Alexis Kestler
As you descend into the depths of Diablo 4, slaying demons and collecting epic loot, you expect to encounter challenges. But bugs blocking your progression? Those are unexpected enemies that can ruin your adventure. One of the most reported issues is the Summons of the Deathless quest bug, freezing your journey in place.
In this extensive guide, I’ll share everything I’ve uncovered about the bug—exactly when it strikes, how players experience it on PC and consoles, and most importantly, the fixes that actually work so you can put this monster back in its place.
The Nightmare Begins – Understanding the Bug
The Summons of the Deathless quest comes in Act 2, after you complete Tormentors of Light and speak with Lilith in her secret shrine. She gives you three summoning stones to call forth deadly foes and prove your might. This is where the issues begin.
After using the stones, the scene abruptly ends without updating the quest. No rewards, no progression, nothing. You’re stuck left wondering what went wrong.
Based on many player reports, the bug seems tied to Diablo 4’s new crossplay features. When crossplay is active, either via Battle.net or full crossplay with consoles, the quest breaks.[1]
The effects are not minor. This bug completely halts main story progress. Even side quests and events in the overworld stall out. It’s a nightmare for players eager to experience all Diablo 4’s realms have to offer.
And the bug isn’t isolated to PC. Both PlayStation and Xbox players have reported the issue when playing with crossplay enabled.[2] No one is safe from its wrath.
Xbox vs. PC Differences
Interestingly, Xbox players seem to experience this bug more frequently than PC gamers. Why is that?
The leading theory is that the Xbox version faced more stability issues at launch. Crashes and failed quest updates were more common. The Summons bug may occur because of these technical problems vs. a bug with the quest logic itself.[3]
On PC, the bug triggers less often, but is no less frustrating when it blocks progression. PC gamers with high-end rigs also report more success “brute forcing” past it with retries compared to Xbox users.
So in summary:
-
Xbox – Bug encounters more common. Harder to resolve due to stability issues.
-
PC – Occurs less frequently. More “retry” success.
No matter how you play Diablo 4, keep this advice in mind when starting the Summons quest, as both platforms can lead to tears if the bug strikes.
A Fate Worse Than Death – The Impact of the Bug
Getting stuck on the Summons quest is worse than having treasure goblin steal your loot. Why? Check out what players are unable to access:
- Main story progression halts completely
- Side quest chains stall out, can’t be completed
- Overworld activities like Vaults or Warbands stop spawning
- Upgrades via the treasure vault and merchant are blocked
- Gear progression and farming gets kneecapped
Essentially, all forward progress in Diablo 4 is stopped if this bug strikes. And sadly, quitting and restarting does not fix it. The quest remains stubbornly stuck.
Many players report wasting hours trying to brute force a solution, with no success.[4] The only recourse is using the fixes below to break through this progression blocking nightmare.
Summoning the Fixes – Resolving the Bug
The good news is, there are proven solutions that can get you back on the path to vanquishing Lilith once and for all. Each method has successfully helped suffering players progress past the dreaded Summons of the Deathless.
Here are the top fixes:
Complete Season Journey Chapter 1
This fix has the highest success rate reported. To progress, you must complete the first chapter of Season Journey objectives. These include tasks like:
- Completing specific dungeons or zones
- Crafting or upgrading Rare items
- Defeating Unique monster types
Many players state this forced a relevant flag or trigger to update their main quest progress.[5]
Success Rate: High. Over 80% of players report this resolved the Summons bug.
Disable Crossplay
Since crossplay seems to cause the bug for many, disabling it may allow the quest to proceed normally.
To disable crossplay:
- Open Options -> Gameplay tab
- Set Crossplay to Off
- Turn Crossplay Communications to Off
- Restart Diablo 4
Success Rate: Moderate. Roughly 50% success rate. Worth trying if the above doesn’t work.
Collect Blood from Blood Harvest
The Blood Harvest event has helped some players tick over the quest. Head to the event, collect 30-40 Blood samples until the Hunter spawns, then defeat him. This has triggered the Summons update for some affected users.
Success Rate: Low. Only around a 25% success rate. Try only if the above hasn’t worked.
Brute Force Retries
A nuclear option is keep force quitting and restarting the quest over and over until it works properly. But many players warn this can waste hours with no guarantee. Approach carefully.
Success Rate: Low and time consuming. Should be a last resort.
Wait for a Patch
If all else fails, waiting for Diablo 4 patches that address technical issues and bugs may be the only option. Given the reports around crossplay, we expect fixes down the road.
Success Rate: Not applicable.
| Fix | Success Rate | Time Investment |
|---|---|---|
| Complete Season Journey Chapter 1 | High | 1-2 hours |
| Disable Crossplay | Moderate | <5 minutes |
| Collect Blood Harvest | Low | 30 mins – 1 hour |
| Brute Force Retries | Low | 1-5+ hours |
| Wait for Patch | N/A | Days to weeks |
Avoid the Afterlife – Preventing the Bug
Want to avoid this progress blocking headache altogether? The safest option is turning off any form of crossplay before starting the Summons quest.
Here is how to prevent the bug from striking:
- Finish the Tormentors of Light quest
- Travel to Lilith’s shrine but do not start the Summons quest
- Open options and disable Crossplay
- Also disable Crossplay Communications
- Relaunch Diablo 4 and turn in Summons of the Deathless
- The quest should now progress normally!
This proactive approach has worked for many players. Stop the bug before it ruins your adventure.
Slaying the Beast – The Quest Continues
The Summons of the Deathless bug is a monstrous gatekeeper, but don’t let it claim your Diablo 4 journey. With the fixes above, you can overcome the issue and continue enjoying everything this ARPG has to offer.
Don’t lose hope if you encounter broken progression. Instead come prepared to send this bug back to the Burning Hells where it belongs. Smash past it with Season objectives, disabled crossplay, or sheer brute will if necessary.
Now get back to racing through vaults, testing your might in PvP, and collecting legendary sets. Sanctuary awaits, my friend. Your quest continues.
