Diablo 4: The Serpentine Path Walkthrough
Diablo 4 has delivered a thrilling experience for players, continuing the series' legacy of dark, action-packed gameplay and rich, atmospheric storytelling. As players journey through Sanctuary, they will encounter a variety of quests that challenge their combat skills, puzzle-solving abilities, and exploration instincts. One of the standout quests that offers all of these challenges is The Serpentine Path.
In this guide, we'll walk you through The Serpentine Path quest, providing you with all the tips, tricks, and essential information to help you successfully complete it. Whether you're a seasoned Diablo player or a newcomer to the franchise, this guide will equip you with the knowledge you need to tackle one of Diablo 4's most intriguing and rewarding quests.
Quest Overview: What is "The Serpentine Path"?
The Serpentine Path is a quest in Diablo 4 that delves into the ancient, serpentine cults that have taken root in Sanctuary. This quest is crucial for uncovering more about the sinister forces at play in the game, as well as offering players a chance to explore new areas, solve complex puzzles, and battle powerful enemies.
The quest is filled with challenges, both in terms of combat and puzzle-solving, and Players have a chance to win Diablo 4 Gold, explore hidden corners of Sanctuary, and learn more about the darker forces shaping the world.
Step-by-Step Walkthrough: How to Complete "The Serpentine Path"
Step 1: Starting the Quest
To begin The Serpentine Path, head to the quest giver, an NPC that can typically be found in a town or settlement, such as the Shattered Keep or Wraithstone Village. The NPC will have a backstory about an ancient serpent artifact, which they believe has been unearthed by a cult of worshippers.
After engaging in dialogue with the NPC and accepting the quest, you'll be instructed to head to a remote location on the map—a cave system or forgotten temple that houses the artifact. The map marker will direct you toward a landmark where the cultists have set up camp.
Objective: Accept the quest and head to the designated location on the map.
Step 2: Travel to the Cultist's Cave
Once you've accepted the quest, prepare for a journey to the cultist's lair. As you make your way through the wilderness, you will likely encounter hostile creatures and cultist scouts. The area will be filled with ominous sights and dangerous enemies, such as serpentine creatures, venomous snakes, and other twisted monsters.
As you approach the location, be prepared for an ambush. Cultists and their summoned serpentine allies will attack you as soon as you get close to their lair. Be sure to clear out the enemies before proceeding further.
Tips:
Watch for Snake Traps: The cultists often use hidden traps in the environment, including poison-spitting statues and spike-filled pits. Stay vigilant to avoid falling into these traps.
Prepare for Environmental Hazards: The caves are dark, damp, and often filled with toxic fumes or dangerous terrain. Use any abilities you have that provide visibility or protection against poison damage.
Objective: Travel to the cultist's cave and defeat the enemies guarding the entrance.
Step 3: Enter the Cave and Investigate the Area
Once you've cleared the cultist guards, enter the cave system. The deeper you go, the more intense the atmosphere becomes. You'll notice serpentine motifs on the walls, ancient murals depicting dark rituals, and eerie whispers that hint at the evil lurking within.
As you explore, you'll come across multiple chambers. Some of these areas will have locked gates or puzzles you must solve to continue. The puzzles may involve aligning symbols, pressing certain pressure plates in a particular order, or using the environment to your advantage.
Objective: Navigate through the cave system, solving environmental puzzles, and clearing out enemy groups along the way.
Step 4: Solve the Ancient Serpent Puzzle
One of the key aspects of The Serpentine Path is the ancient puzzle that guards the deeper parts of the cave. This puzzle is linked to the serpentine beliefs of the cultists and will require you to decipher their symbols and align them correctly to unlock the next area.
In the puzzle room, you'll see a large serpent statue with a set of tiles around it. Each tile features a symbol or image related to serpentine gods or rituals. The goal is to align the tiles in such a way that the image forms a coherent picture of a serpent deity. The correct alignment will cause the serpent statue to activate, opening the way forward.
