Rift Guardian

Rift Guardians are creatures found in Nephalem Rifts. They appear once the player's progress bar has reached 100%. The Guardian is chosen randomly, regardless of the map's type or enemies encountered during the Rift. Each Guardian has a full Act Boss-level life, greatly increased damage, and all abilities for their normal monster type, as well as few new ones (including spawning several minions every few seconds, minions often have unusual abilities too). Some Guardians are the empowered versions of actual bosses of the game, also with new abilities added.

When killed, Rift Guardians award:

• 40-80 Blood Shards

• A complete first-kill Act Boss reward (a minimum of 3 Rare items, with a chance of a Legendary)

• A portion of gems

• Crafting materials (including 0-1 Forgotten Soul)

• Gold and experience reward from Orek (receiving it closes the Rift after 30 seconds, so picking up all other loot is advised first)

Remember that as soon as Rift Guardian is spawned, monster density at all unexplored areas decreases, so farming the Rift after the Guardian's death is an activity of arguable efficiency.

Known Rift Guardians

• Blighter (empowered Herald of Pestilence)
• Bone Warlock (empowered Tomb Summoner)
• Cold Snap (empowered Izual)
• Infernal Maiden (empowered Cydaea)
• Lord of Bells (easter egg, a reference to the Cow King, only appears in the end of the rift named Infernal Bovine)
• Man Carver (empowered Butcher)
• Raiziel (empowered Exarch)
• Rime (empowered Xah'Rith the Keywarden)
• Sand Shaper (empowered Zoltun Kulle)
• Tethrys (empowered Succubus)
• The Choker (empowered Barbed Lurker)