Nihlathak and Key of Destruction

Halls of Vaught, reached through Nihlathak’s Temple in Act V after rescuing Anya; use the red portal in Harrogath.

Before you go

Reach Hell difficulty and rescue Anya to open the route.
Be able to survive Nihlathak’s Corpse Explosion and the enemies in the halls.
Bring ranged damage, mobility, or a sturdy build that can finish the fight safely.

Enter Anya’s red portal from Harrogath to reach Nihlathak’s Temple.
Proceed through Halls of Anguish and Halls of Pain to reach Halls of Vaught.
Search the randomized halls for Nihlathak’s chamber, watching for dangerous corpse piles.
Kill him from a safe distance or use a durable approach that limits Corpse Explosion risk.
Collect any Key of Destruction and return to town to store it with the other keys.
Save and exit to reset the route if more keys are needed.

Keep distance from corpses when Nihlathak is alive; his explosion can make a seemingly won fight dangerous.
Use the fastest route your character can safely manage, rather than rushing blindly through the halls.

Repeat for as many keys as your portal plan requires; Nihlathak’s key is not a guaranteed drop.

Fighting beside corpses without a plan; reposition or kill from range to reduce Corpse Explosion danger.
Assuming the same hall route every game; the path to the target can vary.
Opening a portal before key sets are organized; store each type and assemble complete sets deliberately.

Stop when you have enough Destruction keys for your planned attempts, or switch to another key boss if that key type is already covered.

Sources & fact checks

Open a guide to find other locations and see what the item is used for.

Runes, keys and crafting supplies

Nihlathak can supply the Key of Destruction, completing the three-key set required for mini-Uber portals.