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• The Slithering Dead Quest Walkthrough (Step-by-Step)

• Which Venom Draught Quest Reward Should You Choose in The Slithering Dead in PoE 2

The Slithering Dead is an engaging side quest in Path of Exile 2 where Servi, the knowledgeable guide of the Ziggurat Encampment, recruits your help to unravel the mysteries surrounding a rival tribe and the fate of her son, Apus. While navigating the quest is relatively straightforward once you pinpoint the correct locations, the real challenge lies in selecting the right rewards from Servi. She offers three distinct rewards, but you can only choose one, and this decision is irreversible.

The Slithering Dead Quest Walkthrough (Step-by-Step)

To embark on The Slithering Dead, venture into the Jungle Ruins map in Act 3 (and Act 3 Cruel) and locate the entrance to the Venom Crypts, conveniently situated next to the Jungle Ruins Waypoint.

The Jungle Ruins map offers two exits: the Venom Crypts and the Infested Barrens. The latter advances the main questline, Legacy of the Vaal, while the Venom Crypts entrance can be easily overlooked as it's not essential for the main storyline. Thankfully, you can revisit the Venom Crypts even after reaching the endgame if you missed it initially.

Once inside the Venom Crypts, explore thoroughly until you encounter a Corpse in the Den of the Serpent Priestess. The precise location varies due to the randomized nature of PoE 2 maps, but it's always distant from the entrance.

Interact with the Corpse to automatically collect the Corpse-Snake Venom. Return to the Ziggurat Encampment and deliver the Venom to Servi to successfully complete The Slithering Dead.

Which Venom Draught Quest Reward Should You Choose in The Slithering Dead in PoE 2

Encountered twice in Path of Exile 2—once in Act 3 and again in Act 3 Cruel (Act 6)—The Slithering Dead offers different rewards each time, requiring careful consideration for your choice.

Slithering Dead Reward Choice in Act 3

After a brief conversation, Servi presents you with three options for quest rewards. Choose wisely, as this decision is final:

• Venom Draught of Stone: Grants 25% increased Stun Threshold. This is the least appealing option, as it only mitigates the Stunned status effect, which is less common than other ailments. However, it could be beneficial for certain Warrior builds.

• Venom Draught of the Veil: Grants 30% increased Elemental Ailment Threshold. A strong choice for classes like Witch and Sorceress, who are less concerned with mana issues and benefit from increased resistance to elemental ailments such as Bleed, Poison, Chill, Freeze, Ignite, Electrocute, or Shock.

• Venom Draught of Clarity: Grants 25% increased Mana Regeneration Rate. This is the safest and most universally useful reward, particularly for melee characters like Monks and Warriors, who often struggle with insufficient mana regeneration during crucial moments.

Slithering Dead Reward Choice in Act 3 Cruel (Act 6)

In this instance, Servi again offers three different Venom Draughts:

• Venom Draught of the Lost: Grants +10% to Chaos Resistance. This is the top choice for most builds due to the rarity of Chaos Resistance on gear. It's an invaluable boost for almost any character.

• Venom Draught of the Sky: Grants +5 to All Attributes. This is a good alternative for builds utilizing the Chaos Inoculation (CI) Node in the Passive Tree, which grants immunity to Chaos damage at the cost of reducing HP to 1, often paired with Eternal Youth to enable Life Flasks to restore Energy Shield instead of Life.

• Venom Draught of the Marshes: Grants 15% Reduced Slowing Potency of Debuffs on you. While this can be useful, it's generally less impactful compared to the other two options, making it the least preferred choice in most scenarios.