In the dangerous endgame world of Diablo 4, character progression doesn't stop at acquiring powerful legendary and unique gear. True late-game power comes from improving your equipment through the Masterworking system, a process that requires specialized crafting materials. Among these materials, Neathiron stands as one of the rarest and most valuable resources. Used for upgrading gear from Masterwork Rank 9 to Rank 12, Neathiron is reserved for only the highest tiers of progression. If you're preparing for the most difficult content in the game, understanding how to acquire Neathiron is essential.

 

This guide breaks down where Neathiron comes from, how to use it, and how your Diablo 4 Items and Diablo 4 Gold factor into the process.

 

What Is Neathiron

 

Neathiron is an advanced Upgrade Material used in the mid-to-late stages of Masterworking powerful endgame gear. During Rank 9 through Rank 12, the bonuses applied to your equipment become significantly more impactful, enhancing important affixes such as Critical Strike Chance, Vulnerable damage, Barrier generation, Cooldown Reduction, and more.

 

Because these are some of the final enhancement tiers before pushing your gear to peak performance, Neathiron is substantially harder to obtain than early-game materials like Obducite or mid-tier materials like Ingolith.

 

Its scarcity ensures that only players who have successfully conquered the toughest late-game challenges can fully optimize their builds. Neathiron represents the mastery and dedication required to create a truly endgame-ready character.

 

How to Obtain Neathiron

 

Neathiron is not found in ordinary dungeons, open-world activities, or loot drops. Instead, it is tied exclusively to Diablo 4's most advanced endgame feature: The Pit of Artificers.

 

1. Completing The Pit of Artificers (Tier 61+)

 

The primary, and currently the only, way to obtain Neathiron is by completing Tier 61 and above of The Pit of Artificers. This activity is intentionally designed to challenge even the most optimized builds in the game.

 

The Pit features:

 

A strict time limit

 

Increasingly deadly enemies

 

Highly aggressive elite packs

 

A finale boss that must be defeated within the timer

 

If you manage to complete the run before time expires, you are rewarded with various Masterworking materials. Once you reach Tier 61 and beyond, those rewards include Neathiron.

 

As the tiers increase, the difficulty ramps up significantly:

 

Enemies gain enhanced health and damage

 

Affixes become tougher to deal with

 

Crowd-control mechanics become more punishing

 

Because of this, farming Neathiron requires not only a strong build but also smart gameplay, efficient pathing, and well-optimized gear.

 

Why Neathiron Is So Important

 

Masterworking is Diablo 4's ultimate gear-enhancement system, allowing players to push their Diablo 4 items far beyond their base potential. While earlier ranks of Masterworking offer helpful improvements, Ranks 9–12 represent the turning point at which your gear begins to feel truly powerful.

 

Each upgrade using Neathiron increases the magnitude of a specific affix on the item, potentially transforming a good stat roll into an exceptional one.

 

Because each item has a limited number of Masterwork attempts before the process becomes extremely expensive, and because Neathiron is rare, players must use it wisely.

 

Neathiron Material Uses in Diablo 4

 

Once obtained, Neathiron is taken to the Blacksmith, where it is used for Masterworking your equipment from Rank 9 to Rank 12.

 

Masterworking Ranks 9–12

 

At these levels, every enhancement becomes dramatically more impactful. Examples of benefits include:

 

Increasing Critical Strike Damage into elite ranges

 

Strengthening Damage Reduction affixes for greater survivability

 

Boosting Resource Generation to enhance skill uptime

 

Improving cooldown-related stats for more frequent ability usage

 

These enhancements can make or break high-tier builds, especially for classes relying on precise synergies, such as:

 

Sorcerers with cooldown-dependent defensive skills

 

Rogues that require high attack speed for combo execution

 

Barbarians that depend heavily on Fury generation

 

Druids with resource-hungry shapeshifting builds

 

Necromancers needing peak performance from minion-oriented gear

 

Masterworking across Ranks 9–12 also lays the groundwork for finishing the final stages of the system, which require even rarer materials obtained from deeper tiers of The Pit.

 

Tips for Efficient Neathiron Farming

 

Because Neathiron is tied to only the most advanced Pit tiers, efficiency matters. Here are a few suggestions:

 

1. Use a High-Damage, High-Mobility Build

 

Speed matters in The Pit. Builds capable of clearing mobs quickly and moving fast between packs perform best.

 

2. Stack Damage Reduction

 

Pit enemies hit extremely hard. Builds with good defensive layers, Barriers, Fortify, Damage Reduction, are far more consistent.

 

3. Play With a Group

 

Grouping increases clear efficiency and helps compensate for weaknesses in your build.

 

4. Fine-Tune Gear Through Lower Masterworking Ranks

 

Before attempting Tier 61+, ensure your equipment is fully upgraded through earlier Masterwork tiers (1–8).

 

Final Thoughts

 

Neathiron represents the pinnacle of mid-late Masterworking progress in Diablo 4. Only those who conquer Tier 61 and beyond of The Pit of Artificers can acquire it, making it one of the most prestigious materials in the game. Used to enhance gear from Masterwork Rank 9 to Rank 12, Neathiron is essential for players pushing the highest levels of endgame content.

 

With well-optimized Diablo 4 Items, careful management of Diablo 4 Gold, and a strong build capable of handling extreme challenges, you'll be well-equipped to farm Neathiron and elevate your character to its ultimate potential.