Hawezar Altar of Lilith: The Swamp Secrets Most Players Miss

Look, I get it. Nobody actually likes trekking through a swamp.

Hawezar is miserable. It’s sticky, it’s green in a way that suggests infection, and it’s filled with Nangari snakes that have way too many limbs. But if you’re trying to max out your character in Diablo 4, you basically have no choice. You need those statues.

The Hawezar Altar of Lilith hunt is probably the most annoying part of the map completion. Why? Because the region is designed like a literal maze of knee-deep muck and narrow paths that look exactly like the impassable walls right next to them. If you’re just wandering around hoping to stumble onto them, you’re going to have a bad time.

Honestly, it’s better to just rip the Band-Aid off and do them all in one go.

Why the Hawezar Altars are Actually Mandatory

You've probably heard that the bonuses are "minor." That's a trap.

While a single +2 Strength boost doesn't feel like much when you're level 80, the cumulative effect of finding all 34 statues in this region alone is massive. It’s not just about the stats, though those are permanent and account-wide across your entire realm. It’s the Renown.

Hawezar is often the last region people finish. If you’re pushing for those final Paragon points from the regional progress bar, these statues are the easiest "free" Renown you can get. You get 10 Renown per altar. With 34 altars, that's 340 Renown.

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That is more than three Strongholds' worth of progress just for clicking on a glowing rock.

The Real Reward Breakdown

• Permanent Stat Boosts: You’ll be picking up a mix of +2 Strength, +2 Dexterity, +2 Intelligence, and +2 Willpower.
• Obol Capacity: This is the big one people forget. Several altars here increase your maximum Murmuring Obols capacity by +5.
• Renown: As mentioned, 10 points per pop.
• XP and Gold: Scaled to your level, though mostly a side benefit.

Navigating the Worst Parts of the Swamp

Let’s talk about the tricky ones. Most of the altars in the Dismal Foothills or Umir Plateau are easy enough to find if you’re looking at a map. You just ride your mount, avoid the goatmen, and click.

But then you hit the Writhing Mire.

This area is a nightmare. Several altars here are actually locked behind story progression. If you’re trying to speed-run the statues before finishing Act 5, you’re going to hit invisible walls or areas that just don’t open up until the "Slow, Beating Heart" questline kicks in.

I’ve seen people spend twenty minutes trying to find a path into the eastern part of the Mire only to realize the game literally won't let them in yet. Don't be that person. Finish the main Hawezar story beats first.

The Stronghold Gatekeepers

You also can’t ignore the Strongholds. Three of the altars are tucked inside areas you technically have to "clear" or at least infiltrate:

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1. Crusader’s Monument: Found at the northern tip. You can actually sneak in, grab it, and leave, but the enemies here are aggressive.
2. Eriman’s Pyre: This one is near the entrance to the Oblivion dungeon. You usually need to start the stronghold event to reach the specific alcove where the statue is hidden.
3. Vyeresz: Located inside the stronghold. It’s tucked away in a corner that requires some platforming (or just clicking the right prompt to jump).

The Secret to the Coastline Statues

The Forsaken Coast and Rotspill Delta are deceptive.

They look wide open on the map, but the altars are hidden behind shipwrecks and jagged rock formations that don't show up on the mini-map. There’s one specific altar on the eastern edge of the map, near the Belfry Zakara dungeon, that is so well-hidden behind trees that you can be standing five feet away and not see the red glow.

Pro tip: Turn your sound up or look for the faint red light. Even in the daytime of Sanctuary, the statues have a distinct hum and a soft crimson aura. In the murky green lighting of Hawezar, that red light is your best friend.

Common Misconceptions

I see this a lot on Reddit: people think they have to find these every single season.

You don’t.

Since the mid-2023 updates, Altar of Lilith bonuses are permanent. If you found them on your Eternal character, your Seasonal character gets the stats and the Obol capacity immediately. However, if you want the Renown for the current season to unlock your potion slots and Paragon points, you’ll see the icons on your map, but they won't be "claimed" for the sake of the region progress bar until you visit them.

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It’s a weird middle ground. You keep the power, but you lose the "completion" points every time a new season starts.

How to Optimize Your Run

If you’re going to do this, do it right. Start at the Zarbinzet waypoint and work your way clockwise.

1. The Western Rim: Hit the Umir Plateau and the Fethis Wetlands first. These are "dryer" and easier to navigate on a horse.
2. The South: Move into the Toxic Fens. Watch out for the puddles; they don't slow you down, but the enemy density here is annoying.
3. The Coast: Loop up through the Forsaken Coast. This is where you'll find those shipwreck altars.
4. The Mire: Save the Writhing Mire and the area near the Tree of Whispers for last.

The reason for this path is simple: the Tree of Whispers is a natural finishing point. You can turn in any favors you’ve picked up along the way and then teleport back to a city to clear your inventory of all the junk you accidentally looted while clicking on statues.

What Most People Get Wrong

People think the Hawezar Altar of Lilith hunt is just about the stats.

It’s actually about the Paragon threshold. Late-game Diablo 4 builds often require you to hit specific stat "breakpoints" (like needing 400 Dexterity to trigger a secondary node on a Paragon board). Often, the difference between hitting that breakpoint and missing it is the +60 or so stats you get from finding every single altar in the game.

If you're missing an altar in Hawezar, you might be gimped on your Paragon board without even realizing why.

Summary of What to Bring

• A Fast Mount: Don't do this on foot. Seriously.
• A Level 40+ Character: Some areas have high-level scaling or are gated by the campaign.
• Patience: The pathing in the Blightmarsh is objectively bad. You will get stuck on a pebble. It happens.

Next Steps for Your Build

Once you’ve finished the Hawezar circuit, your next move is to check your Renown tab. If you’ve grabbed all 34 altars but you’re still short on the final 4 Paragon points for the region, you’ll need to knock out the three Strongholds (Crusader’s Monument, Eriman’s Pyre, and Vyeresz). These provide 100 Renown each and are the fastest way to bridge the gap after you've finished the statue hunt. Check your map for the red "skull" icons to start those immediately.