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Path of Exile Act 9 Walkthrough: Highgate

This walkthrough takes you through Act 9 of Path of Exile — Highgate — one step at a time, from The Blood Aqueduct to The Rotting Core. Don't leave without 2 passive skill points and an ascendancy trial; every reward is tagged below. Optional side content is marked, so you can skip it when you're in a hurry.

12 steps · 12 zones · Updated March 2026

The Blood Aqueduct

  1. Linear zone, good for leveling
    Waypoint

Highgate (Town)

  1. Waypoint

The Descent

  1. From Highgate

The Vastiri Desert

  1. Open desert area
    WaypointStorm Blade (quest item for Queen of the Sands)

The Oasis

  1. Side area from Vastiri Desert - use Storm Blade to enter
    Boss tip: Shakari - poison damage, sand storms, burrows underground. Avoid poison clouds.
    1 passive skill point (Queen of the Sands)

The Foothills

  1. From Vastiri Desert
    Waypoint2 respec points (Fastis Fortuna)

The Boiling Lake (optional)

  1. Side area from Foothills
    Boss tip: Basilisk - petrify gaze, fire breath
    Basilisk Acid (quest item for Recurring Nightmare)

The Tunnel

  1. From Foothills
    WaypointMerciless Trial 2 - Blade sentries

The Quarry

  1. From Tunnel
    WaypointCrafting bench recipe1 passive skill point (The Ruler of Highgate)

The Refinery

  1. Side area from Quarry

The Belly of the Beast

  1. From Quarry

The Rotting Core

  1. Boss tip: Depraved Trinity - fight each separately then together. Each uses their signature abilities. Focus one at a time.
    Proceed to Act 10