The Forbidden Sanctum

This page is about the area. For the expansion, see The Forbidden Sanctum (expansion).

"Sanctum" redirects here. For the league, see Sanctum league.

This article needs to be updated.

Reason: Mechanics related to Sanctum league were removed due to not going core in Version 3.21.0. Sanctum will be returning in version 3.22.0.

Please update this article to reflect newly available information. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page.

The Forbidden Sanctum is an area first introduced in Sanctum league. It became a core mechanic in version 3.22.0. Players must explore a randomized dungeon, collecting Aureus coins and trying to reach the end before their Resolve runs out.

To enter the Forbidden Sanctum, players must hand in a Forbidden TomeForbidden TomeArea Level: (68-83)Mundus noster cecidit. Daemones ubique sunt. Librum
hunc in sacrarium conicio, ut forte alius viam inveniat...Take this item to the Relic Altar in the Forbidden Sanctum to enter. to Sister Divinia. Doing so will grant access to the entire first floor of the Sanctum. Successfully completing that floor will unlock the next floor in the form of a Sanctum Research item. This can be traded or placed in the Relic Altar to continue the Sanctum run. All of your progress, including Resolve, Inspiration, Aureus, Boons, Afflictions, etc. are carried over between floors. A Sanctum run contains 4 floors, each containing 8 rooms. The 8th room of each floor always contains a Boss. Crashing during a Sanctum room will reset progress for that room and will resume the same area on your next map. Aureus and rewards are only locked in upon successful completion of a room. Each Sanctum run is independent between characters on the same account.

Mechanics

Resolve

• Resolve is an additional stat player characters have while exploring the Sanctum, somewhat similar to Ruin from Ultimatum league.
• The default maximum Resolve is 300. Resolve is maintained between rooms, and the player is ejected from the Sanctum if it hits 0, resetting all floors and rooms. Being ejected does not count as a death, nor does it remove experience.
• Resolve is lost from hits from monsters or traps in the Sanctum. Closer proximity to monsters reduces the Resolve lost on hit.
• Regular sources of defences such as evasion rating, damage reduction, and avoidance do not directly affect the loss of Resolve. However, primary defence stats scale certain Resolve-specific defences found exclusively in the Sanctum:
  • Resolve Mitigation: Mitigation prevents a portion of Resolve loss and scales with your Armour. #% Resolve Mitigation from Enemy Hits
  • Resolve Avoidance: This scales with your Evasion Rating. #% chance to Avoid Resolve loss from Enemy Hits
  • Resolve Aegis: Up to 50% of Resolve loss from Enemy Hits is removed from the Aegis before Resolve or Inspiration. Aegis is broken when any Resolve is lost from Enemy hits. Aegis is instantly restored after 4 seconds of no Resolve being lost. Resolve Aegis scales with your maximum Energy Shield. # Resolve Aegis
• Minions and non-party allies do not cause Resolve to be lost if hit.
• A fixed amount of Resolve can be restored in Fountain rooms.
• Gaining additional Maximum Resolve will also cause the character to gain current Resolve of the same amount. Losing Maximum Resolve will not further affect the current Resolve.
• Accursed Pacts that cause you to Lose #% Maximum Resolve and the Minor Affliction "Spiked Exit" can be safely taken even with only 1 Maximum Resolve, and will have no effect (they cannot fail a run by itself).
• Maximum Resolve is soft capped at 1000; however, it is possible to exceed these values from sources that modify maximum Resolve at the start of a room/floor.

Aureus

• Aureus is a type of non-tradeable currency similar to Azurite which can be found in the Sanctum. Aureus is collected automatically when the player is near it.
• Aureus can be traded to the merchant for various Boons or relics and sanctified relics.
• Aureus is maintained between rooms and floors, and is reset when the Sanctum run ends.
• Aureus drops from Templar Stash chests, as well as from Guards and Bosses when killed.

Inspiration

• Inspiration acts as a buffer over your maximum Resolve, somewhat similar to Energy Shield in comparison to life.
• Inspiration cannot be recovered like Resolve.
• Inspiration is soft capped at 1000; however, it is possible to exceed these values from sources that modify Inspiration at the start of a room/floor.

Boon

• Above your inspiration bar, major boons are grouped in a symbol with a very thick and bright yellow bordered boon symbol, while all minor boons are grouped in a plain yellow bordered boon symbol. Boons are shown when hovering the according symbol.
• Boons grant various benefits to your Sanctum run and can help recover or mitigate damage to your Resolve, increase your Aureus and rewards, debuff monsters, grant Inspiration, or provide other helpful buffs.

