Honestly, the swamp is a nightmare. If you've spent any time in Hawezar, you know exactly what I’m talking about. It’s not just the poison-spitting snakes or the Nangari that want to turn you into a snack; it's the terrain. It’s wet. It’s sluggish. And tucked away in the most annoying corners of this humid hellscape are 34 stone statues that you absolutely need if you want to max out your character. We're talking about the Hawezar Altars of Lilith.
Most players hit Hawezar late in the campaign, usually around Act V, and by then, you’re probably just wanting to finish the story. But skipping these is a mistake. Each statue you touch isn't just a bit of lore; it's a permanent boost to your entire account. Whether you’re playing a glass-cannon Sorcerer or a beefy Barbarian, the stats from these altars are foundational.
Why the Hawezar Altars of Lilith Matter So Much
In the grand scheme of Sanctuary, Hawezar holds 34 of the 160 total altars. That's a significant chunk of the pie. Every time you find one, you get +10 Renown for the region. In a place as spread out as this, Renown is a slog, and these altars are basically "free" progress compared to some of the longer side quests.
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But the real juice is in the permanent stat boosts. When you click that glowing red statue, every character on your realm—including your future seasonal alts—gets a bump. We're talking +2 to Intelligence, Strength, Dexterity, or Willpower. Sometimes you get +5 to your Murmuring Obols capacity. It might sound small. +2 Strength? Who cares, right? Well, when you collect all 160 across the world, it adds up to +68 to every core stat and +4 Paragon Points. That’s essentially a free level and a half of power before you even put on your first piece of gear.
The 34 Locations: A Sanity-Saving Breakdown
You can’t just walk in and grab these. Hawezar is gated. Some areas are literally locked behind the campaign. If you try to rush the northeast section before finishing certain Act V quests, you’ll hit an invisible wall or a literal closed gate.
The Northern Foothills and Eriman's Pyre
Start near the border of the Fractured Peaks. The Dismal Foothills have four statues. One is tucked way off to the right at the end of a long path that almost looks like the edge of the world. It’s easy to miss because it’s basically off the visible map until you’re standing on it.
Don't forget the Eriman’s Pyre Stronghold. You don't have to fully beat the Stronghold to get the altar, but you do have to duck under a burning barrier once you start the event. It’s in the northern section of the camp. If you're under-leveled, grab the statue and run for your life.
The Central Swamps and Rakhat Keep
The Ruins of Rakhat Keep is a central hub for three different dungeons, but the altar here is sneaky. It’s on an upper level. You have to navigate a series of ledges between the dungeons to find it tucked behind a crumbling wall.
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Moving into the Fethis Wetlands, there are four more. One is literally under the gnarled branches of a tree in the Plains of Attrition. If you aren't looking for the red glow, you'll walk right past it. The swamp water slows you down, so I highly recommend being on your mount for this stretch, even if the trees keep knocking you off.
The Gated East: The Writhing Mire
This is the part that trips people up. The Writhing Mire has four altars, and three of them are basically inaccessible until you progress to the "Secrets of the Zakarum" questline. This is the area near the Tree of Whispers.
- One is in a thicket south of the Haunted Refuge dungeon.
- Two are clustered near the Fetid Mausoleum.
- The last one is just below the path leading to the Tree of Whispers itself.
Basically, if you haven't talked to the giant tree with the hanging heads yet, don't bother hunting these four down. You'll just get frustrated by the "Area Not Available" messages.
Hawezar Stat Bonus Distribution
It’s not random. Every altar has a set reward. If you're min-maxing a specific build, you might want to prioritize certain sub-regions first. Here is how the 34 statues in Hawezar break down:
- Intelligence: 5 Altars (Found mostly in the northern and eastern reaches)
- Strength: 8 Altars (Scattered through the Blightmarsh and Toxic Fens)
- Dexterity: 7 Altars (Look toward the Umir Plateau and the coast)
- Willpower: 6 Altars (Common in the central wetlands)
- Max Obols: 8 Altars (Usually tucked in the most remote corners of the map)
The "One and Done" Rule
Here is something a lot of people get wrong: you only need to do this once. Once you’ve claimed a Hawezar Altar of Lilith on your account, the stat bonus is forever. If you start a new character in the next season, that character starts with those stats.
However, you can click them again on new characters for a small burst of XP and that sweet +10 Renown. If you're trying to hit the final Renown tier for those extra Paragon Points, re-visiting the easy-to-reach altars is actually a pretty smart way to bridge the gap without doing every single side quest in the region.
Practical Tips for Your Hawezar Run
Don't just wander aimlessly. The pathing in this game is weird, and the swamp is full of dead ends.
Clear the Strongholds First
There are three Strongholds in Hawezar: Eriman's Pyre, Crusaders' Monument, and Vyeresz. Each one has an altar. If you clear the Stronghold, you unlock a waypoint or at least a safer zone, making it much easier to reach the surrounding statues. Vyeresz, in particular, is a pain because the altar is tucked inside the temple area.
Watch the "Red Glow"
The statues are small. They blend into the brown and grey of the swamp. But they emit a distinct red light. If you’re playing at night or have your brightness set correctly, you can often see the glow through the foliage before you see the stone itself.
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The Backwater Stretch
The town of Backwater on the eastern coast is a great starting point for a "coastline run." There are several altars south of the town along the jagged cliffs. Since you can just ride along the beach, it's much faster than weaving through the inland marsh.
Actionable Steps to Finish Your Collection
- Check your Map: Open your region progress (Tab on PC, Map button on console). It will tell you exactly how many of the 34 you’re missing.
- Campaign Check: If you haven't reached Act V, don't try to get all 34. You'll be stopped at 30 or 31. Finish the "Slow, Beating Heart" quest first.
- The Mount is Mandatory: Do not do this on foot. The movement speed penalty from the swamp water is brutal.
- Prioritize Strength and Obols: Since Hawezar is heavy on these two specific rewards, it's the best region to finish if you're struggling with inventory management (Obols) or playing a melee class.
Once you’ve grabbed all 34, you’re done with the swamp forever—at least until you need to farm some Baneful Hearts. You'll have a permanent edge on your stats and a significant lead on your regional Renown. Just watch out for the snakes on your way out.