Tips for Solving the Puzzle:
Look for Clues in the Environment: The walls of the room often feature murals that can give you hints about how to arrange the symbols. Some tiles will glow or change color when moved into the correct position.
Try Different Combinations: If you're stuck, don't be afraid to experiment with different combinations of tiles. Some puzzles have more than one solution, but only one will open the door.
Use Your Lore Knowledge: If you've collected any lore books or journals related to the serpentine cult earlier in the game, review them as they may offer hints about the puzzle.
Objective: Solve the serpent puzzle to unlock the next area of the cave.
Step 5: Battle the Cult Leader and Serpentine Guardians
After solving the puzzle, you'll enter the final chamber of the cave. Here, you'll come face-to-face with the leader of the cult—an enigmatic figure who has been trying to summon the ancient serpentine deity. The cult leader is guarded by a group of powerful serpentine guardians, massive, snake-like beasts that will test your combat prowess.
This battle will be difficult, requiring you to manage both the cult leader's powerful spells and the summoned serpentine creatures. The cult leader will use a mix of dark magic and summoning rituals to keep you on the defensive, while the guardians will charge at you with devastating attacks.
Boss Fight Tips:
Focus on the Cult Leader: While the serpentine guardians are tough, it's important to focus your efforts on the cult leader. Defeating him will stop the summoning ritual and weaken the guardians.
Dodge the Venomous Attacks: The cult leader will periodically summon waves of poisonous projectiles that can inflict heavy damage over time. Make sure to dodge these attacks and use healing potions or abilities to stay alive.
Watch Out for Summoned Serpents: The cult leader may summon additional smaller serpentine creatures during the fight. These creatures can overwhelm you if left unchecked, so be sure to eliminate them as quickly as possible.
Objective: Defeat the cult leader and serpentine guardians.
Step 6: Recover the Artifact and Escape the Cave
Once the boss is defeated, you'll have access to the ancient artifact—the Serpent's Eye. This artifact is imbued with dark magic and has the potential to unleash catastrophic consequences if left unchecked. The cultists believed it could summon their deity, but now it is in your hands.
You will need to decide what to do with the artifact:
Destroy the Artifact: If you decide to destroy it, you will prevent the cult from ever using it again, but you'll lose any benefits it may have offered.
Take the Artifact: If you choose to keep the artifact, it may offer you new powers or serve as a key to unlocking further content or quests.
After making your decision, you must exit the cave, but the structure begins to collapse as the dark magic from the artifact destabilizes the surroundings. Be quick and head for the exit as the cave crumbles around you. You'll have to fend off any remaining enemies during your escape.
Objective: Recover the artifact and exit the cave before it collapses.
Step 7: Return to the Quest Giver
Once you escape the cave, return to the NPC who gave you the quest. Depending on the choices you made regarding the artifact, they will offer you further dialogue options. Your decision to keep or destroy the artifact may affect how the NPC reacts and what rewards you receive.
Upon completing the quest, you'll earn experience points, gold, and perhaps a piece of unique loot. You may also unlock new storylines or side quests related to the serpentine cult or the artifact itself.
Objective: Return to the NPC and complete the quest.
Rewards for Completing "The Serpentine Path"
Completing The Serpentine Path will yield several rewards:
Experience Points: Significant experience to level up your character.
Gold: A decent amount of gold to spend on gear, buy D4 materials or crafting.
Loot: Rare or unique items tied to the serpentine theme, such as serpent-themed gear or powerful magic items.
Lore: Additional lore entries about the serpent cult and its history.
Conclusion
The Serpentine Path is one of Diablo 4's most captivating and challenging side quests. It combines dark mythology, dangerous puzzles, and thrilling combat into a quest that will test both your strategic thinking and reflexes. By following this guide, you can navigate the dangerous cave systems, defeat the cultists, and make the decisions that will shape the future of Sanctuary.
With rich lore and powerful rewards, The Serpentine Path is a must-complete quest for any Diablo 4 adventurer. Good luck, and may your journey through Sanctuary be free from serpentine terrors!