Strongbox

A variety of magic and rare strongboxes

Strongboxes are a special type of chest found throughout Wraeclast. When opened, a strongbox will release groups of monsters to surround and attack the character. Only once all of the ambushing monsters are slain will a strongbox relinquish its loot. The monsters released by a strongbox also drop loot and grant experience when killed. Monsters not directly summoned by the strongbox, such as Spitters emerging from Shield Crabs, or raised undead, do not need to be killed to unlock the strongbox.

This encounter is considered Extra Content and has a chance to appear in any map area or most story areas. The specific chance for strongboxes to spawn has never been officially published. This mechanic is also referred to as Ambush.

Variations

Strongboxes come in different base types which determine the kinds of items that can normally be obtained from them. Modifiers can further alter the loot contents, such as granting additional rare items or gems.

A test with a pool of 2218 strongboxes, done via Monstrous TreasureMonstrous TreasureIn a long lost dream, great foes hide in tiny boxes, but so do great rewards.You will travel to a map where the monsters lie in wait, open the boxes they guard, and slay them all.Right-click to add this prophecy to your character. prophecy was done, giving the following distribution. Note that the test was made in Tier-13 and higher maps, where Cartographer's strongboxes could not spawn when the experiment was done in 2016. As of v3.13.0, Cartographer's Strongboxes are able to (rarely) appear in Tier 13 and higher maps.

Operative's Strongbox requires the Secret Operations Atlas passive skill allocated in order to spawn.

Base Type	Contents	Count	Spawn rate
Arcanist's Strongbox	Currency that do not affect quality, The Heroic ShotThe Heroic Shot117x Chromatic OrbTry a thousand times, and eventually you'll have to give up.	96	4.3%
Armourer's Strongbox	Armour, The BodyThe Body4Body ArmourThey say it is the head that leads, but all must flow through the body at some point., Divine JusticeDivine Justice1Helmet Eternal Labyrinth EnchantmentMany sought the Goddess' blessing. Few survived the Labyrinth to receive it.	132	6%
Artisan's Strongbox	The Master ArtisanThe Master Artisan520x Quality CurrencyPerfection is the standard, excellence will be handled on a case by case basis., currency that affect quality	155	6.9%
Blacksmith's Strongbox	Weapons	125	5.7%
Cartographer's Strongbox	Maps, The CartographerThe Cartographer110x Cartographer's ChiselMy son, you lost your way before you arrived. To never lose you again, I make a path in my heart., The DreamlandThe Dreamland8Poorjoy's AsylumAll dreams vanish when the dreamers wake.	-	-
Diviner's Strongbox	Divination cards	42	1.9%
Gemcutter's Strongbox	Gems, The GemcutterThe Gemcutter3Gemcutter's PrismIn the hands of a master craftsman, a worthless pebble can adorn the crown of a king.	74	3.3%
Jeweller's Strongbox	Amulets, rings, belts, jewels, HubrisHubris5Ring"This one? It is NOT for sale. You would sooner pry it from my lifeless hand." - Jonfé Darontos, Ringmaker	167	7.5%
Operative's Strongbox	Scarabs	-	6%
Large Strongbox	Assorted items (increased quantity)	104	4.7%
Ornate Strongbox	Assorted items (increased rarity)	62	2.8%
Strongbox	Assorted items	1247	56.3%
Unique	Special	14	0.6%
Vaal Reliquary	Assorted corrupted items, Vaal OrbsVaal OrbStack Size: 20Corrupts an item, modifying it unpredictablyRight click this item then left click an item to corrupt it. Corrupted items cannot be modified again. Shift click to unstack.	? (add in ver.3.7 and unique rarity only)	?%

Like chests, increased Item Quantity from gear does not increase the number of items dropped from a strongbox. However, map quantity and the number of players do increase the number of items dropped from most strongboxes. The only exception is the Cartographer's Strongbox, where the number of players does not increase the number of map drops.

