Crypt (Act 1) Farming Guide - Diablo 2
How to Reach: Cold Plains (WP) > Burial Grounds > The Crypt
Zone Level: Nightmare: 37 - Hell: 83
Golden Chest: Yes
Boss/Champ Packs: 4 - 5
Hell Immunities: Lightning (Skeletons & Zombies)
The Crypt is one of the two dungeons that you'll find in the Burial Grounds, a zone at the start of the game involving the Act 1 Quest 2 boss, Blood Raven. In the same area that you kill Blood Raven you'll find the entrance to both the Mausoleum and the Crypt. These dungeons have much higher zone levels than the areas around them which makes them hot spots for farming.
Both of these dungeons have many Lightning immune monsters (every normal monster in the zone is immune to Lightning) and aren't good spots to farm for any builds that heavily depend on Lightning damage. Javazons, Lightning Sorceress' and Trap Assassins will all struggle here. Keep in mind too that since both of these dungeons are basically crypts (in the literal sense) you should expect cramped, close quarters.
Certain classes and builds like Blizzard or Fire Sorceress, Druids, Necromancers, Barbarians and Hammerdins, to name a few, will excel at this location. Many players like to farm this location early on during Hell since you come by it very early in Act 1 and it has the same area level as many Act 5 zones.
Map of The Crypt on Hell difficulty.
Inside of the Crypt along with the 2 - 5 Champ/Boss packs that have a chance to spawn here you'll also find a Golden Chest which is always guarded by a Super Unique Skeleton, Bonebreaker. The Crypt has an area level of 83 which means Bonebreaker and the other Champ/Boss packs here will be 85 and 86.
What this means is that even though the Crypt doesn't make the level 85 zones list you still have a chance of finding all but the highest Treasure Class in the game. To learn more about Treasure Class and how this all works check out my Diablo 2 Magic Find Guide for more information.
All in all, the Crypt offers a very good farming location for people who are under geared or under leveled but still want to farm on Hell difficulty. Unless you primarily use Lightning damage the enemies in The Crypt will be complete push overs for you, all you'll have to worry about are the Champ/Boss packs but even then, they're still much easier than what you'd find in similar zone levels during Act 4 or Act 5.