Boon Type	Image	Boon Name	Description
Major Boons		All-Seeing Eye	The Sanctum Map is fully revealed editor's note: overrides all afflictions and modifiers that hide parts of the Sanctum map, including The Night LampThe Night Lamp Urn RelicRequires Level 64The Herald of the Scourge drops an additional Forbidden Tome No Resolve Mitigation, chance to Avoid Resolve loss or Resolve Aegis This item is destroyed when applied to a SanctumUnmodifiable"The newcomers were terrified of fire. He used their fear to control them, to lay the seeds of unquestioning faith. He claimed only his god could protect them." - Lycia, the HereticPlace this item on the Relic Altar at the start of each Sanctum run
Major Boons		Bronze Coin	Picking up Aureus coins recovers Resolve editor's note: recovers the same amount of Resolve as Aureus obtained; scaled by modifiers to Resolve recovery
Major Boons		Bronze Descry	Ignore Resolve lost for 1 second after losing Resolve from a Hit
Major Boons		Crystal Chalice	You cannot receive any more Minor Afflictions editor's note: Crystal Shard's Affliction to Boon transformation can still occur with this Boon
Major Boons		Crystal Shard	The next Affliction you gain is converted into a random Minor Boon editor's note: This Boon's Affliction to Boon transformation can still occur with Crystal Chalice
Major Boons		Gold Coin	Aureus coins found are doubled
Major Boons		Golden Descry	Recover +15 Resolve on room completion
Major Boons		Holy Descry	Upon reaching 0 Resolve, revive with full Resolve, lose 50% of your current Maximum Resolve, and remove a random Boon editor's note: this is the only Boon that can save a run with "Cannot Recover Resolve" or "Maximum Resolve is 1" modifiers, as long as the player has Boons to remove
Major Boons		Holy Water	Gain a random Minor Boon when you use a Fountain
Major Boons		Imperial Seal	Traps are Disabled
Major Boons		Musty Wine	At the start of each room, a random Shrine effect is applied to you
Major Boons		Priest's Descry	Upon reaching 0 Resolve, revive with 75% of Maximum Resolve once editor's note: does not work on no-hit runs
Major Boons		Sacred Mirror	Duplicate up to 3 random Offer Rewards editor's note: only applies to rewards deferred to end of Floor/Sanctum; can apply to same reward more than once; applies immediately once obtained to your current rewards
Major Boons		Silver Coin	Gain 20 Aureus coins when you lose Resolve from a Hit
Major Boons		Silver Descry	Ignore the first Resolve lost from Hits in each room
Minor Boons		Adrenaline Vial	Recover 50% of your Maximum Resolve on entering Boss Room
Minor Boons		Arcane Aegis	Trigger Arcane Buffer when your Inspiration reaches 0
Minor Boons		Assassin's Blade	The next 10 Guards you Hit are killed Instantly
Minor Boons		Assassin's Blade	The next 9 Guards you Hit are killed Instantly
Minor Boons		Assassin's Blade	The next 8 Guards you Hit are killed Instantly
Minor Boons		Assassin's Blade	The next 7 Guards you Hit are killed Instantly
Minor Boons		Assassin's Blade	The next 6 Guards you Hit are killed Instantly
Minor Boons		Assassin's Blade	The next 5 Guards you Hit are killed Instantly
Minor Boons		Assassin's Blade	The next 4 Guards you Hit are killed Instantly
Minor Boons		Assassin's Blade	The next 3 Guards you Hit are killed Instantly
Minor Boons		Assassin's Blade	The next 2 Guards you Hit are killed Instantly
Minor Boons		Assassin's Blade	The next Guard you Hit is killed Instantly
Minor Boons		Black Pearl	Traps impact 50% reduced Resolve editor's note: affects both Resolve and Inspiration loss
Minor Boons		Chipped Dice	The Merchant's Shop can be Rerolled
Minor Boons		Divinia's Gift	Your next purchase from the Merchant has no cost
Minor Boons		Enchanted Urn	30% increased Effect of your non-Unique Relics
Minor Boons		Engraved Orb	100% increased Resolve recovered while Resolve is below 50%
Minor Boons		Fountain of Youth	Gain +40 Maximum Resolve each time you use a Fountain
Minor Boons		Fright Mask	Monsters deal 40% less Damage
Minor Boons		Gilded Lyre	Gain +250 Inspiration at the start of each floor
Minor Boons		Glowing Orb	The next time you go below 20% Resolve, heal for 50% Resolve
Minor Boons		Gold Magnet	50% more Aureus coins found
Minor Boons		Gold Mine	Aureus coins found on this floor are doubled
Minor Boons		Gold Trophy	Your aureus coins are increased by 10% on room completion (removed when you purchase something from the Merchant)
Minor Boons		Hare Foot	60% increased Movement Speed
Minor Boons		Lilting Melody	Gain 400 Inspiration if you complete the next 2 rooms without losing Resolve or Inspiration
Minor Boons		Lilting Melody	Gain 400 Inspiration if you complete the next room without losing Resolve or Inspiration
Minor Boons		Lustrous Pearl	Traps are slower editor's note: can have negative effects - slows down the fog in Lycia's hallway sequence
Minor Boons		Mellifluous Chorus	40% less Resolve lost while you have Inspiration editor's note: affects both Resolve and Inspiration loss
Minor Boons		Mirror of Fortune	Duplicate a random Offer Reward editor's note: only applies to rewards deferred to end of Floor/Sanctum; applies immediately once obtained to your current rewards
Minor Boons		Ornate Dagger	You and your minions deal 50% more Damage
Minor Boons		Prayer Beads	Cannot lose Resolve until you complete the next room editor's note: does not affect Inspiration loss
Minor Boons		Rusted Chimes	Gain +100 Inspiration when you gain an Affliction
Minor Boons		Rusted Descry	50% increased Resolve recovered
Minor Boons		Sanguine Vial	Monsters have 30% less Maximum Life
Minor Boons		Scrying Crystal	You can see an additional room ahead on the Sanctum Map
Minor Boons		Silver Chalice	The next Minor Boon you gain is converted into a random Major Boon
Minor Boons		Silver Tongue	50% reduced Merchant prices editor's note: stacks additively with Austerity Pact to make all Merchant items free
Minor Boons		Tarnished Coin	100% increased Aureus coins gained while Resolve is below 50%
Minor Boons		Tarnished Descry	+150 to Maximum Resolve
Minor Boons		Untuned Lute	+250 to Inspiration
Minor Boons		Viscous Ichor	Monsters have 20% reduced Action Speed editor's note: can affect bosses' arena effect/despawn time
Minor Boons		Wooden Effigy	Monsters impact 25% less Resolve editor's note: affects both Resolve and Inspiration loss
Minor Boons	File:BoonLustrousLacquerIcon.png	Lustrous Lacquer	50% more Defences editor's note: affects Resolve Mitigation, Resolve Avoidance, and Resolve Aegis

