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Elite Groups

Last Updated:May 26, 2023|Change Log

In the world of Sanctuary, there are some monsters that are spawned from the deepest pits of evil itself... the Elite Groups. Champions, Uniques, and their minions all gain additional Stats as well as a plethora of devastating special abilities. While more dangerous, these monsters also drop the best loot the game has to offer and give the largest Experience values. If you're going for max Level, and the rarest items, you'll need to educate yourself on these monsters of Diablo 2 Resurrected!

Champion Groups

Champion Groups spawn as 2-4 of the same monster, with special abilities and Stats based on the type of Champion they are.

Note: These monster types are called Champions, and one version of them is also called Champion.

The five types are Champion, Berserker, Fanatic, Ghostly, and Possessed. Each type has specific sets of additional Stats which drastically change the overall danger and strategies needed to bring them down. We'll cover the similarities shared between each type, and then break down the individual characteristics.

  • Champions are noticeably vibrant in their coloration, while the Ghostly type is translucent.
  • Champions have a set loot drop of 2 potions, and an item. The item drop will be Magic quality or higher, or a sum of Gold.
    • This set drop makes hunting Champion groups for items on Players 1 setting, the most efficient.
  • Champion groups spawn with Monster Level (mLVL) = Area Level +2. (Except Berserkers, which are +3)
    • This increase in mLVL affects the calculations for Attack Rating, Damage, and Character Level (cLVL) vs mLVL for Experience gain.
    • A Hell Bovine in Normal The Secret Cow Level is mLVL 28. A Berserker Hell Bovine would be mLVL 31, and all other Champion Hell Bovines are mLVL 30.
  • There is a 20% chance that an Elite Group spawns as a Champion when generated.
    • Can spawn from activating an Evil Urn, or when activating a Monster Shrine.
    • There are 8 areas of the game that always spawn a Champion group:
      • Tristram
      • Crystalline Passage (The entrance to the Frozen River)
      • Glacial Trail (At the entrance to the Drifter Cavern)
      • Drifter Cavern
      • Halls of Vaught (At the end of the passages)
      • Frozen Tundra (At the entrance to the Ancient's Way)
      • Ancient's Way (At the entrance to the Icy Cellar)
      • Icy Cellar
  • Champion groups are worth 300% Experience of the normal value the monster would be worth, except Berserkers, which are worth 500%.
  • Every Group has 1 Champion type, and the remaining 1-3 monsters independently roll which type to spawn as. You can have a group of 4 Champion type monsters.
  • When the following monsters spawn as a Champion group, they will also have 1-5 Minions with them that receive Life, Level bonuses, and Experience bonuses as if they were Unique group Minions. Because of this, these groups are excellent for Experience gain.
    • Fallen
    • Fallen Shaman
    • Scarab Demon
    • Fetish
    • Blow Pipe Fetish
    • Fetish Shaman
    • Siege Beast
    • Overseer
  • Ignore Target's Defense does not apply. Freeze length chills instead of Freezing. Stun length has a 10% chance of being applied. Open Wounds drain is 1/2 effective.
  • Willowisp monsters only receive 1/2 of any +% Damage from Champion bonuses.
  • Each Champion in a pack counts as an individual Elite monster for Elite Density values.

Champion Stats

Berserker Stats

Fanatic Stats

Ghostly Stats

Possessed Stats

Unique Groups

Unique groups spawn as 1 boss monster and a pack of 3-6 Minions of the same monster type. The boss spawns with one Elite Affix in Normal, two Affixes in Nightmare, and 3 Affixes in Hell. The affixes are selected from a list of 13, with a hidden affix available for specific Super Unique monsters. The Affixes apply their bonuses and calculate criteria in the order they generate when the monster is spawned.

  • Unique bosses are noticeably vibrant in their coloration.
  • Unique bosses have a set loot drop of 4 potions, and an item drop. The item is always of Magic quality or higher.
    • Because of this, there is little benefit to killing Unique bosses on higher Player Settings when farming for items. Only the minions in the pack have a higher chance of dropping an item, which can be of any quality.
  • Unique groups spawn with a Monster Level (mLVL) = Area Level +3.
    • This increase in mLVL affects the calculations for Attack Rating, Damage, and Character Level (cLVL) vs mLVL for Experience gain.
    • A Hell Bovine in Normal The Secret Cow Level is mLVL 28. A Unique Hell Bovine is mLVL 31.
  • There is an 80% chance that an Elite Group spawns as a Unique group when generated.
    • Can spawn from activating an Evil Urn, or when activating a Monster Shrine.
  • Unique bosses and minions are worth 500% of the normal value the monster would be worth.
  • The following monsters normally spawn with a pack of "minions" of lesser monsters that have special ability interactions. When they spawn as a Unique group, their minions spawn as the lesser monster type.
    • Fallen Shaman spawn with Fallen minions.
    • Fetish Shaman spawn with Fetish minions.
    • Overseer spawn with Enslaved minions.
  • Ignore Target's Defense does not apply to the boss, but does apply to minions. Freeze length chills instead of Freezing. Minions can be Frozen. Stun length has a 10% of being applied. Open Wounds drain is 1/2 effective.
  • Unique bosses and their minions have increased Base Life that scales with difficulty.
MonsterStatNormalNightmareHell
Boss% Base Life400300200
Minion200175150

Elite Affixes

Aura Enchanted

Cold Enchanted

Cursed

Extra Fast

Extra Strong

Fire Enchanted

Lightning Enchanted

Magic Resistant

Mana Burn

Multiple Shots

Spectral Hit

Stone Skin

Teleportation

Summary

  • Champion and Unique Groups are well worth the added danger, since you receive better Experience and chance of item drops.
  • Each type of Champion has its own strengths and weaknesses. Reading their Champion type quickly can help to ascertain the situation faster.
  • Unique groups can apply additional Stats to their minions, and can give the boss of the group challenging bonus Skills.
  • Champions and Uniques always drop items, so Player Settings do not change their chances of giving loot.

With this knowledge about Champion and Unique groups, you're now equipped to farm Experience and items more efficiently. Make sure to check their unique Stats and keep yourself out of undue danger!

Credits

Written by MacroBioBoi
Reviewed by Teo1904

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