Hillock

For the Immortal Syndicate member, see Hillock, the Blacksmith.

Hillock
Hillock
Level(s)	1
Location(s)	The Twilight Strand (Act 1)
Quest(s)	Enemy at the Gate

Hillock (refered to as Hillock of Slaugh by the Letters of Exile) is a unique monster in The Twilight Strand in Act 1. Defeating him is the objective of the quest Enemy at the Gate. Defeating Hillock at level 1 will automatically level you up to 2, no matter how much experience points you've had before. Hillock is depicted as a bloodied, large and muscular man with several arrows piercing his body and a single sword going through his chest. His skin is pale and greyish, but may appear blue under The Twilight Strand's lighting.

In Ruthless mode, he is guaranteed to drop the QuickstepQuickstepSpell, Movement, Travel, Blink
Level: 1
Cooldown Time: 10.00 sec
Can Store 1 Use(s)
Cast Time: 0.15 secPerforms a series of quick teleports towards a targeted location, stopping if you would overlap with monsters or terrain. If using the "Attack in Place" option, the direction is reversed. Shares a cooldown with other Blink skills. Cannot be supported.200% increased Cooldown Recovery Rate if used while a Unique Enemy is in your Presence
Quality has no effect
This Spell's Cast Speed cannot be modifiedPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket. skill gem.

Mechanics

Hillock is encountered at the end of the main body area of The Twilight Strand (Act 1). Encounter him will trigger first stage of the Enemy at the Gate quest.

When Hillock reaches a 50% life threshold, he will pull the sword out of his chest and his life will recover to 100%. He will begin using the sword as a weapon - as a result, he will begin dealing significantly more damage.

Abilities

Hillock's only ability is a basic Melee attack, dealing physical damage.

Modifiers

• Undead
• Zombie

Strategy: Normal Hillock

Hillock's attacks are slow, but rather hard-hitting, so he can easily kill you if don't bother dodging his attacks. Your main source of damage will be your equipped skill gem (RMB or W), linked with the support gem you found from the chest. If you run out of mana, use a mana flask (hotkey 5 by default initial setup). If you take damage and are close to death, refill your hp by using a life flask (hotkey 1 or 2). If you run out of mana and mana flask charges, use the default attack (LMB or Q). Note that if you manage attacks and flask charges properly (i.e. not wasting flask charges or missing attacks) you should not run out.

"Uber Hillock"

See also: Guide:Obtaining Oni-Goroshi

Very rarely, a alternative version of Hillock can be encountered in The Twilight Strand, replacing the normal variant. This version of Hillock is known by the community as "Uber Hillock". This alternative form has far more life, does far more damage, and has other skills. Visually, the sword normally found in Hillock's chest is replaced by the supporter-designed sword Oni-GoroshiOni-Goroshi
Charan's SwordOne Handed Sword
Physical Damage: 5-11
Critical Strike Chance: (8.50%-9.50%)
Attacks per Second: 1.45
Weapon Range: 11.0 metres40% increased Global Accuracy RatingUses both hand slots
(70-90)% increased Critical Strike Chance
Adds 2 to 3 Physical Damage to Attacks per Level
Gain Her Embrace for 3 seconds when you Ignite an Enemy
While in Her Embrace, take 0.5% of your total Maximum Life and Energy Shield as Fire Damage per second per Level
Item has 6 Sockets and is fully linked (Hidden)"Your name is Demon Slayer? Really? Good name for rotgut, that."
She said: I prefer "The Goddess Of Swords". Much more dignified. And accurate.
"Demon Slayer The Cheap And Nasty it is then. Burns going down, burns coming up?"
She said: Every single time, Charan. And still...you'll bathe me, and you'll drink my love. Until you can't.. Uber Hillock is guaranteed to drop Oni-Goroshi on death.

"

What? I'm free? You did this. Well, anything is better than being stuck in that. His mindless thirst fell far short of My desires, simple though they are. But now there's you. So vital. So defiant. So take Me. This dying world is but kindling, yet its un-quickened blood may boil once again. And I've waited so long for a real bath.

"

- Oni-Goroshi, upon killing Uber Hillock

Due to the extreme rarity of Uber Hillock and the difficulty of his encounter, a guide is highly recommended for those seeking to drop Oni-Goroshi for themselves.