Affliction

• Above your inspiration bar, major afflictions are grouped in a symbol with a very thick and bright purple bordered boon symbol, while all minor afflictions are grouped in a plain purple bordered affliction symbol. Afflictions are shown when hovering according symbol.
• Afflictions grant various downsides to your Sanctum run and can reduce or prevent Resolve recovery, spawn additional traps, buff monsters, affect your Aureus generation, or hide rooms or rewards on the Sanctum Map.

Affliction Type	Icon	Affliction Name	Description
Major Afflictions		Anomaly Attractor	Rooms spawn Volatile Anomalies
Major Afflictions		Chiselled Stone	Monsters Petrify on Hit editor's note: free for Trickster/Juggernauts with minimum Action Speed
Major Afflictions		Cutpurse	You cannot gain Aureus coins
Major Afflictions		Deadly Snare	Traps impact infinite Resolve editor's note: some persistent skills from Sanctum monsters (e.g. Undying Archmage's floating balls' projectiles and explosion) count as traps and will end the run immediately on hit
Major Afflictions		Death Toll	Lose 250 Resolve after completing 8 rooms editor's note: this Resolve loss is considered similar to taking a hit, and will remove Inspiration before Resolve
Major Afflictions		Demonic Skull	Cannot recover Resolve
Major Afflictions		Ghastly Scythe	Losing Resolve ends your Sanctum (removed after 3 rooms)
Major Afflictions		Ghastly Scythe	Losing Resolve ends your Sanctum (removed after 2 rooms)
Major Afflictions		Ghastly Scythe	Losing Resolve ends your Sanctum (removed after 1 room)
Major Afflictions		Glass Shard	The next Boon you gain is converted into a random Minor Affliction editor's note: This Affliction's Boon to Affliction transformation can still occur with Unassuming Brick
Major Afflictions		Orb of Negation	Non-Unique Relics have no Effect
Major Afflictions		Unassuming Brick	You cannot gain any more Boons editor's note: Glass Shard's Boon to Affliction transformation can still occur with this Affliction
Major Afflictions		Veiled Sight	Rooms are unknown on the Sanctum Map editor's note: superseded by All-Seeing Eye
Major Afflictions	File:CurseCorrosiveConcoctionIcon.png	Corrosive Concoction	No Resolve Mitigation, chance to Avoid Resolve loss or Resolve Aegis
Minor Afflictions		Accursed Prism	When you gain an Affliction, gain an additional random Minor Affliction
Minor Afflictions		Black Smoke	You can see one fewer room ahead on the Sanctum Map editor's note: superseded by All-Seeing Eye
Minor Afflictions		Blunt Sword	You and your Minions deal 25% less Damage
Minor Afflictions		Chains of Binding	Monsters inflict Binding Chains on Hit (Binding Chains: You are slowed by Binding Chains. Move to break the chains) editor's note: 20% reduced Movement Speed per stack
Minor Afflictions		Charred Coin	50% less Aureus coins found
Minor Afflictions		Concealed Anomaly	Guards release a Volatile Anomaly on Death
Minor Afflictions		Corrupted Lockpick	Chests in rooms explode when opened
Minor Afflictions		Dark Pit	Traps impact 100% increased Resolve editor's note: affects both Resolve and Inspiration loss
Minor Afflictions		Deceptive Mirror	You are not always taken to the room you select editor's note: can randomly take player to a different connected room in the same column
Minor Afflictions		Door Tax	Lose 30 Aureus coins on room completion
Minor Afflictions		Empty Trove	Chests no longer drop Aureus coins editor's note: includes Reward Chests
Minor Afflictions		Fiendish Wings	Monsters' Action Speed cannot be slowed below base Monsters have 30% increased Attack, Cast and Movement Speed
Minor Afflictions		Floor Tax	Lose all Aureus on floor completion
Minor Afflictions		Gargoyle Totem	Guards are accompanied by a Gargoyle
Minor Afflictions		Golden Smoke	Rewards are unknown on the Sanctum Map editor's note: superseded by All-Seeing Eye
Minor Afflictions		Haemorrhage	You cannot recover Resolve (removed after killing the next Floor Boss)
Minor Afflictions		Honed Claws	Monsters deal 25% more Damage
Minor Afflictions		Hungry Fangs	Monsters impact 25% more Resolve editor's note: affects both Resolve and Inspiration loss
Minor Afflictions		Liquid Cowardice	Lose 10 Resolve when you use a Flask editor's note: removes Inspiration before Resolve; bricks a run with Ghastly Scythe; can also brick during Lycia's second form if flasks unless flasks are unequipped
Minor Afflictions		Mark of Terror	Monsters inflict Resolve Weakness on Hit (Resolve Weakness: Hits against you impact 50% more Resolve) editor's note: affects both Resolve and Inspiration loss
Minor Afflictions		Phantom Illusion	Every room grants a random Minor Affliction (Afflictions granted this way are removed on room completion)
Minor Afflictions		Poisoned Water	Gain a random Minor Affliction when you use a Fountain
Minor Afflictions		Purple Smoke	Afflictions are unknown on the Sanctum Map editor's note: superseded by All-Seeing Eye
Minor Afflictions		Rapid Quicksand	Traps are faster also affects Skull traps and Lycia's hallway fog
Minor Afflictions		Red Smoke	Room types are unknown on the Sanctum Map editor's note: superseded by All-Seeing Eye
Minor Afflictions		Rusted Coin	The Merchant only offers one choice supersedes additional option Relic modifiers
Minor Afflictions		Spiked Exit	Lose 5% of current Resolve on room completion editor's note: ignores Inspiration. Bricks a run with Ghastly Scythe. Cannot reduce Resolve below 1
Minor Afflictions		Spiked Shell	Monsters have 30% more Maximum Life
Minor Afflictions		Spilt Purse	Lose 20 Aureus coins when you lose Resolve from a Hit editor's note: does not apply when losing Inspiration
Minor Afflictions		Tattered Blindfold	90% reduced Light Radius Minimap is hidden
Minor Afflictions		Tight Choker	You can have a maximum of 5 Boons
Minor Afflictions		Unhallowed Amulet	The Merchant offers 50% fewer choices
Minor Afflictions		Unhallowed Ring	50% increased Merchant prices
Minor Afflictions		Unholy Urn	50% reduced Effect of your non-Unique Relics
Minor Afflictions		Unquenched Thirst	50% reduced Resolve recovered
Minor Afflictions		Voodoo Doll	100% more Resolve lost while Resolve is below 50% editor's note: affects both Resolve and Inspiration loss
Minor Afflictions		Weakened Flesh	-100 to Maximum Resolve editor's note: cannot reduce Resolve below 1
Minor Afflictions		Worn Sandals	40% reduced Movement Speed
Minor Afflictions	File:CurseShatteredShieldIcon.png	Shattered Shield	Cannot have Resolve Aegis