Note that Vaal Vessel in vaal side area is not counted as a strongbox, but the tooltip for the unique version, Atziri's Vessel, indicates that it does count as a strongbox. Vaal Temple MapVaal Temple MapMap Level: 83
Map Tier: 16
Guild Character: >Area contains 10 additional guarded Vaal VesselsVoices. Visions. Violence.
They will haunt these grounds for all of eternity.Travel to this Map by using it in a personal Map Device. Maps can only be used once.'s implicit also spawns a strongbox version of a Vaal Vessel

Modifiers

Like items and monsters, strongboxes come in different rarities with various modifiers. A non-normal strongbox inherently has increased item quantity and rarity regardless of other modifiers. It must be identified with a Scroll of WisdomScroll of WisdomStack Size: 40Identifies an itemRight click this item then left click an unidentified item to apply it.
Shift click to unstack. to reveal its modifiers. It is also possible to craft strongboxes using currency items. Corrupting a strongbox with a Vaal OrbVaal OrbStack Size: 20Corrupts an item, modifying it unpredictablyRight click this item then left click an item to corrupt it. Corrupted items cannot be modified again.
Shift click to unstack. may corrupt some of the loot contents.

Note that modifiers to monsters (such as increased area if effect) also apply to skills used by strongboxes, making things like Ice Nova strongboxes rather deadly if underprepared.

Prefixes

Main page: List of strongbox prefix mods

Prefixes can make the ambush encounter more dangerous by releasing additional monsters or springing traps. Certain prefixes can benefit from area modifiers (e.g. of Giantsof Giants
Suffix
15% increased Quantity of Items found in this Area
8% increased Rarity of Items found in this Area
Monsters have 70% increased Area of Effect). It is worth noting that some prefixes add a warning sound to a strongbox as well.

List of prefix modifiers that can appear on Strongboxes.

Name		Stats
Arctic	8	Freezes you when activated
Contaminated	8	Spreads Caustic Ground Chest plays warning sound (Hidden)
Contested	12	Guarded by a Rogue Exile
Frigid	1	Casts Ice Nova Chest plays warning sound (Hidden)
Incandescent	1	Ignites you when activated
Intimidating	10	Guarded by a pack of Magic Monsters Items will not drop until all Bloodline Daemons are killed. (Hidden)
Menacing	35	Guarded by 3 Rare Monsters Items will not drop until all Bloodline Daemons are killed. (Hidden)
Ossified	2	Summons Skeletons Items will not drop until all Bloodline Daemons are killed. (Hidden)
Putrifying	4	Detonates nearby corpses Chest plays warning sound (Hidden)
Rallying	35	Guarded by a stream of Monsters
Reaper's	1	Revives nearby dead Monsters with Onslaught
Scorched	10	Casts Firestorm Chest plays warning sound (Hidden)
Unstable	1	Explodes Chest plays warning sound (Hidden)
Vibrating	25	Casts Lightning Storm Chest plays warning sound (Hidden)
Whispering	15	Casts a random Hex Curse Spell when activated

Suffixes

For a datamined list of suffixes, see List of strongbox suffix mods.

Suffixes can alter the loot contents in distinct ways, such as granting additional items or increasing the number of sockets on equipment.

Suffix	Lvl.	Effect
of Abundance	1	Contains (3 to 8) additional Items (1)	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
of Affluence	8	Contains (1 to 3) additional Rare Items (2)	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✗
of Ascendance	1	+(1 to 5) Chest level (3)	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
of Augmentation	12	Only contains Support Gems	✗	✗	✗	✓	✗	✗
of Bounty	1	(30 to 60)% increased Quantity of Contained Items (4)	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
of Complexity	20	Contained Items have (1 to 2) additional Sockets	✓	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗
of Corruption	1	Contains an extra Vaal Gem	✗	✗	✗	✓	✗	✗
of Curiosities	4	Contains (1 to 5) additional Magic Items (5)	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✗
of Facets	40	Contained Gems have Experience	✗	✗	✗	✓	✗	✗
of Kalandra	40	Contains Mirrored Items	✓	✓	✗	✗	✗	✗
of Quality	1	Contained Items have (1 to 20)% Quality	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗
of Singularity	45	Contains an additional Unique Item	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✗
of Treasures	4	(1000 to 2000)% increased Rarity of Contained Items	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✗
of Unity	40	Contained Items are fully Linked	✓	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗
of Wisdom	1	Contains Identified Items	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✗
of the Vaal	1	Contains additional Divination Cards that give Corrupted Items	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗	✓
of Reward	1	Contains additional Divination Cards that give Currency	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗	✓
of Renown	1	Contains additional Divination Cards that give Unique Items	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗	✓

