skills that you can customize during your journey.
How to Solve the Brazier Puzzle
Start the Quest with a Complex Pattern
After gathering enough Grim Favors at the beginning of Season 7’s primary questline, you can dive into “Poison in the Roots.” This quest takes place at the Tree of Whispers, where three witches are attempting a ritual to help your character gain new powers. Upon arrival, the witches will have initiated the ritual but require your assistance to complete it.
To begin the “Poison in the Roots” quest, speak with Gelena once you arrive at the Tree of Whispers. Before you start the ritual, you can craft Occult Gems with this NPC if you have the necessary materials.
The ritual setup consists of three braziers and three writhing snakes placed by the witches. Your first task is to light the braziers in a specific order to call upon the Old Name of the Tree of Whispers. If you listened closely to the witches, you would have heard them mention parts of the Old Name in the correct sequence during their ritual.
The correct order for lighting the braziers is as follows:
- Ayh – Bottom Left Brazier
- Yew – Bottom Right Brazier
- Oun – Top Brazier
Successfully solving this lighting puzzle will trigger the ritual, so prepare for an onslaught of enemies shortly after the final brazier is lit. One of the witches will inform you that you must protect the circle as soon as you complete the brazier puzzle. With the new class changes in Season 7, your character’s skills can efficiently defend the ritual circle.
How to Acquire & Use Nangri Blood
Make Sacrifices and Spread Blood in the Correct Area
As soon as you activate the last brazier, attack the snakes in the ritual circle to eliminate them quickly. These snakes drop Nangri Blood upon defeat, along with basic health potions to help fend off the waves of enemies. However, once you collect all three vials of this Blood, there are no explicit instructions on how to use it within the ritual.
You need to trace the blood around the edge of the ritual circle to proceed with the rite. Simply approach any of the lit braziers, and start walking in a circular motion to create a ring of blood around the ritual area. You’ll know you’ve successfully completed this step when one of the brazier flames extinguishes and the ground starts to tremble.
There’s no need to manually select Nangri Blood from your inventory to spread it around the ritual circle. Among the many new features in Diablo 4 Season 7, there is no unique mechanic related to using quest items in an unfamiliar manner.
Now that you’ve fulfilled all the necessary steps to initiate the true ritual, prepare yourself for an intense battle. Keep in mind that you will have additional tasks to accomplish while fending off waves of enemies.
How to Conclude the Poison in the Roots Quest
Defeat Waves of Enemies
Once you’ve spread the Nangri Blood, enemies will begin to spawn, invading the area and attempting to disrupt the Ritual of Cleansing. You must stop enemies from entering the ritual circle, as any remaining foes inside could spoil the process. A gray bar within the circle will slowly decrease as the ritual progresses, helping you track how long you need to defend.
With enemies coming from all sides, make sure to stay close to the ritual circle to guard it from every direction. This segment of the quest can be easier if your character is equipped with powerful AoE attacks that can wipe out small groups of enemies before they reach the circle. Some classes, like the Necromancer, can use their minions as buffers to deter enemies from getting through.
Eventually, these enemies will evolve into Elite versions, presenting different abilities that can vary greatly, so be ready to adjust your strategy as they appear.
During this phase, the witches are safe from harm and cannot be attacked, so you don’t need to worry about their survival throughout the ritual. Toward the end, a mini-boss will appear to lead the remaining minions, who will continue to spawn in large numbers until the ritual is complete. Once the gray bar in the ritual circle is depleted, all enemies on the field will instantly perish, granting you a range of rewards.
Upon leaving the ritual circle, you will engage in another dialogue with the witches, who mention that this could be just the first of many rituals. Completing the ritual rewards you with a Legendary Cache, giving you a chance to snag some impressive loot. You might even discover one of the new unique items from Diablo 4 Season 7 in that cache, although the gear you obtain will still likely be robust even if you miss out on a unique item.
As you advance through Season 7, continue to gather more Grim Favors to offer the witches in exchange for additional powers for your character. Anyone who completes the “Poison in the Roots” quest in Diablo 4 Season 7 will also move forward in the seasonal storyline, unlocking even more exciting rewards.