Room Layouts

Main page: Guide:Forbidden Sanctum layouts

See the above link for annotated minimaps of each room type, including enemy locations and shortcuts. Each room other than the miniboss room contains several Guard unique monsters, as well as one of three tasks to complete the room:

• Find the Exit (locate the exit door)
• Defeat all the Guards (defeat every Unique Guard)
• Defeat the Boss (minibosses based on map bosses)

Sanctum Layout

Room Goal	Defeat all the Guards	Defeat all the Guards (Skull Arena)	Find the Exit	Find the Exit (Traps)	Defeat the Boss (Miniboss)
Floor 1: Sanctum Archives	Chambers of Inscription	Templar Annals 1 central Skull, walls	Abandoned Library Ice Traps	Holy Trials Mana Rune Squares	Scriptorium Crimson Archbishop
Floor 2: Sanctum Vaults	Derelict Caverns	Battlegrounds 1 central Skull, no walls	Decrepit Cellar Ice Traps	Gauntlet Rolling Exarch Boulders	Reliquary Greater Wraith
Floor 3: Sanctum Cathedral	Unholy Lair	Infernum 2 Skulls, dividing wall	Halls of Worship Ice Traps	Crucible Mana Rune Squares and Skull	Sanctum Bellum Aureate Guardian
Floor 4: Sanctum Necropolis	Lost Catacombs	Desecrated Crypt 1 Skull, 90 degree arc	Undercroft Ice Traps and Skull	Entombment Rolling Exarch Boulders or Mana Rune Squares + Lasers	Mausoleum Colossal Lithomancer

Note: most "Find the Exit" rooms have shortcuts that require movement skills.

Room Reward Types

Note: All room types other than boss rooms can become Afflicted. Afflicted rooms are indicated by a purple border and cause the character to gain an Affliction on entry.

Item Reward Room

When players are offered rewards, they have three options:

• Receive #x <item1> now
• Receive #x <item2> at end of the Floor ("at end of the next Floor" if on room 8)
• Receive #x <item3> on completing the Sanctum

The quantity and/or types of items improve based on the area level of the zone, the current floor, and how long you defer the reward, at the cost of risking the reward entirely if the player fails the run. Item chests have a 5 Aureus fee to open.

