​Path of Exile Walkthrough:Love is Dead

Love is Dead is one of the standout story moments in Path of Exile campaign, delivering a tragic emotional twist amid Act 8 chaos. The quest itself is straightforward, but it ties into the game deeper lore, rewards strong XP, and grants a valuable Book of Skill-making it a must-do for every character you play.

How to Begin the Love is Dead Quest

1.When you arrive in Act 8, go to The Sarn Encampment, the central base for this act.

2.Speak to Clarissa, who introduces the quest and explains her hope of restoring Tolman using an ancient Azmerian ritual.

3.She begs you to recover the Ankh of Eternity from The Quay, a hostile zone teeming with undead. Accepting her plea officially starts the quest.Unleash the power of purchasing POE currency through MMOexp and unlock endless possibilities!

Quest Overview

Act:8

Quest Giver:Clarissa

Path:Sarn Encampment-The Quay-Resurrection Site-Sarn Encampment

Goal:Retrieve the Ankh and assist in the resurrection ritual

Boss Encounter:Tolman (twisted into an undead version of himself)

Reward:Book of Skill

+1 Passive Point

+2 Passive Respec Points

Step 1:Find the Ankh of Eternity

Head into The Quay, found through the eastern exit of Sarn Encampment. The zone features collapsing docks, drowned walkways, and waves of undead sailors and spectral soldiers.

Helpful Tips:

This area can be surprisingly dangerous for early Act 8 characters-bring defensive flasks, mobility skills, and gear with solid life and resistance stats.

Upgrading your Path of Exile items before entering can dramatically smooth out the fights.

The Ankh of Eternity always appears toward the back of the zone within a shrine. Several packs of enemies (and sometimes rare monsters) guard its location.

After picking up the Ankh, your quest tracker will point you toward The Resurrection Site, where Clarissa waits.

Step 2:Deliver the Ankh to Clarissa

Make your way deeper into The Quay until you find Clarissa. Speak with her, and she will take the artifact and immediately begin the resurrection ritual.

What follows is disastrous.

The ritual backfires. Instead of restoring Tolman humanity, the corrupted power of the Ankh warps him further-reanimating him as a grotesque zombie. The magic destabilizes the area, unleashing waves of undead as Clarissa watches helplessly.

Step 3:Defeat Tolman and the Undead Horde

The fight consists of two distinct stages:

Phase 1:Swarms of Lesser Undead

Numerous small enemies flood the arena.

Survival Strategy:

Keep moving to avoid being boxed in.

Area-of-effect abilities make quick work of these mobs.

Skills like Flame Dash, Leap Slam, or Whirling Blades help reposition in tight spaces.

If your build struggles here, consider minor gear upgrades or passive adjustments-extra resistances or chaos mitigation can make a huge difference.

Phase 2:Zombie Tolman

Once the adds thin out, Tolman himself becomes the main threat.

Tips for the Tolman Duel:

Stay mobile-his melee strikes deal heavy damage.

Don't tunnel vision on Tolman; clear stray minions first to keep the arena manageable.

Maintain defensive flasks to soften physical or occasional elemental damage.

Attack him between movements rather than standing still.

When Tolman finally collapses, Clarissa rushes to his body, devastated by what she witnessed.

Step 4:Speak with Clarissa

After the fight, talk to Clarissa to advance the quest. Crushed by Tolman fate, she vows to destroy the Ankh so it can never be used on anyone again. She tells you she will return to the encampment and thanks you, her voice heavy with cheap POE currency grief.

Step 5:Return to The Sarn Encampment

Meet Clarissa back in town to complete the quest.

She rewards you with:

Book of Skill

+1 Passive Skill Point

+2 Passive Refund Points

Additional experience

Why “Love is Dead” Is Important

1.Major Character Development

It marks a turning point for Clarissa story, shifting her from hopeful survivor to someone forced to confront Wraeclast cruelty firsthand.

2.Invaluable Permanent Reward

A passive skill point is always worth grabbing, no matter your build or league start. This makes the quest essential for efficient character progression.

Whether you're starting fresh in the latest league or replaying the campaign, Love is Dead remains one of Act 8's most memorable-and heartbreaking-quests.