⁽¹⁾ Contains (1 to 2) additional Items on Cartographer's Strongboxes
⁽²⁾ Contains 1 additional Rare Item on Cartographer's Strongboxes
⁽³⁾ +(1 to 3) Chest level on Cartographer's Strongboxes
⁽⁴⁾ (30 to 40)% increased Quantity of Contained Items on Cartographer's Strongboxes
⁽⁵⁾ Contains 1 additional Magic Item on Cartographer's Strongboxes

Contained Items are fully Linked and Contained Items have (1 to 2) additional Sockets cannot roll together on the same strongbox.

Unique strongboxes

Main page: List of unique strongboxes

Like most other unique items, it is possible to craft a unique strongbox using an Orb of ChanceOrb of ChanceStack Size: 20Upgrades a normal item to a random rarityRight click this item then left click a normal item to apply it.
Shift click to unstack. on a normal strongbox with the corresponding base type.

Name	Type
Ashes of the Condemned	Strongbox
Brinerot Cache	Strongbox
Mutewind Cache	Strongbox
Redblade Cache	Strongbox
Renegades Cache	Strongbox
Strange Barrel	Strongbox
Weylam's War Chest	Arcanist's Strongbox
Kaom's Cache	Armourer's Strongbox
Deshret's Storm	Blacksmith's Strongbox
Empyrean Apparatus	Cartographer's Strongbox
The Maelström Cell	Diviner's Strongbox
Perandus Bank	Jeweller's Strongbox
Gifts of the Red Queen	Vaal Reliquary
Gifts of the Sacrificed	Vaal Reliquary

Prophecy-only strongboxes

The Plaguemaw IV

• The Plaguemaw's Offering

Unique Map-only strongboxes

There are also unique strongboxes that can only be found at the end of certain unique maps.

Vaults of Atziri

• Atziri's Vessel: Contains 8 Sacrifice Map Fragments and/or Vaal Skill Gems.

Oba's Cursed Trove

• Oba's Glittering Stash
• Oba's Prized Cache
• Oba's Riches

Hall of Grandmasters

• Grandmaster's Arcanist Cache
• Grandmaster's Cartography Cache
• Grandmaster's Corrupted Cache
• Grandmaster's Gemcutting Cache
• Grandmaster's Large Cache
• Grandmaster's Ornate Cache
• Grandmaster's Treasury
• Grandmaster's Trove

Advice

• It is not generally recommended to spend currency crafting on strongboxes with a few exceptions of Operative's, Diviners, Cartographers, and Arcanists modifiers.

Gallery

• 

  Strongbox

• 

  Arcanist's Strongbox

• 

  Armourer's Strongbox

• 

  Diviner's Strongbox

• 

  Ornate Strongbox

Related items

Item		Stats
Engineer's OrbEngineer's OrbStack Size: 20Improves the quality of a StrongboxRight click this item then left click a Strongbox to apply it. Has greater effect on lower rarity Strongboxes. The maximum quality is 20%. Shift click to unstack.	1	N/A
Gilded Ambush ScarabGilded Ambush ScarabArea contains 5 additional StrongboxesMaster Warrior Rindwik fell to one opponent alone: old age. Only the greatest soldiers can say as much.Can be used in a personal Map Device.	1	Area contains 5 additional Strongboxes
Infused Engineer's OrbInfused Engineer's OrbStack Size: 20Greatly improves the quality and rewards of a Strongbox and strengthens its defendersRight click this item then left click a Strongbox to apply it. Shift click to unstack.	1	N/A
Polished Ambush ScarabPolished Ambush ScarabArea contains 4 additional StrongboxesYour people were renegades, Rindwik, but you have proven your loyalty. You will lead the martial defence of our expeditions.Can be used in a personal Map Device.	1	Area contains 4 additional Strongboxes
Rusted Ambush ScarabRusted Ambush ScarabArea contains 3 additional StrongboxesYour outlaw camp abandoned you when their surprise attack failed, young Rindwik. Now that you know we exist, we cannot let you go. You have two choices.Can be used in a personal Map Device.	1	Area contains 3 additional Strongboxes
Winged Ambush ScarabWinged Ambush ScarabArea contains 9 additional StrongboxesIn the absence of a strong martial presence, the renegades rise once more. Their poisons threaten to cloud the land.Can be used in a personal Map Device.	1	Area contains 9 additional Strongboxes

