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The Slithering Dead is a Path of Exile 2 side quest in Act 3 (and Act 3 Cruel). Servi, the guide in the Ziggurat Encampment, needs your help uncovering secrets about a rival tribe and the fate of her son, Apus. The quest itself is straightforward, but choosing the right reward can be tricky. You only get one choice, and it's permanent.
The Slithering Dead Quest Walkthrough (Step-by-Step)
To begin, enter the Jungle Ruins map in Act 3 (and Act 3 Cruel). Find the Venom Crypts entrance next to the Waypoint.
The Jungle Ruins has two exits: Venom Crypts and Infested Barrens. The Infested Barrens continue the main Legacy of the Vaal questline, while the Venom Crypts are optional. You can return to the Venom Crypts later if needed.
Explore the Venom Crypts until you find a corpse in the Den of the Serpent Priestess (its location is random).
Interact with the corpse to obtain Corpse-Snake Venom. Return to the Ziggurat Encampment and give the venom to Servi to complete the quest.
Which Venom Draught Quest Reward Should You Choose in The Slithering Dead in PoE 2
The Slithering Dead is a repeatable quest, appearing in Act 3 and Act 3 Cruel, with different rewards each time.
Slithering Dead Reward Choice in Act 3
Servi will offer three Venom Draughts; choose wisely, as your decision is final.
| Venom Draught | Effect |
|---|---|
| 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 (increased mana regeneration) is generally the safest and most universally useful choice, especially for melee builds.
Venom Draught of the Veil (increased elemental ailment threshold) is a good alternative for classes that don't struggle with mana.
Venom Draught of Stone (increased stun threshold) is the least desirable option unless your build specifically needs stun resistance.
Slithering Dead Reward Choice in Act 3 Cruel (Act 6)
Three different Venom Draughts are available.
| Venom Draught | Effect |
|---|---|
| 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 |
The Venom Draught of the Lost (+10% Chaos Resistance) is usually the best choice because Chaos Resistance is difficult to obtain.
The exception is builds using Chaos Inoculation, which makes characters immune to Chaos damage but reduces HP to 1. For these builds, Venom Draught of the Sky (+5 to all attributes) is preferable.
