This guide covers the Path of Exile 2 side quest, "The Slithering Dead," detailing its walkthrough and offering advice on reward selection.
Quick Links
- The Slithering Dead Quest Walkthrough (Step-by-Step)
- Choosing Your Venom Draught Reward in The Slithering Dead
"The Slithering Dead" involves assisting Servi in the Ziggurat Encampment to uncover secrets about a rival tribe and her missing son, Apus. While the quest is straightforward, choosing the right reward presents a challenge. Only one of three rewards can be selected, and this choice is permanent.
The Slithering Dead Quest Walkthrough (Step-by-Step)
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 Venom Crypts are optional; you can revisit them later if missed.
Explore the Venom Crypts until you find a corpse in the Den of the Serpent Priestess (location varies due to map randomization).
Interact with the corpse to obtain Corpse-Snake Venom. Return to Servi in the Ziggurat Encampment and give her the venom to complete the quest.
Choosing Your Venom Draught Reward in The Slithering Dead
This quest appears in Act 3 and Act 3 Cruel, offering different rewards each time. The choice is irreversible.
Act 3 Rewards:
- 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: Venom Draught of Clarity is generally the best option, especially for melee builds often struggling with mana. Venom Draught of the Veil is a strong alternative for builds less reliant on mana. Venom Draught of Stone is the least desirable unless specifically needed to mitigate stun effects.
Act 3 Cruel (Act 6) Rewards:
- 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.
Recommendation: Venom Draught of the Lost (+10% Chaos Resistance) is usually superior due to the rarity of Chaos Resistance on gear. Only builds utilizing Chaos Inoculation and Eternal Youth might prefer Venom Draught of the Sky for the attribute boost.
