Act II — Vastiri to Dreadnought

Patch 0.5 · Lvl 14–29 · All classes · Optimal routing
Patch 0.5 · Return of the Ancients Ships May 29, 2026. Six endgame storylines (Origins of Divinity · Delirium · Breach · Ritual · Fate of the Vaal · The Runes of Aldur) + revamped Abyss + Masters of the Atlas — read the endgame guide →

Permanent Rewards

+4 Weapon Set Skill Points
+10% Lightning Resistance
Charm/Mana Recovery (choice)
⚡ First Ascendancy

Routing Notes

  • ◆ Run Mastodon Badlands BEFORE Keth → Kabala drops Lvl 7 gem (huge for all classes)
  • ◆ Skip Balbala in Traitor's Passage — kill 2 vultures in Deshar for backup Djinn Barya at Lvl 28
  • ◆ Ascend at Lvl 28 — manually pick the Lvl 28 Barya in trial entry, not the Lvl 22 default
  • ◆ Trial preference: Ritual > Chalice > Hourglass > Gauntlet
  • ◆ Aim Lvl 29 for Jamanra; Lvl 30 entering Act III

⚡ Speedrun Tips (Community)

  • ◆ Delay Ascension to Lvl 28. Farm a Djinn Barya from the Watchful Twins in Deshar, then ascend — better resistances available at trial end, and you skip the highly mobile Balbala fight. This is the speedrun meta.
  • ◆ Pick a leveling Ascendancy. Demon Form (Infernalist), Smith of Kitava, Sorcery Ward (Mercenary) etc. give flat damage/survivability without needing specific items. You can re-spec endgame.
  • ◆ Buy fewer times, more efficiently. Expect to complete an entire act without weapon upgrades — when you do find one early, ignore vendors until the next act starts.
  • ◆ Use a leveling item filter with aggressive base highlighting for your build. Hide junk; surface upgrades only.
Vastiri Outskirts Lvl 14–15
Talk to The Hooded One
Kill Rathbreaker
TP back to start of zone
Talk to Zarka
Enter The Ardura Caravan
The Ardura Caravan TOWN
Talk to Hooded One + Sekhema Asala (×2)
Talk to Farrow → accept Quest 2 (Runic Alloys) Unlocks 13 Runic Alloy currencies via Remnants
0.5 NewFarrow is the new league NPC. Completing his Act 2 quest unlocks the 13 Runic Alloy currencies — earned via Remnant encounters.
Use Desert Map → travel to Halani Gates
Enter Halani Gates → talk to Sekhema Asala
Back to Caravan → talk to Sekhema Asala
Travel to Mawdun Quarry
Mawdun Quarry Lvl 15
(Opt) Faridun War Cache near checkpoint Artificer's Orb
Enter Mawdun Mine (follow checkpoints)
Mawdun Mine Lvl 16
Kill Rudja
Talk to Risu in cage
TP back to town
The Ardura Caravan
Talk to Risu + Sekhema Asala
Travel to Traitor's Passage
Traitor's Passage Lvl 17
0.5 PathingYou no longer need to visit the Halani Gates to access Traitor's Passage once Risu is freed — the routing below already reflects this shortcut.
Interact with Ancient Seal door + Runic Seals
(Opt) Kill Balbala, the Traitor Djinn Barya
Most builds skip — get backup Barya from Deshar vultures (less mobile fight, better XP at Lvl 28)
(Opt) Bell Chest in dead end Random loot
Enter The Halani Gates (stairs up)
The Halani Gates Lvl 18
Summon Asala to open gates
If Asala lags behind on terra-cotta soldiers, reset checkpoint — she'll snap to you
Kill Jamanra (first encounter)
Stairs up, search checkpoint
TP back to town
The Ardura Caravan
Talk to Shambrin, Zarka, Sekhema Asala
Travel to Trial of Sekhemas → take WP Run later at Lvl 28
TP back → travel to Mastodon Badlands
Mastodon Badlands Lvl 19–20
0.5 PathingTo find the Lightless Caverns and track down the abyssal here, look for cracks in the ground — follow them and they lead straight to the lair, letting you find and unlock the Well of Souls.
Run this BEFORE Keth — pushes Keth's level up so Kabala drops Lvl 7 gem
(Opt) Effigy near checkpoint Support Gem Lv2
