In Act One of Path of Exile 2, your mission is to gather spikes and drive them into a tree, which will unlock a new quest called The Mysterious Shade. This quest takes you through a graveyard in pursuit of some keys.
This guide will walk you through collecting the two keys necessary to complete The Mysterious Shade. You’ll need to defeat three bosses that share similar mechanics. First, let’s discuss how to start this quest.
Getting to the Cemetery of the Eternals
Your initial task is to locate the Grim Tangle, located near Grelwood. Once you enter the Grim Tangle, speak with Una, and she will begin to sing. After that, you can explore further into the Grim Tangle.
While in Grelwood, you might come across the Brambleghast boss. Although it’s optional for this quest, feel free to take it on if you wish.
The Grim Tangle leads you directly to the Cemetery of the Eternals. This area is relatively small, featuring tombstones, coffins, and mausoleums. Here, you’ll also find the NPC Lachlann by the waypoint. Thankfully, the waypoint, Lachlann, and the entrance to the Grim Tangle are all located close to each other.
Searching for the Count’s Grave
Before heading into the area, make sure to talk to Lachlann!
At this stage, your quest will suggest that you look for the Count’s grave beyond the Memorial Gate. The gate is located right next to Lachlann, but you can’t enter without the two necessary keys.
If you’ve spoken with Lachlann, he will have given you the quest Sorrow Among Stones, which requires you to find the Tomb of the Consort and the Mausoleum. Completing this quest is essential for finishing The Mysterious Shade; defeating both bosses will provide you with the keys needed.
Asinia, The Praetor’s Consort
Asinia can be found in the Tomb of the Consort. This area connects back to the cemetery, and you’ll need to explore to locate her boss arena. You’ll find a checkpoint right at the entrance, and the area is spacious enough to ensure you know when you’ve arrived.
In battle, Asinia uses projectiles and area-of-effect (AoE) attacks that are marked on the ground. She can also summon assistance from Draven at times, who will inflict melee damage. Once you defeat her, you can either head to Draven in the Mausoleum or return to Lachlann if you have defeated him first.
Look out for our upcoming boss guide on Asinia!
Draven, The Eternal Praetor
Draven appears in the Mausoleum, which closely resembles the Tomb of the Consort. Search the area until you find Draven’s arena (which shares the same layout as Asinia’s).
Draven focuses more on melee attacks but will occasionally summon Asinia, allowing her to unleash her AoE attacks. Once you defeat him, grab his key and exit through the portal back to the cemetery.
Stay tuned for our upcoming boss guide on Draven!
Entering the Memorial Gate
With both keys now in your possession, return to Lachlann, who instructs you to use the keys to unlock the gate and liberate his family. Since the gate is right next to him, this is an easy task. Once you enter, you’ll find that the area is small. Lachlann will step inside, and you’ll witness a brief cutscene before he transforms into the final boss of this quest.
Lachlann of Endless Lament
It’s time to confront the final boss of The Mysterious Shade. Lachlann will move quickly around the area and will deliver powerful melee hits. He will occasionally announce his attacks; for instance, when you hear him say ‘feel the tremble of the ground’, he is preparing to stomp and create a tremor aimed at you.
As the tremor hits, ghosts will rise and begin to attack. Additionally, Lachlann sends out explosive projectiles that deal significant damage. You can avoid these projectiles by moving or dodging, but be prepared for high damage if they explode near you.
Be mindful of the icy spots on the ground. Areas that look slightly dull will reduce your movement speed. These spots will eventually disappear, but while they are present, you’ll find it harder to move quickly.
A straightforward strategy to handle this fight is to circle around the main gravestone at the center, forcing Lachlann to chase you. While navigating, deal damage to him while avoiding his projectiles and icy patches.
Since being slowed down can be detrimental in this fight, try dodging over the icy patches if you need to traverse them. Overall, this fight isn’t too tough; if you successfully dealt with Asinia and Draven, you should be alright. Personally, I lost a few times to Asinia, but Lachlann was much easier to overcome.
Completing The Mysterious Shade
After taking down Lachlann, collect the loot that drops and return to the Clearfell Encampment. Here, speak with Una to witness the resurrection of the Hooded One. After your conversation with him, the quest will conclude!
The Hooded One will now be a permanent presence in the encampment. Talking to him allows you to refund passives using gold and identify gear. This refunding system for passives is quite straightforward, so if you level up and wish to change your passive choices, just return to the Clearfell Encampment and have a chat with the Hooded One.
