Act 1 Campaign Secrets Guide
Last Updated:December 21, 2024|Changelog
Act 1 of Path of Exile 2's campaign features many secret Rare monsters, loot caches and treasure stashes. Many of these exploration encounters in the Ogham region are designed with guaranteed rewards like Uncut Skill Gems, Uncut Support Gems, much-needed gear upgrades, crafting Currency and piles of Gold. There are also several major permanent character buffs to be found such as Passive skill points and a Maximum Life increase! This guide shows you where to find each of these hidden secrets scattered around the Act 1 map — and which of them are worth finding.
Path of Exile 2 is currently in early access, this means rapid development including iteration on the campaign. Be sure to pin this page to be notified of any updates to the guide.
There are many more hidden encounters and permanent buffs to discover in the previous Acts! Make sure to check out the Act 2 Guide and the Act 3 Guide!
Finding Hidden Encounters on the World Map
Many hidden encounters can be located on Path of Exile 2's Act 1 world map after they have been discovered or after the zone has been explored. The ones with a + symbol represent major encounters, which give permanent character buffs and are not to be missed. For a list of only the permanent character buffs in the campaign check out our guide here.
The markers without + symbols point out some of the other loot locations and special encounters — but not all of them. This guide details the marked and unmarked secrets in Act 1 that give loot such as Gold, Uncut Gems, crafting Currency and gear.
Checkpoints also appear near many of the hidden encounters, which can be a good way to spot them. However, take note that there are many Checkpoints randomly positioned around the map that are not tied to events. Look around Checkpoints for anything unusual looking and use the reference images and descriptions in this guide to aid in your search.
From this point onwards there are spoilers for many things in the campaign — bosses, zones, secrets and easter eggs. Spoiler tags are not used as it is essentially all spoilers, so proceed with caution!
Act 1 Secrets Quick Guide
Within the spoiler is a quick list of the hidden loot, permanent buffs and secret encounters in Path of Exile 2's Act 1. Go to the specific section for each Zone for more information. The list is color-coded to help distinguish reward and encounter types:
- Zone Name
- Encounter Name or Description: Randomized Loot / Guaranteed Drop / Permanent Unlock or Buff (Difficulty Mode: Normal / Cruel)
Note: Unless otherwise stated, guaranteed drops are one time only, even if the event can be repeated. Most guaranteed drops are available in both Normal and Cruel but the specific reward often changes.
ACT 1 EXPLORATION QUICK GUIDE
Clearfell
Beira of the Rotten Pack: +10% Cold Resistance
Path of Exile 2's first major zone, Clearfell, is home to an important side-boss: Beira of the Rotten Pack. She is located in a ritual site near the center of Clearfell, easy to locate thanks to her singing. Beira is challenging when you fight her immediately due to large amounts of Cold damage and the threat of her packs of undead wolves surrounding you. Wait until you loot the Abandoned Stash and level up to make the fight easier. Check out our campaign boss guide for more tips on how to defeat Beira and other Act 1 bosses!
Defeating Beira of the Rotten Pack grants the player with a permanent +10% Cold Resistance buff in Normal and again in Cruel difficulties for a total of 20% increased Cold Resistance!
Abandoned Stash: Uncut Skill Gem
Clearfell also contains the Abandoned Stash located in an area marked as the Mysterious Campsite.
- The Abandoned Stash drops a guaranteed Uncut Skill Gem, important because it allows you to quickly expand your skill options in the early game.
The area is easy to locate thanks to a campfire, the Notice of Criminality lore object and a nearby Checkpoint.
Many of these events are repeatable when you enter a fresh instance of their zone. Most guaranteed rewards, however, can only be obtained once. Randomized loot, like gold and gear from Rare Chests can usually be obtained multiple times when you reset the zones. Also note that Early Access features Cruel Difficulty, which repeats Acts 1, 2 and 3 a second time. Most events are available again in Cruel, but many of the rewards change (this guide notes changes where applicable).
The Grelwood
The Witch and Brambleghast: Uncut Support, Skill Gem and Flasks
The Grelwood is a large, darkly forested zone that features several special encounters. Areagne, Forgotten Witch is a non-random, unique Rare monster that is actually hand-crafted by the developers. Areagne is located at her cauldron inside the Witch Hut, and she attacks when you approach her.
