Diablo 4 Pilgrim’s Footsteps Side Quest Guide

If you’re grinding through Season 9 Diablo 4, one side quest you don’t want to skip is The Pilgrim’s Footsteps. It feels little, but it rewards exploration, lore, XP and loot fast. And if you’re racing to be geared for Helltide or Nightmare dungeons, you can even buy Diablo 4 items through SSEGold early on to boost your build.

I’ve been around Sanctuary more times than my hero’s died, and this quest always stands out—it’s clever, fresh, and fits the sandbox vibe of Diablo 4. Let’s break it down step by step in a veteran style walkthrough, chat about the lore, and throw in tips to keep it breezy.

Why The Pilgrim’s Footsteps Matters in Season 9

Season 9 shakes up meta builds, adds new gear sources, and nostalgia is high for optional quests. This one is short, puzzle-based, and rewards you with a chest called Boon for the Faithful, containing gold, XP, and sometimes rare gear. It doesn’t gate progress—but it adds flavor and fast gains if you know what to do.

Quest Location and How to Unlock It

The quest is found in Amber Sands, the seaside region in Northern Kehjistan. To start it:

Look for an Old Book on the ground in a ruined courtyard or near sandstone ruins.

Interact with it to loot the scroll and begin tracking "The Pilgrim’s Footsteps".

Once it’s active, you’ll see a map marker pushing you north toward a desert chapel.

Step-by-Step Walkthrough

Step 1: Read the Old Book

Reading triggers the riddle prompt:

Walk the road of faith to a lone desert chapel. Stand at Akarat’s feet, follow his example, and be rewarded.

Step 2: Head to the Chapel

Follow the waypoint north. You’ll pass some dunes and stairs—keep heading to the top of a small sacred courtyard on the chapel roof.

Step 3: Find the Statue

There’s a statue of a bearded pilgrim or priest figure (Akarat). Stand directly in front of it, within a meter or two.

Step 4: Use the Follow Emote

Open your emote menu (default “E”), assign the Follow emote to one of the slots, then execute it while standing at the statue’s feet. If done right, a chest labelled Boon for the Faithful will appear near a sarcophagus.

Tip from reddit: “Make sure you're close to the statue before using Follow. If nothing happens it’s probably a positioning issue.”

Step 5: Open the Chest

Interact with the chest to claim your loot: usually you get level‑scaled gold, a bit of XP or renown, and sometimes a common or rare item.

Rewards Overview

You get:

A decent amount of gold (based on your level)

Some XP and renown for Season Journey progress

Possibly a potion, rune, or lower-tier gear item based on RNG

It’s not a legendary drop—but at completion it’s free loot and a neat moment of exploration.

Why This Quest Still Feels Fresh

This isn’t just another kill quest. It’s a small environmental puzzle that mixes lore with gameplay. The emote-based solution gives you that classic Blizzard Easter egg feeling—kind of like Secret of the Spring but faster and more casual.

For explorers, it’s the perfect break between clearing mobs or running side dungeons. And for achievers, you check one subtle quest off your list with minimal effort.

Tips for Veteran Players

Activate it while leveling or questing in Kehjistan, it takes under five minutes if you’ve explored the area.

Use mount speed to rush across the sands quickly.

Stay alert—sometimes ambush elites spawn nearby, so take it slow if you're under-leveled.

Leave Follow emote bound if you plan on doing other puzzles or side structures later.

When You Might Need to Gear Up Fast

If you’re diving into Escalating Nightmare or pushing tiered Nightmare dungeons, gear matters. Instead of farming trinkets or crafting mats for hours, I often point players to SSEGold to buy Diablo 4 items safely and fast. That gives you quicker stats, faster clear, and more time to explore quests like The Pilgrim’s Footsteps.

Common Issues and Fixes

Chest didn’t appear? Move a bit closer to the statue and try again.

Emote not on wheel? Customize the wheel and reassign Follow.

No marker after reading the book? Open map manually or re-track the quest from journal.

Summary Table

Step Action

Start Interact with Old Book in Amber Sands

Navigate Walk north to lone desert chapel

Position Stand in front of statue of Akarat

Emote Use Follow emote to trigger chest

Reward Claim Boon for the Faithful chest

Final Thoughts

The Pilgrim’s Footsteps quest is a small but memorable side activity in Season 9 Diablo 4. Lore-rich, punishingly simple, and easy to miss if you don’t pay attention—yet rewarding enough to add to your log.

If you’re gearing up for Nightmare pulls or Helltides and want to speed up your build path, remember that services like SSEGold, where you can quickly buy Diablo 4 items, help you hit the ground running. Otherwise, take time to savor these small moments—they make Sanctuary feel alive again.

Got more questions on puzzles, Season 9 mechanics, or gear builds? Just shout.