Rarer items like Divine OrbDivine OrbStack Size: 20Randomises the values of the random modifiers on an itemRight click this item then left click a magic, rare or unique item to apply it., Exalted OrbExalted OrbStack Size: 20Augments a rare item with a new random modifierRight click this item then left click a rare item to apply it. Rare items can have up to six random modifiers., Sacred OrbSacred OrbStack Size: 10Randomises the numeric values of base defences on an armourRight click this item then left click an armour to apply it., become available on Floor 3 and 4.

Treasure Reward Room

Contains chests of Aureus; comes in 2 types: Minor Treasure Reward (2 chests) or Major Treasure Reward (5 chests).

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Fountain

Fountain rooms contain an interactable Fountain which grants Recover 25% of Maximum Resolve for a 5 Aureus fee.

Benevolent Fountain

Benevolent Fountain rooms contain an interactable Benevolent Fountain which grants Gain a Random Boon for a 150 Aureus fee.

Afflicted Fountain

Afflicted Fountain rooms contain an interactable Afflicted Fountain which grants Recover 50% of Maximum Resolve, but also inflicts a random minor Affliction on you, for a 5 Aureus fee.

Radiant Fountain

Radiant Fountain rooms contain an interactable Radiant Fountain which grants a random Boon, removes a random Affliction, and grants 200 Inspiration for a 5 Aureus fee. Rerolls Afflictions on Afflicted Rooms on the current floor if an Affliction was removed.

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Merchant

Merchant rooms contain the NPC Sister Divinia who sells you Boons, relics, or sanctified relics in exchange for Aureus. She can also recover 50 Resolve for a 200 Aureus fee. The Merchant is unlocked in Act 2 after completing the quest In Search of the Sanctum.

Accursed Pact

Accursed Pact rooms allow you to accept any of three random Accursed Pacts which grants both an upside and downside, as well as an item reward upon accepting at least 1 Accursed Pact. Accursed Pacts are unlocked in Act 7 after completing the quest Sanctum Temptations.

Accursed Pact outcomes

Icon	Upside	Downside
	Gain a specific Minor Boon	Lose 25% Maximum Resolve
	Gain a random Major Boon	Lose 50% Maximum Resolve
	Gain 2 random Minor Boons	Lose 50% Maximum Resolve
	Gain a specific Minor Boon	Gain a specific Minor Affliction
	Gain a specific Minor Boon	Gain a random Minor Affliction
	Lose a specific Minor Affliction	Gain a random Minor Affliction
	Gain a random Minor Boon	Gain a random Minor Affliction
	Lose a random Minor Affliction	Lose a random Minor Boon
	Gain 3 random Minor Boons	Gain a specific Major Affliction
	Lose 3 random Minor Afflictions	Gain a random Major Affliction
	Lose 3 random Minor Boons	Gain a random Major Boon
	Gain 200 Inspiration	Lose 200 Resolve
	All but 1 Maximum Resolve is converted to Inspiration	Maximum Resolve is 1
	Gain Aureus coins equal to the amount of Inspiration removed	Remove all Inspiration
	Gain 50% of current Resolve as Aureus coins	Lose 50% of current Resolve
Apex Pact	50% less Resolve lost in Boss Rooms	100% more Resolve lost in non-Boss Rooms
Austerity Pact	Merchant prices are reduced by 50%	Monsters do not drop Aureus coins
Doubling Pact	Guards are Twinned	Guards are Twinned
Indomitable Pact	Gain 30 Inspiration at the start of every room	Inspiration resets every room
Pyrrhic Pact	Resolve recovered is doubled	Maximum Resolve is lowered by 50% of recovered Resolve

The options that state "Lose #% Maximum Resolve" will not fail the run if Maximum Resolve is 1.

Attempting to use the Gain 200 Inspiration, Lose 200 Resolve Pact when you have less than 200 Resolve will cause an error, stating "Not enough Resolve".

Boss Room

Always the 8th room of any floor.

Bosses

Minibosses

Sanctum Minibosses

Boss name	Boss room name	Based on:
Crimson Archbishop	Sanctum Archives: Scriptorium	Kadaris, Crimson Mayor; cannot be hurt directly - defeat all the Crimson Priest clones while avoiding his spells. The spells' coverage increases as more clones are defeated.
Greater Wraith	Sanctum Vaults: Reliquary	The Restless Shade; creates several rows of coffins and uses SoulrendSoulrendChaos, Spell, AoE, Duration, Projectile Level: (1-20) Cost: (14-26) Mana Cast Time: 0.80 sec Critical Strike Chance: 5.00% Effectiveness of Added Damage: 170%Requires Level 28Fires a projectile that turns towards enemies in front of it, damaging and piercing through those it hits, and leeching some of that damage as energy shield. As the projectile travels, it repeatedly applies a short but powerful chaos damage over time debuff to each enemy in an area around it.Deals (21-885) to (31-1327) Chaos Damage Projectiles Pierce all Targets Deals (180.8-2642.5) Base Chaos Damage per second Base duration is 0.60 seconds Modifiers to Spell Damage apply to this Skill's Damage Over Time effect 4% of Spell Damage Leeched as Energy Shield Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality: Base duration is (0.01-0.2) secondsPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.
Aureate Guardian	Sanctum Cathedral: Sanctum Bellum	The Purifier; uses Divine Flare and rune slams.
Colossal Lithomancer	Sanctum Necropolis: Mausoleum	High Lithomancer; can create a small ring or cover a quarter or the entire arena in floating rocks that explode in an area after a delay.

