Discover the Slithering Dead Quest in Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2: The Slithering Dead Quest - A Comprehensive Guide

This guide covers the "Slithering Dead" side quest in Path of Exile 2, detailing its walkthrough and offering advice on choosing the optimal rewards. This quest, initiated by Servi in the Ziggurat Encampment, involves uncovering the secrets of a rival tribe and the fate of her son, Apus.

The Slithering Dead Quest Walkthrough

1. Locate the Venom Crypts: Access the Jungle Ruins map in Act 3 (and Act 3 Cruel). The Venom Crypts entrance is adjacent to the Jungle Ruins Waypoint. Note that while not crucial to the main storyline, you can revisit the Venom Crypts even after progressing to the endgame.

   

2. Find the Corpse-Snake Venom: Explore the Venom Crypts until you discover a corpse within the Den of the Serpent Priestess. The corpse's location varies due to the randomized nature of PoE 2 maps, but it's always situated far from the entrance.

   

3. Return to Servi: Interact with the corpse to obtain the Corpse-Snake Venom. Return to the Ziggurat Encampment and deliver the venom to Servi to complete the quest.

Choosing the Best Venom Draught Rewards

The Slithering Dead is a repeatable quest, appearing in both Act 3 and Act 3 Cruel (Act 6). The rewards differ between acts, and your choice is permanent and irreversible.

Act 3 Rewards:

Servi presents three Venom Draught options:

• Venom Draught of Stone: 25% increased Stun Threshold.
• Venom Draught of the Veil: 30% increased Elemental Ailment Threshold.
• Venom Draught of Clarity: 25% increased Mana Regeneration Rate.

Recommendation: The Venom Draught of Clarity is generally the best choice, especially beneficial for melee builds often facing mana issues. The Venom Draught of the Veil is a strong alternative for builds less reliant on mana regeneration. The Venom Draught of Stone is the least desirable option unless stun resistance is a critical weakness for your specific build.

Act 3 Cruel (Act 6) Rewards:

The Act 3 Cruel rewards are:

• Venom Draught of the Lost: Grants +10% to Chaos Resistance.
• Venom Draught of the Sky: Grants +5 to All Attributes.
• Venom Draught of the Marshes: Grants 15% Reduced Slowing Potency of Debuffs on you.

Recommendation: The Venom Draught of the Lost (+10% Chaos Resistance) is overwhelmingly superior due to the rarity of Chaos Resistance on gear. The only exception is for builds utilizing Chaos Inoculation (CI), where the Venom Draught of the Sky (+5 to all Attributes) might be preferable.

Remember to carefully consider your build's strengths and weaknesses when making your selection. This decision significantly impacts your character's effectiveness throughout the game.