How to use the Faded Plaques in Diablo 4

Angelic character hovers above group of adventurers

(Image credit: Tyler C. / Activision Blizzard)

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The Diablo 4 Faded Plaques are just one of the many emote-based puzzles that the game loves to throw at its players. Just like the Traveler's Superstition and Keeping the Old Traditions quests, you'll find statues throughout the world, each bearing a little message: "Most of the description has been lost to time. A few barely legible words read…" followed by a phrase that clearly requires action on your part.

If you're just starting out in Sanctuary, this Legendary crafting guide should help you get better gear, and you might want to pick up a mount also. But back to the matter at hand, here's how Diablo 4 Faded Plaques work and what you need to do to resolve each riddle.

How to activate Faded Plaques

Diablo 4 Faded Plaque description — Each Faded Plaque gives a clue as to the emote you need to use (Image credit: Blizzard)

As you explore Sanctuary, from its darkest caves to its perilous mountain peaks, you'll find statues with "Faded Plaques" attached to them. Each one features a worn description, but it's not immediately clear how you're meant to interact with these messages. To activate a Faded Plaque, you have to use a specific emote, hinted at in the text passage you just read.

For example, if the barely legible passage reads: "…BID FAREWELL…all…you love…" then it wants you to use the "Bye" emote on the statue. Do this and you'll be granted a temporary boon or reward, similar to the blessings you get from shrines. If you've encountered the Secret of the Spring quest, you'll already know how much Diablo 4 loves using emotes in puzzles.

Here are all of the Faded Plaques I've encountered, which emote you need to perform in front of them, and what they give you:

Bid Farewell

Text: …BID FAREWELL…all…you love…
Emote: Bye
Reward: Speed increase

Provoke

Text:…dare…PROVOKE…ire…fate…
Emote: Taunt
Reward: Lots of health potions

Atone

Text:…ATONE…thy darkest…sins…
Emote: Sorry
Reward: Become unstoppable

Give Aid

Text:…GIVE AID…meek…powerless…
Emote: Help
Reward: Grants a barrier

Greet

Text: …GREET…death…open arms…
Emote: Hello
Reward: Makes you invisible

Embolden

Text: EMBOLDEN…soul…unrelenting evil…
Emote: Cheer
Reward: Bonus gold drop

Gratitude

Text: GRATITUDE…reward…virtuous…
Emote: Thanks
Reward: Emboldened Spirit buff

It's worth noting that you have all of these emotes from the start of the game, but you might need to cycle across to the second wheel by pressing E and using the mouse wheel to access them, or assign them from your emote menu. When you use each on the statue, also make sure you're standing in the circle just in front of it.

Sean's first PC games were Full Throttle and Total Annihilation and his taste has stayed much the same since. When not scouring games for secrets or bashing his head against puzzles, you'll find him revisiting old Total War campaigns, agonizing over his Destiny 2 fit, or still trying to finish the Horus Heresy. Sean has also written for EDGE, Eurogamer, PCGamesN, Wireframe, EGMNOW, and Inverse.