Floor Bosses

Sanctum Bosses

Icon	Boss Name	Boss Room	Description
	Varakath, the Waxen	Sanctum Archives: Candlelit Chapel	Based on Candlemass (POE2); also uses Blazing SalvoBlazing SalvoSpell, AoE, Fire, Projectile Level: (1-20) Cost: (8-23) Mana Cast Time: 0.70 sec Critical Strike Chance: 6.00% Effectiveness of Added Damage: 60%Requires Level 12Fires projectiles which fly in an arc, dealing area damage on impact with either enemies or the ground near where you target. Targeting farther away causes the projectiles to spread out and land over a wider area.Deals (7-270) to (10-405) Fire Damage Fires (5-7) Projectiles Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality: +(0.01-0.2) metres to radiusPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket. and a fire breath attack
	Braom, the First Experiment Uzar, the Second Experiment	Sanctum Vaults: Experimentation Chamber	Slow moving statues that use slams. Changes size based on the other's lost health. Both bosses enrage and heal to full when the other dies. Enraged Braom can use a multidirectional Glacial Cascade (similar to the Delirium modifier Burrowing Blade), or repeated Sunders while walking. Enraged Uzar can also create a homing Blood Orb leaving Enervating Ground, or use a Ground Slam that fires random projectiles.
	Xenathar, Templar Reaper	Sanctum Cathedral: Hall of Mirrors	Base on Vorana, Last to Fall; also uses wall-bouncing lasers, Divine Flare, and slow-moving Innocence projectile nova.
	Lycia, Unholy Heretic	Sanctum Necropolis: Sanctum Sanctorum	Form 1: Attacks with sword swings and lunges, circular sweep attacks, and a rotating red beam. Can summon Igneous Gargoyle adds and spawns a ring of DOT ground effect that drains Resolve and slowly moves through the arena.
	Lycia, Herald of the Scourge	The Beyond	Form 2: Uses a wind tunnel beam, returning FireballFireballProjectile, Spell, AoE, Fire Level: (1-20) Cost: (6-25) Mana Cast Time: 0.75 sec Critical Strike Chance: 6.00% Effectiveness of Added Damage: 370% Projectile Speed: 1040 AoE Radius: 9Unleashes a ball of fire towards a target which explodes, damaging nearby foes.Deals (9-1640) to (14-2460) Fire Damage 25% chance to Ignite enemies Base radius is (0.9-1.4) metres Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality: Base radius is (0.01-0.2) metresPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.s, and a delayed slam; also summons spinning staff hazards around the arena. Periodically has an immune phase creating a maze of waves of lightning bolts with gaps. Note: This phase does not damage Resolve.

• Minibosses and bosses drop a large quantity of Aureus and have a chance to drop relics (or sanctified relics at area levels >75).
• Killing each miniboss and boss for the first time unlocks several tiles in the Relic Altar.
• Boss rooms contain a chest for any accumulated Item Rewards for the floor, as well as two additional Item Reward chests. Lycia's room only contains the accumulated Item Rewards chest.

Lycia

• After defeating Lycia's first form, the player can enter a portal to an arena called The Beyond to face her second form. Both forms must be defeated to access the reward chest
• Lycia's second form eliminates the Resolve bar and no longer uses Resolve mechanics. Dying during the second form will count as a failed run and prevent looting of the final reward chest.

Lycia, Herald of the Scourge in "The Beyond" will always drop a Unique Relic, as well as one of her exclusive items:

• Sandstorm VisageSandstorm Visage
  Necromancer CircletEnergy Shield: (165-224)Requires Level 54, 112 Int(8-10)% increased Cast Speed
  (200-250)% increased Energy Shield
  Ignore Stuns while Casting
  Base Spell Critical Strike Chance of Spells is equal to that of Main Hand Weapon
  Cannot deal Critical Strikes with AttacksA fell wind brings death.
• The Balance of TerrorThe Balance of Terror
  Cobalt JewelLimited to: 1+(10-15)% to all Elemental Resistances
  <2 random curse modifiers>Fellshrine stood as a holy bastion opposite the
  Chamber of Sins, and all that it represented.
  For one to rise, the other must fall.Place into an allocated Jewel Socket on the Passive Skill Tree. Right click to remove from the Socket.
• Eternal DamnationEternal Damnation
  Agate AmuletRequires Level 52+(16-24) to Strength and Intelligence+(40-70) to maximum Mana
  +(-13-13)% to Chaos Resistance
  -5% to all maximum Resistances
  Gain additional Elemental Damage Reduction equal to half your Chaos ResistanceThe price of immortality is isolation.
• The Winds of FateThe Winds of Fate
  Foul StaffWarstaff
  Physical Damage: (520-585) to (968-1089)
  Critical Strike Chance: 6.10%
  Attacks per Second: 1.30
  Weapon Range: 1.3 metresRequires Level 55, 94 Str, 94 Int+18% Chance to Block Attack Damage while wielding a Staff(700-800)% increased Physical Damage
  +100% to Global Critical Strike Multiplier
  75% of Physical Damage converted to a random Element
  25% of Physical Damage Converted to Chaos Damage
  Maximum Critical Strike Chance is 50%
  Non-Critical Strikes deal no DamageLife... Death...
  The whim of the cosmos.

