Path of Exile 2: The Slithering Dead Quest - A Comprehensive Guide
This guide covers the "Slithering Dead" side quest in Path of Exile 2, focusing on its walkthrough and the crucial decision of choosing the best quest rewards. Servi, your guide in the Ziggurat Encampment, seeks your help in uncovering the secrets of a rival tribe and the fate of her son, Apus. While the quest itself is straightforward, selecting the right reward presents a challenge. You only get one choice, and it's permanent.
The Slithering Dead Quest Walkthrough
To begin, locate the Venom Crypts entrance within the Jungle Ruins map (Act 3 and Act 3 Cruel). It's situated near the Waypoint. The map features two exits: Venom Crypts and Infested Barrens. The latter continues the main "Legacy of the Vaal" questline. Note that the Venom Crypts are missable but accessible even after reaching the endgame.
Explore the Venom Crypts until you find a corpse in the Den of the Serpent Priestess (its location is randomized). Interact with the corpse to obtain Corpse-Snake Venom. Return to the Ziggurat Encampment and give the venom to Servi to complete the quest.
Choosing the Optimal Venom Draught Reward
This quest appears twice: once in Act 3 and again in Act 3 Cruel. Rewards differ each time, making each choice unique.
Act 3 Rewards
Servi offers three Venom Draughts:
- 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.
The Venom Draught of Clarity is generally the safest and most universally beneficial option, especially for melee builds often facing mana issues. The Venom Draught of the Veil is a strong alternative for builds less reliant on mana, offering better protection against elemental ailments. The Venom Draught of Stone is the least desirable, as stun resistance is less crucial than ailment resistance for most builds.
Act 3 Cruel (Act 6) Rewards
The Act 3 Cruel rewards are:
- Venom Draught of the Lost: +10% to Chaos Resistance.
- Venom Draught of the Sky: +5 to All Attributes.
- Venom Draught of the Marshes: 15% Reduced Slowing Potency of Debuffs.
Here, the Venom Draught of the Lost (+10% Chaos Resistance) is the superior choice, as Chaos Resistance is significantly harder to obtain than other resistances. The exception is builds utilizing Chaos Inoculation, which would benefit more from the Venom Draught of the Sky (+5 to all Attributes).
Remember, your choice is permanent. Carefully consider your build and playstyle before selecting your reward.