- Areagne drops Uncut Support Gem, which is a potent upgrade at this point in the game.
- Activate the Cauldron in the Witch Hut to loot a Medium Life Flask and a Medium Mana Flask. These are helpful if you haven't found an upgrade over the starting flasks by this point.
- In Cruel difficulty the Cauldron instead drops a Gargantuan Life Flask and aGargantuan Mana Flask.
Brambleghast is a Unique side boss located in a bramble arena inside of the Grelwood.
- Once defeated, it drops an Uncut Skill Gem in addition to random boss loot.
- Building out your skill list as quickly as possible in the early game can help immensely in Path of Exile 2's difficult campaign, so these early encounters — even boss fights such as this — are well worth the effort.
- The bramble walls of the arena are distinct from the rest of the zone on the minimap, so keep an eye on it to locate Brambleghast easily.
- WARNING! It is possible to enter this zone early and stumble across this boss before you are ready. Brambleghast also seals you into it's arena when you enter! Be careful in Hardcore modes as it's potentially a dangerous fight. Check out the Campaign boss guide for extra tips!
Cemetery of the Eternals and Tombs
Ancient Ruins Grave Site: A Random Ring
Within the Cemetery of the Eternals is the location marked as Ancient Ruins, which is a Sarcophagus you can disturb for a random Ring. Getting any jewelry, even a simple Iron Ring, this early in the game is impactful. Use an Orb of Transmutation and Orb of Augmentation, if able, to attempt to get helpful affix modifiers. Consider using a Regal Orb to turn it into a Rare if you manage to obtain the following:
- Any added damage modifiers.
- Increased Mana Regeneration.
- Maximum Life.
- Resistances.
- Strength (for additional Life)
- Dexterity or Intelligence, if you need them for your build.
A Ring with a two or three of these affixes could last multiple Acts of the Campaign. Learn more about crafting in our guide here.
The Ancient Ruins are available in Cruel Difficulty, where they drop a greater variety of higher-level Rings. This includes Gold Rings and the resistance base-types, which are potentially quite useful.
Mausoleum of the Praetor: Forgotten Riches
The Cemetery of the Eternals features two large interior tombs you travel to for Quests. One of these is the Mausoleum of the Preator, which contains the hidden treasure trove: Forgotten Riches. Look for a checkpoint and a large sarcophagus with a hidden switch on a nearby pillar. Once opened, you can descend to loot many piles of Gold and multiple Rare Chests. This encounter does not have any guaranteed items, just random gold and loot. It is repeatable by resetting the zone via a waypoint — control + click a location on the map to bring up the instance menu. It is also available in Cruel Difficulty.
Tomb of the Consort: Embattled Trove Ambush
This guide to finding hidden encounters in PoE 2 also includes ones to avoid! The Embattled Trove is an example of this. The ghostly chest lures you in only to be ambushed by a Rare monster lying in wait. The monsters can drop some loot but the encounter is primarily designed as a trap.
The narrow corridor may cause you to become trapped right next to a Rare monster with nowhere to retreat to.
The Hunting Grounds
Ritual Site: +30 Spirit
The Hunting Grounds features a large Ritual Altar, which leads to the quest to speak to Finn and investigate Freythorn. Ensure you follow this side quest as it results in a +30 Spirit buff and an Uncut Spirit Gem. The Ritual Altar itself can contain many Rare monsters and is a good source of loot. You will face the King in the Mists at the end of this questline, a very tough Act 1 boss — check out the guide for it here.
The Crowbell: +2 Passives
The Crowbell boss fight also resides here, in a side area that is identifiable by a pit arena and a wooden swing gate. This side boss grants +2 passive points, so ensure you do not miss it.
Dryadic Ritual: Uncut Support
The Dryadic Ritual is the final hidden encounter in the Hunting Grounds. Several tree creatures channel a ritual that summons a large Rare monster. The first time you kill this Rare it drops a guaranteed Uncut Support Gem. This encounters is also available in Cruel Difficulty, where it drops a higher level Uncut Support Gem.