Relic Altar

• The Relic Altar is unlocked in Act 10 after unlocking the Forbidden Sanctum.
• Each character has its own Relic Altar and uses separate Relics. However, the Relic Locker is shared between all of your characters in the same league.
• Relics placed in the Relic Altar are locked in for the entire Sanctum run as soon as they are confirmed and cannot be added or removed in the middle of a run. The current run must be completed, failed, or forfeited to add or remove Relics.
• The Relic Altar contains 18 inventory spaces, but 12 are initially locked.

• 

  The Relic Altar in its initial state

• 

  Fully unlocked Relic Altar

Unlocking

Locked inventory spaces for the Relic Altar can be unlocked by completing various rooms or floors in the Forbidden Sanctum.

Row	Column	Unlocking Requirement
1	1	Complete the Sanctum Bellum room in the Sanctum Cathedral
1	2	Complete the Sanctum Archives
1	3	Complete the Sanctum Archives
1	4	Complete the Sanctum Vaults
2	1	Complete the Sanctum Vaults
2	5	Complete the Sanctum Cathedral
3	1	Complete the Sanctum Cathedral
3	5	Complete the Sanctum Necropolis
4	2	Complete the Sanctum Necropolis
4	3	Complete the Scriptorium room in the Sanctum Archives
4	4	Complete the Reliquary room in the Sanctum Vaults
4	5	Complete the Mausoleum room in the Sanctum Necropolis

Relics

Main page: Relic

Relics are a type of item that is exclusive to the Sanctum league. They can be placed in the Relic Altar to provide buffs to various mechanics related to the Forbidden Sanctum.

• Relics can be found in the Sanctum as rewards from guards, minibosses or bosses, or purchased from Sister Divinia for 300 Aureus.
• They can be stored in a special separate stash, which can also be placed as a hideout decoration.
• To equip a Relic, they must be placed in the Relic Altar on a 5x4 grid with some slots blocked off. Additional grid slots can be unlocked as you progress, up to a total of 18 slots.
• Relics are unmodifiable and are always Magic.
• Relics can be vendored 5 to 1 to obtain a new one with random modifiers.

Item	Drop Level
Censer RelicCenser RelicUnmodifiablePlace this item on the Relic Altar at the start of each Sanctum run	1
Processional RelicProcessional RelicUnmodifiablePlace this item on the Relic Altar at the start of each Sanctum run	1
Tome RelicTome RelicUnmodifiablePlace this item on the Relic Altar at the start of each Sanctum run	1
Urn RelicUrn RelicUnmodifiablePlace this item on the Relic Altar at the start of each Sanctum run	1
Candlestick RelicCandlestick RelicUnmodifiablePlace this item on the Relic Altar at the start of each Sanctum run	75
Papyrus RelicPapyrus RelicUnmodifiablePlace this item on the Relic Altar at the start of each Sanctum run	75
Coffer RelicCoffer RelicUnmodifiablePlace this item on the Relic Altar at the start of each Sanctum run	82

Party mechanics

• The Sanctum's choices are made by the map's instance owner.
• All party members share the Resolve bar.

Ruthless mode

In Ruthless mode, Item Rewards do not offer immediate rewards, and instead only offer either end-of-floor rewards or end-of-Sanctum rewards.

