Module 33.5
Monoliths of Madness
Browse By
Map / Zone
Menzoberranzan, Northdark Reaches, Narbondellyn and Dragonbone Vale
Browse By
How It Works
Shards, altars, heroics, world boss and Nightmare Progression
Browse By
Rewards
Gear, artifacts, companions, mounts and milestone rewards
🌀 Module Overview
Neverwinter: Monoliths of Madness
went live on September 1, 2026.
Strange monoliths and corrupted altars have appeared across four
existing adventure zones, turning familiar areas into the setting
for a new 12-week campaign-style event.
The event rotates through
Menzoberranzan,
Northdark Reaches,
Narbondellyn and
Dragonbone Vale.
One zone is featured each week.
Characters are downscaled while participating in the active zone.
Progress comes from personal
Shards of Madness milestones and the
server-wide Nightmare Progression bar.
⚔ At a Glance
- Release: September 1, 2026
- Requirement: Level 20
- Duration: 12 weeks
- Structure: Four 3-week phases
- Primary Currency: Shards of Madness
- Store Currency: Warden’s Marks
- World Boss: Maxare’xek the Mad
✦ Major Additions
- Renewed Epic Equipment
- Burning Hope Artifact
- Laughing Void and Voidbound equipment
- New mounts and companions
- Strike Combat Enchantment slot
- Guard Combat Enchantment slot
- Expanded inventory stack sizes
🗺️ Maps, Zones & Access
Into the Underdark
Menzoberranzan is one of the campaign’s featured zones. Use this community miniboss map as a zone reference alongside the access notes below.
Original artwork and creator markings are preserved.
Menzoberranzan
Required access quests:
Whispers in the Dark
and
A New Ally.
Begin the required access through
Sergeant Knox
in Protector’s Enclave.
Northdark Reaches
Required access quest:
The Call of the King.
Begin the required access through
Sergeant Knox.
Narbondellyn
Required access quests:
Whispers in the Dark
and
A Discreet Meeting.
Begin the required access through
Sergeant Knox.
Dragonbone Vale
Required access quest:
Forging the Shield.
Begin the required access through
Sergeant Knox.
Core Rule — Follow the Active Zone
Only one of the four zones is featured each week.
Follow the modified map icon instead of farming an inactive zone.
If the original campaign for that zone is unfinished,
you can make progress on it while completing Monoliths objectives.
🧭 Campaign Progression
Start the Campaign
Speak with
Master Arcanist Viorel Amakiir
in Protector’s Enclave.
Travel to the zone currently marked as active.
Complete Daily & Weekly Challenges
Challenges award
Shards of Madness
and can include:
- Heroic Encounters
- Enemy defeats
- Named Encounters
- Corrupted Altars
- Point-based objectives
- Skirmishes
- A specified dungeon or trial
- Maxare’xek the Mad
Build Personal Progress
Shards of Madness unlock personal campaign milestones
containing items such as Warden’s Caches,
Insignia Powder, Trade Bars,
Legendary Dragon Keys and mount or companion upgrade tokens.
Reach Nightmare Eligibility
Earn at least
500 Shards of Madness
during the phase to qualify for its
Nightmare Progression reward.
Help Complete the Server Bar
Personal eligibility alone is not enough.
The server must also complete the
Nightmare Progression
bar before the phase ends.
Character Limit:
Up to five characters per account can claim
the regular campaign milestone rewards before most
milestone rewards change to Warden’s Caches.
Additional eligible characters can still earn global rewards.
⚔️ Corrupted Altars & Farming
Lesser Abyssal Lures
Enemies in the active zone can drop
Lesser Abyssal Lures.
- Collect 3 Lesser Abyssal Lures
- Activate the first corrupted altar
- Defeat the summoned nightmare
Greater Abyssal Lures
Enemies summoned from the first altar can sometimes drop
Greater Abyssal Lures.
- Collect 3 Greater Abyssal Lures
- Activate the second altar
- Defeat the stronger summoned nightmare
Why Altars Matter
Corrupted Altar purification is one of the strongest sources
of contribution toward the server-wide Nightmare Progression bar.
Grouping with other players makes collecting lures
and cycling altars more efficient.
Fast Routine:
Complete daily and weekly objectives first,
then join altar groups.
Fight Maxare’xek whenever the world boss appears
and secure your 500-Shard eligibility early.
🛡️ Renewed Gear & Equipment
Renewed Armor
- Renewed Head Pieces
- Renewed Chest Pieces
- Renewed Arms
- Renewed Boots
Renewed armor provides Epic equipment choices
with class- and role-specific statistics and equip powers.
Renewed Rings & Clothing
- Renewed Rings
- Renewed Shirts
- Renewed Pants
These pieces are available through Monoliths reward sources,
including Corrupted Altars and the event merchant.
Gear Tip:
Renewed gear is another build option,
not an automatic upgrade.
Compare the equip power and the percentage statistics
your role actually needs before replacing existing equipment.
🔥 Artifacts & Artifact Equipment
🔥 Burning Hope
Burning Hope is an Epic artifact earned through
successful server-wide Nightmare Progression.
- Power
- Critical Severity
- Outgoing Healing
- Combined Rating
- Artifact Power: Healing Flame
Healing Flame restores Stamina while providing
additional Outgoing Healing and Power.
