Cigar Funhouse

[frappier]

After completing more than 100 Shard of Agony farming runs in Diablo 4, I’ve gained a clear understanding of what separates a smooth, efficient loop from one that wastes time, materials, and momentum. Farming this shard isn’t just about defeating Varshan repeatedly it’s about building a cycle that keeps resources flowing, minimizes downtime, and ensures every summon contributes meaningfully to your endgame goals. Here’s what I discovered over those long sessions.

The first lesson I learned is that the real bottleneck isn’t the Shard of Agony itself but the materials required to summon Varshan. Whisper objectives and Tree of Whispers turn-ins are the backbone of this loop, so the faster you complete them, the faster you can get back to boss fights. Early on, I underestimated the efficiency gained by optimizing routes between Whisper zones. By planning a path that chained activities together without unnecessary travel, I nearly doubled the number of materials I collected per hour.

Next, I found that consistency in build choice is more important than chasing the highest damage possible. Bosses like Varshan reward steady, reliable output far more than once-in-a-while bursts. During my early attempts, I switched builds frequently, trying to find the perfect balance. Eventually I learned that the best build is the one you can run comfortably, repeatedly, with minimal risk. Over 100 runs, shaving off small seconds in each fight added up far more than I expected.

Another major improvement came from maintaining a large stockpile before starting any farming session. Running out of summoning materials breaks your rhythm and forces you back into open-world activities when you’d rather continue chaining Varshan encounters. At one point, I paused and gathered enough materials for 20 consecutive summons, which made the entire loop smoother and more satisfying. This preparation step turned out to be one of the biggest time-savers of all.

I also learned the importance of managing inventory and staying organized. After several runs, I realized I was losing more time sorting loot than fighting the boss. Clearing out space before starting a big session and only keeping upgrades or key crafting items made every run cleaner. Over 100 Varshan kills, this small discipline probably saved an hour or more of wasted sorting.

Group play, surprisingly, was one of the most effective efficiency boosters. When players take turns providing materials and summoning Varshan, everyone gets more kills with fewer resources spent individually. In coordinated groups, a loop that normally consumed my materials became far more sustainable. While solo play is consistent, grouping dramatically increases your long-term shard yield.

The biggest takeaway from 100 runs is that the Shard of Agony farming loop is as much about preparation and pacing as it is about raw damage. A well-planned loop transforms the grind into a steady rhythm one where every Varshan kill pushes you closer to your endgame goals. Whether you’re farming for Duriel summons or building up materials for trading, mastering the loop makes your time in Diablo 4 far more rewarding.