Diablo 4 Mumbling Obols and Whispering Keys Explained

Although Diablo 4 has only just been released in a beta phase, there is already plenty of new content for fans to check out. There’s a new open world to explore, unlock and try skill trees, and slay hordes of enemies. While all of this is technically new to all players, Diablo veterans will no doubt understand most of what’s going on around them. However, there are a few brand new mechanics and features in Diablo 4 that every player needs to become familiar with. One of these new features is an element called Mumbling Obole.

Players may realize they’ve earned some of this mysterious currency, but they may not understand exactly how they got it or what to spend it on. We’re going to unravel the mystery of the murmuring obols so players in Sanctuary have one less thing to worry about.

The purpose of mumbling obols

There is currently only one use for the murmuring obols in the Diablo 4 beta. Players can visit a curio shop, denoted by the bank icon on your map, and spend their mumbling obols on some mysterious items. Articles are divided by category, and the categories are as follows:

• All weapons of your class (e.g. casters only see focus, wand, staff)
• Lid
• tunic
• Gloves
• Boots
• trousers
• Whispering Key

Aside from the Whispering Key, players can spend varying amounts of Mumbling Oboles for a chance to earn a rare item in each of the specific categories. For example, if you need a new staff for your wizard character, you can spend 75 mumbling obols in the Curio Supplier’s shop. Then you have a chance to be rewarded with a rare staff. Note, Just because you spend the Obole doesn’t mean you’ll get a rare item. You only have one chance to be rewarded with an item of this rarity. If you’re unlucky, you’ll just get a common item, which is probably no better than what you currently have equipped. It’s essentially Diablo 4-style gambling.

All categories have different prices, with armor pieces costing less than weapons. However, the shop will only have weapons based on your current class, so you cannot buy a staff or wand as a barbarian, for example. However, if you’re lucky enough to have scoured the market for a new tunic or melee weapon, you can try your luck at the oddity purveyor.

As for that Whispering Key, this item is only used to open silent chests that are few and far between on the map. Although, as far as we can tell, the Curio Supplier’s store is the only place that sells these keys. They cost 20 Obols each, and you’re guaranteed to get one if you buy it.

You can see exactly how many mumbling obols you have in your inventory by opening your character menu (C on the keyboard) and looking at the bottom of the window. There are two purple circles to the right of where your gold is displayed, and a number to the right of them. This number is your current amount of obols.

How to get mumbling obols

If you’re in the mood to gamble but don’t have enough mumbling obols for the weapon you want, Diablo 4 gives you a try to acquire some. So far in the beta, the only way to get the currency is through in-game events.

These are denoted by large red circles on your mini-map and usually involve killing enemies for a set amount of time. We encountered several events during our time with the beta, one requiring us to fight off enemies to save a woman hiding under a cart, and another requiring us to slay demons to stop a demonic ritual. After you complete the event, a treasure chest will appear in the center of the event area. Open the chest and a solid number of mumbling obols will spawn as loot.

The usual reward is around 20 Murmuring Obols along with gold and other gear and weapons. The events themselves don’t last more than a few minutes, so it’s worth completing them if you can find them. To learn more about the new action RPG, don’t miss our Diablo 4 Class Guide.