If you’ve been slogging through the damp, toxic swamps of Hawezar, you’ll know they’re full of half-buried secrets and places most folks just walk past. One spot that’s worth making a detour for – especially if you’re running a Sorcerer – is the Forgotten Ruins. It’s not the trickiest dungeon in the game, but the reward can really shift how certain builds play. Think of it as one of those “must tick off” stops while you’re filling out the Codex of Power. And if you’re looking to make the grind a bit smoother, grabbing the right Diablo 4 Items before heading in can make a big difference.
 
Finding the place isn’t too much of a headache. The Forgotten Ruins sit in Hawezar, tucked inside the Fethis Wetlands. If you’ve unlocked Zarbinzet as a waypoint, you’re already halfway there. From that town, head east, then drift north until the wetlands open up. Keep an eye on your map – the dungeon marker will show up once you’re close. It’s not hidden behind puzzles or locked gates, so you won’t be wandering around for ages trying to locate it.

Once you step inside, it’s a straight shot – no endless loops or dead ends. First job is simple: clear out every enemy in the Desecrated Archives. That means checking every corner, because there’s always that one stray ghoul lurking somewhere you nearly missed. Expect to face the usual swamp horrors – undead, demonic things, the kind you’ve probably cut down a hundred times before. After they’re gone, the barrier drops and you move into the second zone, the Demonic Nexus. Here, the task changes: you’ve got three Demonic Corruptions to destroy. They’re ugly, pulsating masses, and each one’s guarded by a nasty elite pack. These fights are where the real danger lies, so it’s smart to focus down the elites first, then smash the corruption once you’ve got breathing room.

There’s no single “big bad” waiting at the end – the challenge is in those three guarded objectives. If you’re good with crowd control, you’ll find it a lot easier to keep the mobs off you while you work. The fights can get messy, with enemies swarming from all sides, so positioning matters more than usual here. It’s one of those runs where patience pays off – rushing in usually means a quick trip back to the checkpoint.

Finishing the Forgotten Ruins for the first time unlocks the Aspect of Biting Cold in your Codex of Power. For Sorcerers, this is gold – it gives your Chilling Armor a chance to freeze enemies that hit you, turning a defensive skill into a reactive crowd-control trick. That extra freeze can save you when things go sideways, especially in tight fights. If you’re building for survivability or just want more control over the battlefield, it’s a no-brainer to grab it. And if you’re gearing up for the run, checking out unique item diablo 4 can help you get the edge you need before diving in.