How to solve the Diablo 4 Secret of the Spring quest riddle

Diablo 4 secret of the spring player character looking into thermal spring water
(Image credit: Blizzard Entertainment)

The Diablo 4 Secret of the Spring side quest begins when you discover a crumpled note tucked away, which bears a riddle that may not immediately make sense to you. The solution isn't clear if this is the first time you've experienced a challenge of this type, as it involves using emotes and while you're clearly directed to a specific Diablo 4 location, what you have to do next isn't immediately obvious. Even then, once you solve the riddle there's still another step required that you might not be aware of. So to help you through all of that, here's what to do to complete the Secret of the Spring quest in Diablo 4.

How to start the Diablo 4 Secret of the Spring quest

How to start the Diablo 4 Secret of the Spring quest

(Image credit: Blizzard Entertainment)

To start the Diablo 4 Secret of the Spring quest head to the Forsaken Quarry just northeast of the Cathedral of Light at Kyovashad. Climb the ladder south of the dungeon entrance here and Interact with the Discarded Note on the platform. This will provide you with the following cryptic riddle upon closer examination:

"Beacon of warmth in winter's embrace,
patience rewarded by nature's own grace."

How to complete the Secret of the Spring quest in Diablo 4

(Image credit: Blizzard Entertainment)

Examining the Discarded Note will start the Secret of the Spring side-quest you'll need to solve the note's riddle. A small circular area will be marked on your map to the northeast of your location, which is revealed to be named the Trough of Orobas when you arrive there, and features a small spring.

Setting the wait emote for the Diablo 4 Secret of the Spring quest

(Image credit: Blizzard Entertainment)

Once you've found the spring, you need to solve the riddle to reveal the secret. This isn't the first mission you'll find like this but is probably the first, and to complete the Diablo 4 Secret of the Spring quest you'll have to perform a particular emote 'patience rewarded' line means the Wait emote is required.

However, it isn't assigned to the Emote Wheel by default, so hold up on the d-pad to access the Emote Wheel then follow the prompt to Customize, before scrolling down the list to the Wait emote and interacting with it to Assign. You can then drop it into an empty slot on the wheel, or overwrite one of the other existing emotes.

Using the wait emote to complete the Diablo 4 Secret of the Spring quest

(Image credit: Blizzard Entertainment)

Exit out of that menu and Save Changes if you haven't already, then hold up on the d-pad again to bring up the Emote Wheel and select the Wait emote when you're stood near the spring. A Buried Chest will immediately emerge from the ground on the northeast edge of the pool, and interacting with it will complete the Secret of the Spring quest. As well as Renown, XP, and Gold, you'll also receive a couple of Rare and Magic Crafting Materials, which is a nice way to wrap up this side mission and move on.

There are lots of other side quests and activities that require the use of specific emotes, such as the Reject the Mother, Keeping the Old Traditions, and Traveler's Superstition side quests, along with the Faded Plaques found in Sanctuary. So if you find a riddle, make sure you study it carefully and check if one of your emotes sounds like it could fit in.

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Iain Wilson
Guides Editor

Iain originally joined Future in 2012 to write guides for CVG, PSM3, and Xbox World, before moving on to join GamesRadar in 2013 as Guides Editor. His words have also appeared in OPM, OXM, PC Gamer, GamesMaster, and SFX. He is better known to many as ‘Mr Trophy’, due to his slightly unhealthy obsession with amassing intangible PlayStation silverware, and he now has over 600 Platinum pots weighing down the shelves of his virtual award cabinet. He does not care for Xbox Achievements.