(Opt) League mech Regal Orb
Enter The Bone Pits
The Bone Pits Lvl 20–21
Kill hyenas until Sun Clan Relic drops
Tall hyenas (Goliaths) have higher drop chance. Save for Valley of the Titans altar
Kill Iktab & Ekbab → loot Mastodon Tusks
TP back to town
The Ardura Caravan
Talk to Zarka
Travel to Keth
Keth Lvl 22
Kill snakes until Kabala Clan Relic drops
(Opt) League mech Gem Cutter's Prism
Kill Kabala, Constrictor Queen +2 Skill Points
Drops Lvl 7 skill gem because Mastodon was done first — useful for all classes
Enter The Lost City
The Lost City Lvl 23
(Opt) Kill Ninth Treasure of Keth Random loot
(Opt) Golden Tomb Spirit Gem Lv7
Enter Buried Shrines
Buried Shrines Lvl 23
(Opt) Guarded sarcophagus Support Gem (Lesser Jeweller's Orb)
(Opt) Choose Offering (fire/water/lightning) Resist Ring
Enter The Heart of Keth
The Heart of Keth Lvl 24
Kill Azarian
Talk Water Goddess → Everburning Cinders → ignite Goddess
TP back to town
The Ardura Caravan
Talk to Zarka
Travel to Valley of the Titans
Valley of the Titans WAYPOINT Lvl 25
Find 3 Ancient Seals (perimeter)
(Opt) League mech Random Unique
Possible: Wake of Destruction, Black Heart, Gold Rim, Crown of the Victor — or 1k gold floor
Find Medallion near WP, place both relics Choose buff
Choose: +30% Charm Charges OR +15% Mana Recovery (changeable later)
Enter The Titan Grotto
The Titan Grotto Lvl 25–26
Kill Zalmarath, the Colossus → loot Flame Ruby
TP back to town
The Ardura Caravan
Talk to Zarka + Sekhema Asala
Travel to Halani Gates (don't enter)
Sound Horn at top of caravan
Talk to Sekhema Asala
Travel to Deshar
Deshar Lvl 26–27
Find/loot Fallen Dekhara near tower +2 Skill Points
Letter from Lihl Lima → deliver to Shambrin in town
Kill 2 Vultures on side area Backup Djinn Barya (Lvl 28)
This is the easy ascend path — much simpler than Balbala for all classes
(Opt) Side dead-end Artificer's Orb
Enter Path of Mourning
Path of Mourning Lvl 27
Trust the overworld map for direction — exit is straightforward
(Opt) Shifting Vases encounter 4 rares + Support Gem Lv2
Enter The Spires of Deshar
The Spires of Deshar Lvl 27
Interact with Sisters of Garukhan shrine +10% Lightning Res
(Opt) League mech Gem Cutter's Prism
Kill Tor Gul
One of the hardest fights in Act II — cap lightning res, watch defiler attacks
TP back to town
Ascend at Lvl 28
Trial of the Sekhemas WAYPOINT Lvl 28
0.5 QoLA Reforging Bench is now placed at the Trial entrance (unlocks in Act 3 — see the Mektul/Hammer of Kamasa reward there). Your max Runic Ward is now added to your starting Honour when beginning a Trial.
Enter trial → manually select Lvl 28 Djinn Barya (NOT default Lvl 22!)
Default is the Lvl 22 Balbala Barya. Pick Lvl 28 from Deshar vultures for full XP + better rewards
Set relic affinity to keep inventory clean
Prefer Ritual > Chalice > Hourglass > Gauntlet rooms
Hourglass: kill rares to chunk timer. Chalice: points to rare locations
Complete trial → ascend 1st Ascendancy
Save white chest piece in stash if planning Smith of Kitava (Warrior) — ascendancy locks you out of magic/rare chests
The Dreadnought Lvl 28–29
Travel to The Dreadnought
Kill Jamanra, the Risen King (Act Boss)
0.5 PathingThe second dreadnought area was removed — Jamanra is now fought directly in The Dreadnought.
Already starts armor-broken. ~55k phys damage = stuns him before lightning fence phase
TP back to town
The Ardura Caravan (End of Act)
Exit caravan (top left) → talk Hooded One → wait animation
Back → talk Sekhema Asala → "Travel to the Sandswept Marsh"
Act II Complete — proceed to Act III
← Act I Index Act III →