Module 33.5: Monoliths of Madness – Wiki Guide

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Module 33.5
Monoliths of Madness

Campaign • Gear • Rewards • Mechanics • Guides
Old places. New nightmares. Follow the madness before it moves again.
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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
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🗺️ Maps, Zones & Access

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.
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🧭 Campaign Progression

1

Start the Campaign

Speak with Master Arcanist Viorel Amakiir in Protector’s Enclave.

Travel to the zone currently marked as active.

2

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
3

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.

4

Reach Nightmare Eligibility

Earn at least 500 Shards of Madness during the phase to qualify for its Nightmare Progression reward.

5

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.
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⚔️ 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.
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🛡️ 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.
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🔥 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.
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🎁 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
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💀 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.

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⚙️ 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
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🎮 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.
Official Patch Notes
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❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I start Monoliths of Madness?
Speak with Master Arcanist Viorel Amakiir in Protector’s Enclave. The active destination appears with a modified map icon.
What level do I need?
Your character must be Level 20 and must have access to the currently featured adventure zone.
Why can’t I enter the active zone?
Complete that zone’s required introductory quest chain through Sergeant Knox.
Can I progress the original campaign at the same time?
Yes. Original campaign objectives and Monoliths objectives can progress while you are adventuring in the same active zone.
How do I qualify for Nightmare Progression rewards?
Earn at least 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?
The global Nightmare Progression reward for that phase is not granted.
How many characters can claim regular milestone rewards?
Up to 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?
Defeating Maxare’xek grants a temporary one-hour damage bonus while inside the active zone.
Can I equip two Combat Enchantments now?
Yes. Module 33.5 introduced separate Strike and Guard Combat Enchantment slots.
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🎥 Guides & Videos

📘 Downloadable Guide

Prefer to keep the complete guide outside the website?

Download M33.5 Guide

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.
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