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The Slithering Dead is a captivating side quest in Path of Exile 2, where Servi, the local guide of the Ziggurat Encampment, enlists your help to unravel the mysteries of a rival tribe and discover the fate of her son, Apus. While navigating the quest is relatively straightforward once you know the path, the real challenge lies in choosing the right reward from Servi. With three distinct rewards on offer, your choice is permanent and cannot be undone.
The Slithering Dead Quest Walkthrough (Step-by-Step)
To embark on The Slithering Dead, navigate to the Jungle Ruins map in Act 3 (and Act 3 Cruel), and seek out the entrance to the Venom Crypts. You'll find it conveniently located near the Jungle Ruins Waypoint.
The Jungle Ruins map features two exits: the Venom Crypts and the Infested Barrens. While the Infested Barrens propel you forward in the main questline, Legacy of the Vaal, the Venom Crypts are easy to miss since they're not essential for the main storyline. If you miss them during your initial playthrough, you can always revisit the Venom Crypts post-endgame.
Venture into the Venom Crypts and meticulously explore the area until you encounter a Corpse in the Den of the Serpent Priestess. The location of this den varies due to the random nature of PoE 2 maps, but it's always situated far from the entrance.
Interact with the Corpse to automatically collect the Corpse-Snake Venom. Then, teleport back to the Ziggurat Encampment and deliver the Venom to Servi, completing The Slithering Dead.
Which Venom Draught Quest Reward Should You Choose in The Slithering Dead in PoE 2
As a recurring quest, The Slithering Dead appears in both Act 3 and Act 3 Cruel, offering different rewards each time, making your decision crucial. Here's a detailed breakdown:
Slithering Dead Reward Choice in Act 3
After some dialogue, Servi presents you with three reward options. Your choice is irreversible, so consider your selection carefully:
- Venom Draught of Stone: Grants 25% increased Stun Threshold
- Venom Draught of the Veil: Grants 30% increased Elemental Ailment Threshold
- Venom Draught of Clarity: Grants 25% increased Mana Regeneration Rate
Once consumed, your choice is locked in for your character. The safest and most universally beneficial option is the Venom Draught of Clarity, especially for melee classes like Monks and Warriors who often struggle with mana regeneration.
The Venom Draught of the Veil comes in second, ideal for classes such as Witch and Sorceress who don't face mana issues but benefit from increased resistance against elemental ailments like Bleed, Poison, Chill, Freeze, Ignite, Electrocute, or Shock.
The Venom Draught of Stone is the least appealing, as it only boosts Stun Threshold, which is less common compared to other status ailments. However, some Warrior builds might find it useful for managing Stun.
Slithering Dead Reward Choice in Act 3 Cruel (Act 6)
In Act 3 Cruel, you face another set of three Venom Draughts:
- 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
The Venom Draught of the Lost stands out as the top choice, offering a significant +10% to Chaos Resistance. This is highly valuable because Chaos Resistance is harder to accumulate compared to elemental resistances, making it a crucial boost for most builds.
The only exception is for builds utilizing the Chaos Inoculation (CI) Node in the Passive Tree, which grants immunity to Chaos damage but reduces HP to 1. For these builds, the Venom Draught of the Sky (+5 to all Attributes) is a better fit.