Version history

Version	Changes
3.22.0	The Forbidden Sanctum has been added to the core game. You'll initially meet Divinia in the Oriath Docks in Act 10, who provides you with access to the Forbidden Sanctum. The Forbidden Sanctum has a maximum Area Level of 83. Introduced Forbidden TomeForbidden TomeArea Level: (68-83)Mundus noster cecidit. Daemones ubique sunt. Librum hunc in sacrarium conicio, ut forte alius viam inveniat...Take this item to the Relic Altar in the Forbidden Sanctum to enter.s, which are tradeable items that are found in the end game. A Forbidden Tome represents the entire first floor of the Forbidden Sanctum, and its rooms can be played back to back. Upon successfully completing a Sanctum floor, the next floor is generated as a tradable item with the state of your Sanctum built in, including your Boons, Afflictions, Resolve, Relics and Aureus. Relics have also returned and are now tradeable. They are locked in at the beginning of the first Sanctum floor, and cannot be changed for the remainder of the Sanctum run. Completing a Forbidden Sanctum run now requires killing Lycia in both her first and second form. She will always drop a Unique Relic, which have also been reworked and replaced as we rebalanced the Forbidden Sanctum. Primary defences now have some effect on protecting your Resolve. Armour provides Resolve Mitigation from Enemy Hits, Evasion grants a chance to Avoid Resolve loss from Enemy Hits, while Energy Shield provides you with Resolve Aegis, which is a mechanic that behaves similarly to how Energy Shield behaves for Life. The difficulty of Forbidden Sanctum has been increased, especially in the later floors. Monsters generally have more Life, and deal slightly more Resolve damage. Rare Monsters can now be found within the Forbidden Sanctum, and completing a room now requires killing all Rare Monsters present. Monsters in the Forbidden Sanctum are immune to damage if there is no player within 100 units of them. Boons and Afflictions have been reviewed and rebalanced, and we've also added new Boons and Afflictions themed around the new defensive mechanics. Tarnished Descry now grants +150 to Maximum Resolve (down from 200). [Undocumented This change was not documented by any official sources. It was discovered through player testing or datamining.] The Rusted Mallet minor Affliction that causes Monsters to have Knockback has been removed. We've also added more hazards and room variety to the Forbidden Sanctum. The Forbidden Sanctum has also been adjusted for Ruthless.
3.20.2d	End of the Sanctum League so that this mechanic is not accessible temporarily.
3.20.2	Some Sanctum monsters can now be Spectred, and Spectred versions of Stalking Geist will now be able to attack enemies. Lowered the resistances and maximum attack distance of the Spectred version of Igneous Gargoyle.
3.20.1b	The Death Toll Major Affliction no longer causes monsters to drop no Aureus Coins. Instead, it now causes you to Lose 250 Resolve after completing 8 rooms. This change does not affect existing Sanctum runs. Herald of the Scourge's lightning waves skill now spawns more lightning bolts with each wave, though the lightning bolts are now smaller. The delay between each wave has been slightly increased, and the damage of the skill has been lowered by 20%. Improved the visibility of the ground degen effect when fighting Lycia, Unholy Heretic. Added an error message for attempting to change your Relics while you have an active Sanctum.
3.20.1	Introduced 7 new Unique Relics that drop from the final form of the Sanctum Boss. These Relics challenge you to complete an entire run of The Forbidden Sanctum at area level 80+ under special rules. If you're able to complete such a run, you'll be rewarded in new and special ways. However, the Unique Relic will be destroyed regardless of the outcome of your run, so if you fail to complete it, you'll forfeit your potential rewards. Some of these Unique Relics cause the Herald of the Scourge to drop additional or specific items, while others causes Aureus Coins to be converted to certain outcomes upon defeating the Herald of the Scourge. We've also introduced a new Unique RingOriginal Sin Amethyst RingRequires Level 52+(17-23)% to Chaos ResistanceAll Elemental Damage Converted to Chaos Damage Nearby Enemies' Chaos Resistance is 0Innocence rose to godhood not on inspired faith, but on the vilification and hatred of another. that can be earned by defeating the Herald of the Scourge with one of the new Unique RelicsThe Original Scripture Papyrus RelicRequires Level 64The Herald of the Scourge drops the Original Sin Cannot have Inspiration Maximum Resolve is 1 Cannot be used with Forbidden Tomes below level 83 This item is destroyed when applied to a SanctumUnmodifiable"It's all here. The lie at the core of my faith. Maxarius was not the first chosen of Innocence. Maxarius was Innocence himself. A charlatan, a liar, and a power-seeker." - Lycia, the HereticPlace this item on the Relic Altar at the start of each Sanctum run active. Introduced 41 new "Lycia's Invocation" currency items. These can be applied to non-Corrupted Sanctified Relics to add their respective Keystone to the Relic. Boons and Afflictions that provide increases and reductions to the effect of your Relics now specify that they do not affect Unique Relics. Characters that are up close to their target now take even less damage to their Resolve. Sanctum Quests are no longer hidden with the "Enable Quest Tracking" option disabled. We've also made improvements to these Quests to reduce the chance they are missed when first entering the relevant town area. Party Members are now able to view the Map of the area owner's Sanctum, if they currently have a run active. Party members can now store a Sanctum room for later when the map owner runs their Sanctum room for the area. The Resolve bar now flashes when you heal or damage your Resolve. Added a display to show which Affliction was removed when you cleansed an Affliction. The Sanctified Relic Slot has been moved from the Sanctum Map and is now located in the Inventory panel. Sanctified Relics can now be compared with your equipped one by using the Compare Item Descriptions keybind (Ctrl, by default). The wave skill used by the final form of the Sanctum Boss now spawns far fewer lightning bolts with each wave, though the lightning bolts are slightly larger. The delay between each wave has also been slightly increased. You can no longer gain a new multi-stage Boon or Affliction, such as Lilting Melody, if you already have a later stage of that same Boon or Affliction. The Hungry Fangs Affliction and Wooden Effigy Boon now impact Resolve multiplicatively, instead of being additive with stats that impact resolve on Relics. Tweaked the position of the skulls that fire tracking beams in the third floor of the Sanctum. Updated the Prayer Beads Boon to clarify Resolve is able to be lost after the next room has been completed.
3.20.0b	Gaining increases to your maximum Resolve now heals your Resolve by that same amount. Relics are now able to be dropped onto the ground by players, though these still remain Account-bound to the player that dropped them. The pickup range of Aureus Coins has been increased, and you're now able to pick them up slightly sooner after they drop. Reduced the damage dealt to minions for some of the skills used by the Sanctum end boss in their true form. Infernal Sentinel Sanctum Guard's Cleave attack now fires three times fewer projectiles. Improved the warning text that is displayed when you try to enter the final reward room in Sanctum.
3.20.0	Introduced to the game. There's now a Relic Locker in the Sanctum subarea where you pick what room to do next.