Freythorn and the King in the Mists boss fight is vitally important in Normal Difficulty as it provides you with an Uncut Spirit Gem and +30 Spirit! Currently in Cruel Difficulty, however, the fight does not give any major rewards. You can still loot the boss, select the Ritual rewards and select a Charm from Finn in town but compared to the time, effort and danger of this zone it is not worth completing in it's current state.
Ogham Farmlands and Village
Crop Circle: Uncut Skill
The Crop Circle in Ogham Farmlands is distinctively creep — and for good reason! Step into the circle and you are ambushed by a pack of hungry dogs lead by a Rare Feral Mutt. While not individually threatening, these enemies are fast and surround you quickly so be prepared with an area of effect or escape skill. The first time you kill the Rare Feral Mutt it drops an Uncut Skill Gem.
Don't Forget Una's Lute!
Una's Lute is available inside one of the village huts in Ogham Farmlands. Turning it into Una in town grants you +2 Passive Skill Points!
Renley's Workshop Tools
Unlock the Salvage Bench in town by gathering Smithing Tools for Renley in Ogham Village. Look for a narrow entrance with a checkpoint and a blacksmith's anvil sign. The Salvage Bench allows you to destroy socketed items for Artificer's Shards and quality items for quality Currency, such as Blacksmith's Whetstones.
In order to have enough resources as you progress you must use the Salvaging Bench on most socketed items and all quality weapons and armour that you don't plan to use during your first playthrough. It's a good idea to start early.
Collecting the Smithing Tools unlocks the Salvage Bench in all future towns. The game gives multiple options to collect these tools, including the Tinker Tools in Act 2's Mawdun Quarry. If you obtain them here you can ignore all future tools locations as they won't drop anything.
Manor Ramparts and Ogham Manor
The Gallows: Uncut Support
Midway through the Manor Ramparts there are a set of Gallows with the Count's Decree nailed to it. There is a Checkpoint nearby to help identify the location. Climb the stairs and click on the Hanged Man to cut them down.
Doing so earns you an Uncut Support Gem, every additional support is a big deal as you move through the early game so don't miss it!
Ogham Manor: Candlemass and Lore
In the first floor of Ogham Manor is the Psalm of Madness, which activates the Candlemass boss fight when read. Defeating Candlemass in Normal Difficulty grants a permanent buff of +20 Maximum Life. Defeating it again in Cruel Difficulty grants a permanent buff of 8% increased Maximum Life!
Hidden Lore! There are several hidden rooms in the Ogham Manor. These contain lore insights into the Count's descent into madness, but minimal loot.
Summary
Act 1 in the Path of Exile 2 campaign features a wide array of important hidden encounters designed to empower your character as you need it. Take advantage of exploring and finding these whenever you need a power boost and ensure you don't miss the permanent buffs!
- Ensure you claim the +10% Cold resistance buff from Beira of the Rotten pack in Act 1 Normal and Cruel for a total of +20%!
- Don't miss early chances to get Uncut Skill and Support gems such as the Abandoned Stash in Clearfell and Areagne in the Witch Hunt in The Grelwood. These make your campaign progression much more smooth.
- Jewellery is hard to obtain in Act 1 Normal, so take advantage of the random ring in the Ancient Ruins Grave Site.
- Take advantage of the Forgotten Riches in the Mausoleum of the Praetor for a helpful boost of gold and loot.
- Ensure you obtain the +30 Spirit buff and your first Uncut Spirit Skill gem from Freythorn by first completing the ritual in the hunting grounds.
- Also get your +2 Passive Skill Points from Crowbell in the Hunting Grounds.
- Don't miss Una's Lute in the Ogham Farmlands for another +2 passive skill points.
- Grab Renley's Tools from Ogham Village to unlock the salvage bench.
- Don't miss the bonus life from Candlemass in Ogham Manor in Normal and Cruel!
- The Act 2 Campaign Secrets Exploration Guide
- The Act 3 Campaign Secrets Exploration Guide
- Check out the full campaign guide for quest and story progression.
- Campaign Boss Fights Guides for help if you get stuck:
- Act 1 Bosses Guide
- Act 2 Bosses Guide
- Act 3 Bosses Guide
- The short list of permanent stat buffs in the campaign.
Credits
Written by: ZIGGYD
Reviewed by: Crouching_Tuna, Jerrin, Tenkiei