The Slithering Dead is a side quest in Path of Exile 2. Servi, the guide in the Ziggurat Encampment, needs your help uncovering secrets about a rival tribe and the fate of her son, Apus. While the quest itself is straightforward, choosing the right reward can be tricky. You only get one choice, and it's permanent.
To begin The Slithering Dead, head to the Jungle Ruins map in Act 3 (and Act 3 Cruel). Find the Venom Crypts entrance—it's near the Jungle Ruins Waypoint.
The Jungle Ruins map 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. Don't worry if you miss it initially; you can return later.
Explore the Venom Crypts until you find a corpse in the Den of the Serpent Priestess. Its location is random, but always far from the entrance.
Interact with the corpse to obtain Corpse-Snake Venom. Return to the Ziggurat Encampment and give the venom to Servi to complete the quest.
The Slithering Dead is a repeatable quest, appearing in Act 3 and Act 3 Cruel. Rewards differ each time, making the choice crucial.
Servi will offer three rewards. Choose wisely—your decision is final. The options are:
Venom Draught of Stone | Venom Draught of the Veil | Venom Draught of Clarity |
---|---|---|
Grants 25% increased Stun Threshold | Grants 30% increased Elemental Ailment Threshold | Grants 25% increased Mana Regeneration Rate |
The Venom Draught of Clarity (25% increased Mana Regeneration Rate) is generally the best option, especially for melee builds often lacking mana regeneration.
Venom Draught of the Veil (30% increased Elemental Ailment Threshold) is a strong alternative, particularly for classes less concerned with mana.
Venom Draught of Stone is the least desirable, as increased Stun Threshold is less impactful than ailment resistance.
Three different Venom Draughts are available here:
Venom Draught of the Lost | Venom Draught of the Sky | Venom Draught of the Marshes |
---|---|---|
Grants +10% to Chaos Resistance | Grants +5 to All Attributes | Grants 15% Reduced Slowing Potency of Debuffs on you |
The Venom Draught of the Lost (+10% to Chaos Resistance) is usually the superior choice due to the rarity of Chaos Resistance on gear.
The exception is builds using Chaos Inoculation (CI), which makes Chaos damage irrelevant but reduces HP to 1. For these builds, Venom Draught of the Sky (+5 to all Attributes) is preferable.