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 the crucial reward choices. This quest, initiated by Servi in the Ziggurat Encampment, involves uncovering secrets of a rival tribe and the fate of her son.

The Slithering Dead Quest Walkthrough

1. Locate the Venom Crypts: Enter the Jungle Ruins map in Act 3 (and Act 3 Cruel). The Venom Crypts entrance is adjacent to the Waypoint, easily missed as it's not part of the main storyline. You can revisit this area even after progressing to the endgame.

2. Find the Corpse-Snake Venom: Explore the Venom Crypts thoroughly 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 Your Venom Draught Rewards

The Slithering Dead is a repeatable quest, appearing in both Act 3 and Act 3 Cruel (Act 6). Each instance offers unique rewards, making careful selection crucial. Your choice is permanent and irreversible.

Act 3 Reward Choices

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 safest and most universally beneficial choice, particularly for melee builds often facing mana issues. The Venom Draught of the Veil is a strong alternative for builds less reliant on mana regeneration, especially those susceptible to elemental ailments. The Venom Draught of Stone is the least desirable unless your build specifically struggles with stun effects.

Act 3 Cruel (Act 6) Reward Choices

The Act 3 Cruel iteration provides these alternatives:

• 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.

Recommendation: The Venom Draught of the Lost (+10% Chaos Resistance) is overwhelmingly superior for most builds due to the rarity of Chaos Resistance on gear. The only exception is builds utilizing Chaos Inoculation, which would benefit more from the attribute boost of the Venom Draught of the Sky.

Remember to carefully consider your build's strengths and weaknesses when making your selections. These choices significantly impact your character's effectiveness throughout the game.