Step-by-Step: Collecting Pincushioned Dolls and Facing Andar

[Ryder]

Pincushioned Dolls power one of Diablo 4's most rewarding endgame rituals, bridging the grind of Torment farms to Andariel's treasure-laden lair. This step-by-step guide walks through collecting them efficiently and deploying them against the Maiden of Anguish for maximum loot impact. Follow these stages to turn hours into Uber Unique windfalls without unnecessary detours.

Step 1: Gear Up for Torment

Push your World Tier to Torment I or higher via Pit clears and Nightmare Dungeons, targeting Tier 30+ for materials. Equip a boss-focused build with poison resistance, crowd control breaks, and single-target burst—skills like unstoppable dashes or minion swarms excel. Stock elixirs for boss power and temper movement speed on gear. Test in a Tier 50 Pit; if clears exceed 10 minutes, refine before doll hunting.

Step 2: Farm Dolls via Beast in the Ice

Craft a Glacial Fissure Sigil at the Alchemist using Sigil Powder and gold. Fast travel southwest of Kyovashad in Fractured Peaks, enter the dungeon, and deposit 12 Distilled Fear at the Frozen Altar to summon the Beast. Defeat it swiftly, dodging ice waves and clones, then loot the hoard chest for 1-3 dolls—guaranteed in Torment. Portal out, repeat 5-10 times to bank 15+, restocking Fear from a quick Nightmare Dungeon. Alternate with Lord Zir's Ancient's Seat using Exquisite Blood for variety.

Step 3: Access Hanged Man's Hall

With 9+ dolls stocked, head northeast of Tarsarak in Kehjistan—the dungeon spawns only in Torment. Clear the linear path of tormented elites and traps in 3-5 minutes, reaching the Altar of Anguish. Interact to summon Andariel for free; no prior materials needed. Burst through her phases: evade poison pools in phase one, sidestep fusion orbs and spikes in phase two, and survive the tormented frenzy in phase three.

Step 4: Deploy Dolls on the Hoard

Upon Andariel's defeat, a glowing hoard chest materializes in the arena. Open your inventory, confirm three Pincushioned Dolls, and interact with the chest to spend them—consumed instantly for access. Loot the trove: Uber Uniques like Andariel's Visage, runes, gold, and Forgotten Souls pour out, scaled to your Torment tier. In groups, rotate who opens to share rewards fairly.

Step 5: Chain and Optimize

Portal to town via waypoint to reset, repeat the lair run without reclearing trash. Aim for 3-5 chains per session, burning 9-15 dolls for 20+ Uber shots. Track hourly yields; tweak builds for sub-8-minute Andariel kills. Trade extras in clans, save for Torment X pushes. This loop self-sustains, evolving your arsenal into Mythic dominance.