Uber Hillock Mechanics

Before Hillock reaches his 50% life threshold, he has no additional mechanics besides dealing far more damage and having far more life. However, once he pulls out Oni-Goroshi and begins to wield it, his life recovers to 100% and he is enveloped in a blue flame glow. At this point, he gains a deadly new skill - a modified Leap SlamLeap SlamAttack, AoE, Movement, Travel, Slam, Melee
Level: (1-20)
Cost: 10 Mana
Attack Damage: (100-150)% of base
Effectiveness of Added Damage: (100-150)%
AoE Radius: 15Requires Level 10Jump into the air, damaging and knocking back enemies with your weapon where you land. Enemies you would land on are pushed out of the way. Requires an Axe, Mace, Sceptre, Sword or Staff. Cannot be supported by Multistrike.(20-39)% increased Stun Duration against Enemies that are on Full Life
+0.55 seconds to Attack Time
Damaging Hits always Stun Enemies that are on Full Life

Additional Effects per 1% Quality:
1% increased Stun Duration on enemiesPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket. attack that also raises an effectively unlimited (!) number of zombies from the surrounding area.

Due to the limited power your character will have, allowing him to use this attack too many times will raise an every-increasing number of zombies - each one making it harder for you to deal damage to him. Eventually, you may even "brick" the instance by creating so many zombies that it is no longer feasibly possible to complete the encounter. To avoid this fate, it is highly recommended to fight Hillock from as far a distance as possible, outside of the range of his Leap Slam attack. This way he will never spawn zombies.

Lore

Just like the player character and the Dying Exile, Hillock has been exiled from Oriath. By the time our exile arrives at The Twilight Strand, Hillock has already become a zombie.

Hillock of Slaugh

Sentenced: 1599 IC

You have transgressed against your God and your fellow Man. You have been a willing vessel for the following Sins:

Mortal Wrath

Six counts of Common Homicide

One count of Infanticide

Two counts of Homicide with post-mortem Desecration

Unlawful Avarice

Twelve counts of Extortion through Threat of Mortal Harm

Seven counts of Armed Larceny

Two counts of Armed Larceny resulting in Mortal Harm

Unsolicited Lust

Four counts of Rape

Two counts of Attempted Rape

Mortal Wrath

One count of Rape resulting in Mortality

God has charged me with your redemption. You are hereby Exiled to Wraeclast where, it is hoped, you shall come to repent your Sins, and make your peace with your beloved Father.

- Letters of Exile, on details of Hillock's exile.

At an unknown point in time, Hillock is reanimated and returned to the appearance of a living human and joins the Immortal Syndicate. He is renamed as "Hillock, the Blacksmith".

Map variants

Stronger versions of Hillock serve as map bosses:

Map	Level	Name	Notes
Dunes MapDunes MapMap Level: 69 Map Tier: 2 Guild Character: AShifting, morphing, expanding. A reminder of the virtues of an agile mind.Travel to this Map by using it in a personal Map Device. Maps can only be used once.		The Blacksmith	Leap Slam Spawns Unstable Aberrations Heavy Strike
Hallowed GroundHallowed Ground Cemetery MapMap Level: 71 Map Tier: 4 Guild Character: Ð Item Quantity: +100% Item Rarity: +100%Unique Boss drops 3 additional Maps Unique Boss gives 2000% increased Experience 0.5 Flask Charges recovered every 3 seconds +(-2-2) to Monster Level of AreaSome dead have long envied the living. When given the chance, they take from us what they can. So we offer our suffrage. In return, they give only suffering.Travel to this Map by using it in a personal Map Device. Maps can only be used once.		Jaesyn	Leap Slam Vaal Double Strike-like attack.

Dialogue

(Upon opening the door to Lioneye's Watch):

"

You finally got the biggun!

"

- The gatekeeper

or

"

You finally got the big bastard!

"

- The gatekeeper

Trivia

Before Version 0.5.1, Hillock was known as the "zombie boss".

