Through Sacred Ground is an optional Act 2 quest in Path of Exile, offered by Yeena in the Forest Encampment. Though it’s not required to progress the story, completing it rewards you with valuable passive skill points and respec points—making it worth your time, especially early on when building your character’s foundation.
How to Unlock Through Sacred Ground
Before Yeena gives you this quest, you must first complete two side missions in Act 2:
| Quest | Quest Giver | Objective |
|---|---|---|
| The Great White Beast | Yeena | Hunt the Great White Beast in The Den, accessible through The Old Fields. |
| Intruders in Black | Greust | Rescue Helena by defeating Fidelitas in the Chamber of Sins. |
Once both of these are done, Yeena will have a new dialogue option in the Forest Encampment. Speak to her, and she’ll tell you about “the hand of a good man” and the altar that needs awakening — starting Through Sacred Ground.
Step 1: Find the Golden Hand in the Crypt
Yeena’s request leads you to The Crypt, located south of The Crossroads, which lies east of the Forest Encampment.
Here’s the route you’ll typically follow:
Forest Encampment → The Old Fields → The Crossroads → The Fellshrine Ruins → The Crypt → The Crypt Level 2
Inside The Crypt (Level 2), explore the dungeon until you locate an Altar — this is where the Golden Hand rests. Maps in Path of Exile are procedurally generated, so the layout changes each time, but a quest marker will appear when you’re near the relic.
Step 2: Defeat Archbishop Geofri the Abashed
Before claiming the Golden Hand, you’ll have to face Archbishop Geofri the Abashed, the area’s mini-boss.
He primarily deals Physical Damage and has Cold Resistance and Hexproof, which prevents curse effects from working.
While not the toughest boss in the game, Geofri’s abilities can overwhelm low-level builds. To stay safe:
- Keep moving to avoid melee hits.
- Use Fire or Lightning skills to counter his Cold Resistance.
- Maintain distance if you’re a ranged build, as his attacks are slower but punishing up close.
Once defeated, interact with the Altar to claim the Golden Hand, which will drop as a quest item. Remember—it cannot be traded or stored; it stays in your inventory until the quest is completed.
Step 3: Return the Golden Hand to Yeena
After retrieving the Golden Hand, use a Portal Scroll (or backtrack manually) to return to Yeena in the Forest Encampment.
When you speak with her, she’ll thank you for bringing back the relic and reward you with a Book of Skill, granting:
- +1 Passive Skill Point
- +2 Passive Respec Points
Pro Tips for Completing Through Sacred Ground
- The Crypt Level 1 also houses one of the Trials of Ascendancy, so you can complete two goals in a single run.
- Use increased movement speed gear to shorten your dungeon run.
- Don’t forget to identify and stash loot—The Crypt often contains valuable gear drops.
- If you’re rerolling for a new season, this quest is an easy way to grab early passive points for smoother progression.
Through Sacred Ground Reward
Completing Through Sacred Ground grants:
| Reward | Type |
|---|---|
| Book of Skill | +1 Passive Skill Point |
| Respec Points | +2 Points |
While Through Sacred Ground may seem like a minor detour, it’s one of the best optional quests in Act 2 for long-term character growth. The fight against Archbishop Geofri offers a manageable challenge, and the passive point reward is too good to skip.
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If you’re optimizing your leveling route, make sure this quest is part of your early Act 2 checklist — a short journey for a lasting advantage. Play Now!