Laughing Void & Voidbound Equipment
| Item | Type | Major Stats / Effect | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laughing Void | Artifact | Critical Strike, Critical Severity, Combat Advantage, Stamina Regeneration and Combined Rating | Of Minds and Madness Battle Pass |
| Voidbound Necklace | Mythic Neck | Strength, Dexterity, Combat Advantage, Critical Severity, Forte and Combined Rating | Of Minds and Madness Battle Pass |
| Voidbound Belt | Mythic Waist | Charisma, Defense, Critical Strike, Deflect and Combined Rating | Of Minds and Madness Battle Pass |
Laughing Void — Corrupting Form:
The artifact’s active power drains part of the user’s
Hit Points while temporarily increasing offensive performance.
Equipping the Voidbound Necklace and Belt with Laughing Void
enhances the full combination.
🎁 Campaign & Nightmare Rewards
Personal Campaign Rewards
- Warden’s Caches
- Insignia Powder
- Tarmalune Trade Bars
- Legendary Dragon Keys
- Mount Upgrade Tokens
- Companion Upgrade Tokens
- Renewed Equipment
- Legendary Staring Cat of Uldun-Dar companion
Nightmare Progression Rewards
- Burning Hope — Epic Artifact
- Umbral Widow — Mount
- Brimming Bountiful Bag — 90 Slots
- Peeper Keeper — Vanity Pet
Successful phase rewards are mailed automatically
to eligible participants after the phase ends.
Warden’s Cache
- Teal Diamonds
- Violet Diamonds
- Preservation Wards
- Insignia Powder
- Glyphs of Potency
- Common Enchantments
- Enhanced Motes
💀 Heroics, Named Encounters & World Boss
Corrupted Heroic Encounters
Existing Heroic Encounters can gain
madness-based modifiers and environmental hazards.
- Meteor attacks
- Fire hazards
- Movement checks
- Disease and cleanse mechanics
- Environmental effects
A September 3 adjustment reduced corrupted
Heroic Encounters to one active modifier at a time.
Maxare’xek the Mad
Maxare’xek is the roaming world boss
for Monoliths of Madness and periodically appears
in the active zone.
Defeating the boss grants a
one-hour damage buff
while inside the featured zone.
Event Named Encounter respawns were reduced from approximately
ten minutes to three minutes,
and the related weekly requirement was reduced
from 50 defeats to 30.
Dungeons & Trials
Monoliths daily and weekly objectives may require
completion of a specified dungeon or trial.
Check the currently active objective before queueing.
⚙️ Major System Changes
⚔️ Strike Combat Enchantment
The Strike slot handles the offensive half
of the new two-Combat-Enchantment system.
🛡️ Guard Combat Enchantment
The Guard slot handles the defensive Combat Enchantment,
allowing offensive and defensive Combat Enchantments
to be equipped together.
Check Every Loadout:
Review saved loadouts and make sure both
Combat Enchantment slots are configured correctly.
🎒 Stack Sizes Increased
Selected commonly stored items increased
from stacks of 99 to stacks of
999.
- Epic Collar Choice Packs
- Genie’s Gifts
- Potion of Healing Rank 10
- Potion of Healing Rank 10 +1
- Most Coalescent Motes
- Most Overloads
- Most Preservation Wards
- Most Stronghold Vouchers
- Black Pearls
✨ Coffer of Celestial Insignias
- Location: Vault of Piety
- Cost: 11 Celestial Coins
- Limit: Once per account each week
- Guaranteed: 50 Insignia Powder
- Also contains one Rare or Epic Insignia
🎮 Module 33.5 Content
🌀 Monoliths of Madness
The 12-week rotating event
spanning four older adventure zones.
🧠 Of Minds and Madness
The Module 33.5 Battle Pass
includes free and premium rewards.
- Laughing Void
- Voidbound Necklace
- Voidbound Belt
- Pika the Tressym
🐟 Wild Adventures Lockbox
Available through November 17.
- Star Angler — Mythic Mount
- Encore the Virtuoso — Mythic Companion
Live Adjustments
- Corrupted Heroics use one
Monoliths modifier at a time. - Event Named Encounters respawn
at approximately three minutes. - The weekly Named Encounter requirement
was reduced from 50 to 30. - Corrupted Altar enemies can drop
Crystallized Weave Dust.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I start Monoliths of Madness?
Master Arcanist Viorel Amakiir
in Protector’s Enclave.The active destination appears with a modified map icon.
What level do I need?
Level 20
and must have access to the currently featured adventure zone.
Why can’t I enter the active zone?
quest chain through
Sergeant Knox.
Can I progress the original campaign at the same time?
can progress while you are adventuring
in the same active zone.
How do I qualify for Nightmare Progression rewards?
500 Shards of Madness
during the phase.The server must also completely fill
the Nightmare Progression bar.
What happens if the server does not finish the bar?
for that phase is not granted.
How many characters can claim regular milestone rewards?
five characters per account
can claim the normal campaign milestone rewards
before most milestone rewards convert to Warden’s Caches.
What does Maxare’xek the Mad give me?
one-hour damage bonus
while inside the active zone.
Can I equip two Combat Enchantments now?
Strike
and
Guard
Combat Enchantment slots.
🎥 Guides & Videos
Monoliths of Madness Overview
Fast Farming Guide
Recommended Routine:
Finish daily and weekly challenges first.
Join altar groups afterward and defeat Maxare’xek
whenever the boss appears.
Secure your 500-Shard eligibility early,
but keep contributing until the server-wide bar is complete.