Before the release of the Letters of Exile in Version 0.10.8, more information could be found regarding Hillock on the Path of Exile website. As of the website redesign, it was taken down. The website mentioned Hillock's occupation and how he was killed and how he was rediscovered as a zombie. The website made no mention of how Hillock was exiled, nor any of his crimes. As a result, it is unknown whether any of this information is canon.

Gallery

• 

  The Shadow fighting one on one against Hillock

• 

  Image of the Oni-Goroshi inside of Hillock

Version history

Version	Changes
3.15.0	We have rebalanced various monsters found throughout Act One to make them more dangerous. Note, the balance changes made to Act One Bosses and monsters also apply to their Endgame Map versions. Monster life has been increased by roughly 46% at level 1, tapering down to the same amount of life at level 84. Some bosses and monsters in Act 1, such as Hillock and Oozeback have had their life reduced to partially counteract this change. Various effects improvements have been made to monsters and bosses throughout Act One. Various audio improvements have been made to monsters and bosses throughout Act One.
3.7.0	Improved the early-game experience. Fights in the first three Acts will be tougher but more responsive, involved and dynamic. This includes fights against basic monsters!
3.2.0	The Oni-GoroshiOni-Goroshi Charan's SwordOne Handed Sword Physical Damage: 5-11 Critical Strike Chance: (8.50%-9.50%) Attacks per Second: 1.45 Weapon Range: 11.0 metres40% increased Global Accuracy RatingUses both hand slots (70-90)% increased Critical Strike Chance Adds 2 to 3 Physical Damage to Attacks per Level Gain Her Embrace for 3 seconds when you Ignite an Enemy While in Her Embrace, take 0.5% of your total Maximum Life and Energy Shield as Fire Damage per second per Level Item has 6 Sockets and is fully linked (Hidden)"Your name is Demon Slayer? Really? Good name for rotgut, that." She said: I prefer "The Goddess Of Swords". Much more dignified. And accurate. "Demon Slayer The Cheap And Nasty it is then. Burns going down, burns coming up?" She said: Every single time, Charan. And still...you'll bathe me, and you'll drink my love. Until you can't. version of Hillock has more life, deals more damage, and has learned a new trick.
3.1.1c	The Oni-GoroshiOni-Goroshi Charan's SwordOne Handed Sword Physical Damage: 5-11 Critical Strike Chance: (8.50%-9.50%) Attacks per Second: 1.45 Weapon Range: 11.0 metres40% increased Global Accuracy RatingUses both hand slots (70-90)% increased Critical Strike Chance Adds 2 to 3 Physical Damage to Attacks per Level Gain Her Embrace for 3 seconds when you Ignite an Enemy While in Her Embrace, take 0.5% of your total Maximum Life and Energy Shield as Fire Damage per second per Level Item has 6 Sockets and is fully linked (Hidden)"Your name is Demon Slayer? Really? Good name for rotgut, that." She said: I prefer "The Goddess Of Swords". Much more dignified. And accurate. "Demon Slayer The Cheap And Nasty it is then. Burns going down, burns coming up?" She said: Every single time, Charan. And still...you'll bathe me, and you'll drink my love. Until you can't. version of Hillock has been added to the game. [Undocumented This change was not documented by any official sources. It was discovered through player testing or datamining.]
3.0.0	Cruel and Merciless version of Hillock were removed due to overhaul of the game.
1.3.0c	Fixed a bug where there could be a short clientside freeze when Hillock was killed.
1.1.3	Removed the invulnerability period from Hillock when he is drawing his sword in all difficulties.
1.0.6	Hillock now uses the same triggered effect that the Blacksmith does, in Cruel and Merciless difficulties. The damage of the poison cloud produced by his zombies has been reduced in all instances (including Maps).
0.11.0	Hillock now correctly restores a percentage of his maximum life when he draws his sword. This life restoration increases in higher difficulties.
0.8.2	Hillock is now easier in higher difficulties.
0.8.1	Made starting difficulty Hillock harder.
0.5.11	Hillock and the Brute now drop better items.
0.5.10	Annessa in town will currently reward you with four skill gems for defeating Hillock.
0.5.6	Reduced Hillock's damage, increased his life.
0.5.11	Hillock now drops better items.
0.5.1	Reduced zombie boss (Hillock) damage/life and renamed him.