Version history

Version	Changes
3.18.0	Operative's Strongboxes can no longer drop Polished Scarabs in White Maps, or Gilded and Winged Scarabs in White or Yellow Maps.
3.13.0	Cartographer's Strongboxes can now rarely appear in Tier 13 and higher maps.
2.4.0g	Removed the mod "Contains additional Divination Cards from the current Area" from the Diviner's Strongbox.
2.4.0	Added a new type of Strongbox: Diviner's Strongbox.
2.0.2	Jeweller's Strongboxes can now drop Jewels. Fixed a bug where chests and strongboxes were not spawning in The Apex of Sacrifice and The Alluring Abyss.
2.0.0	Strange Barrel has been added. The chance of finding a strongbox has been decreased. The chance of a finding a unique strongbox has been greatly increased. Chemist's Strongboxes can no longer spawn. Quantity Mod Bonuses on Strongboxes are now 30-40% (down from 50-60%) The Additional Magic Items mod on Cartographer's Strongboxes is now always 1 (instead of 1-2). The Additional Normal Items mod on Cartographer's Strongboxes is now 1-2 (instead of 2-3). Cartographer's Strongboxes can no longer mirror items. Cartographer's Strongboxes have become less frequent as you progress up the map tiers. They have not been added to the new level 80+ maps.
1.3.1	Strongboxes now spawn packs of monsters in quick succession, instead of all at once.
1.3.0i	Fixed a bug where exploding Strongboxes would not explode correctly.
1.2.3	We have rebalanced Cartographer's Strongboxes. These chests were incorrectly double-dipping on map bonuses and party bonuses. The number of people in your party no longer increases map drops from these chests. We have also reduced how often they appear, but have significantly boosted their drops. Solo players will notice a substantial boost to drops from these Strongboxes, while parties will no longer receive too many maps.
1.2.0	Strongboxes can now spawn in all leagues, starting from the Submerged Passage in Normal difficulty. The weightings of each Strongbox type has been adjusted with ordinary Strongboxes being much more common than other variants. Mods for these Strongboxes have been adjusted. Cartographer's Boxes now have lower values of some Strongbox mods.
1.1.5	We have increased the spawn speed of the Stream of Monsters mod on ambush chests.
1.1.3	Added three new unique chests that can appear in the Ambush league.
1.1.1	Fixed a bug where the Strongbox mod that drops additional magic or rare items would have no effect on Maps. Fixed a bug that could cause monsters spawned by the Strongbox stream-of-monsters mod to behave strangely. Fixed a bug where Jeweller's Orb would not prevent you rerolling an item that had more sockets than it naturally could have at that itemlevel, due to dropping from a Strongbox with the increased sockets mod.
1.1.0f	Fixed a bug where the Strongbox mod that dropped additional magic or rare items would not always drop the correct number. Fixed a bug where some mod restrictions on Strongboxes would not work (for example, quality mods could erroneously spawn on Jeweler's Strongboxes). Fixed some cases where atypically few or many Strongboxes could spawn in some areas.
1.1.0e	Reduced the number of Maps dropped from Cartographer's Strongboxes.
1.1.0d	Made further improvements to the spawning of Strongboxes in narrow areas like caves. Halved the spawn rate of Gemcutter's Strongboxes in the Ambush league.
1.1.0c	Monsters and Rogue Exiles spawned by Strongboxes in the Ambush league now drop items and grant experience when killed. Fixed several of the cases where Strongboxes could block physical passage through a level.
1.1.0	Strongboxes have been introduced along with the Ambush League.

External links

• How to Roll Strong Boxes