To successfully conquer the Eternal Labyrinth, also known as the Uber Labyrinth or Labyrinth of the Goddess, you must first meet specific prerequisites, then navigate its ever-changing layout, strategically defeat Izaro, and claim your final Ascendancy points and powerful enchantments.
The Eternal Labyrinth is the fourth and most challenging iteration of the Lord's Labyrinth in Path of Exile. It serves as the ultimate proving ground for your build and character, offering the most potent rewards, including the final two Ascendancy points and powerful item enchantments.
Prerequisites for the Eternal Labyrinth
Before you can even attempt the Eternal Labyrinth, you must fulfill a set of specific requirements, ensuring your character is adequately prepared for the challenges ahead.
- Complete the Merciless Labyrinth: You must have successfully completed the Merciless Labyrinth at least once on your character. This proves your proficiency with Labyrinth mechanics and Izaro's earlier phases.
- Character Level 68: Your character must reach at least level 68. This level requirement ensures you have a solid foundation of passive skill points and gear to tackle the difficulty.
- Obtain an Offering to the Goddess: To gain entry, you need a specific item called an Offering to the Goddess. This consumable item is expended upon entering the Labyrinth.
- How to Obtain: Offerings to the Goddess are earned by completing Labyrinth Trials, which are randomly found in maps with Tier 6 or higher. These trials are mini-Labyrinths that test your ability to navigate traps and basic puzzles.
Summary of Prerequisites
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Previous Labyrinth | Successfully complete the Merciless Labyrinth at least once |
| Character Level | Reach character level 68 or higher |
| Entry Item | Obtain and use an Offering to the Goddess |
| Offering Source | Complete Labyrinth Trials randomly found in Maps (Tier 6 or higher) |
Accessing the Eternal Labyrinth
Once you have an Offering to the Goddess and meet the other prerequisites, head to the Aspirant's Plaza. Place the Offering into the device in the center of the plaza, and it will grant you access to the Eternal Labyrinth portal. Remember, each entry consumes one Offering.
Navigating the Eternal Labyrinth
The Eternal Labyrinth is an ever-changing dungeon filled with traps, monsters, puzzles, and its enigmatic ruler, Izaro.
Daily Layout Resets
The layout of the Labyrinth, including trap placements, secret passages, Darkshrine locations, and Izaro's buff altars, resets daily. This ensures a fresh challenge every day and encourages players to adapt. Many players consult external resources like PoELab.com for the current day's layout and critical information before attempting the Labyrinth.
Key Elements to Master
- Traps: The Labyrinth is notorious for its deadly traps, including Spinning Blades, Sawblades, Spike Traps, Flame Jets, Mortar Traps, and more. Learning their patterns and how to bypass them efficiently is crucial for survival. Movement skills and damage mitigation are vital.
- Monsters: While less threatening than the traps, Labyrinth monsters can apply debuffs, slow you down, or deal significant damage, especially in groups. Prioritize clearing dangerous packs.
- Puzzles & Secret Passages: Many rooms contain levers, pressure plates, or destructible walls that can open new paths, reveal treasure chests, or activate Darkshrines.
- Darkshrines: These altars offer temporary buffs or unique effects in exchange for interacting with them. Common Darkshrine effects include:
- Trinkets: Grant unique item drops at the Divine Font.
- Fonts: Increase flask charges or effects.
- Izaro Debuffs: Make Izaro easier in a specific encounter.
- Trap Mitigation: Disable traps in the next area.
Strategically utilizing Darkshrines can significantly ease your run.
Confronting Izaro, Lord of the Labyrinth
Izaro is the final boss of the Labyrinth, encountered three times throughout your run. Each encounter takes place in a distinct arena, and his mechanics in the first two phases directly influence his final fight.
Izaro's Phases and Buffs
- First Encounter: Izaro will activate one or more mechanisms that grant him buffs or abilities. You have the choice to either disable these mechanisms, making the subsequent fights easier, or leave them active, allowing Izaro to keep his buffs but often yielding greater rewards at the Divine Font. Common mechanisms include:
- Gargoyles: Grant Izaro damage reduction. Destroying them prevents this.
- Lieutenants (Statues): Grant Izaro increased damage or elemental resistance. Destroying them prevents this.
- Idols: Grant Izaro increased attack speed, cast speed, or critical strike chance. Destroying them prevents this.
- Conduits: Grant Izaro elemental damage and resistance. Destroying them prevents this.
- Second Encounter: Izaro will again activate mechanisms, often different from the first phase. The same strategic choice applies: disable them to weaken him, or leave them for potential rewards. The effects from the first phase, if left active, will carry over.
- Third and Final Encounter: In this final showdown, Izaro will have all the buffs from any mechanisms you left active in the first two phases. Additionally, he gains new abilities and often summons unique Labyrinth bosses to assist him. This is the most challenging fight, requiring full concentration and optimal performance.
Strategy Tip: For new players or weaker builds, it's generally advisable to disable as many of Izaro's mechanisms as possible in the first two encounters to make the final fight significantly easier.
Preparing for the Eternal Labyrinth
Successful completion heavily relies on preparation.
- Defensive Layer: Max out your elemental resistances (75% for Fire, Cold, Lightning). Aim for high life or energy shield. Consider defensive auras, Vaal skills (e.g., Vaal Grace, Vaal Molten Shell), or damage reduction mechanics.
- Flasks: A solid flask setup is paramount.
- Life/Energy Shield Flasks: At least two, preferably instant recovery flasks or ones that remove Bleeding.
- Utility Flasks: Quicksilver Flask for movement, Granite/Basalt Flask for physical damage reduction, Jade Flask for evasion, or flasks that remove specific ailments like Poison or Freeze.
- Enchantments: Consider flask enchantments from the Crafting Bench for increased duration or reduced charges used.
- Movement Skill: A reliable movement skill (e.g., Flame Dash, Whirling Blades, Leap Slam, Shield Charge) is essential for traversing traps, dodging Izaro's attacks, and navigating quickly.
- Offensive Power: While defense is key, enough damage is needed to quickly dispatch Izaro and dangerous monster packs, especially in tight trap corridors.
- Blessings of the Goddess: If you have surplus Offerings, consider using them to grant the "Goddess's Touch" blessing at the Divine Font after a successful run. This can grant a temporary boost to stats for your next Labyrinth attempt.
Rewards of the Eternal Labyrinth
Upon defeating Izaro in the final encounter, you gain access to the Divine Font, which offers the following rewards:
- Ascendancy Points: You will receive the final two Ascendancy points, allowing you to complete your chosen Ascendancy class tree.
- Labyrinth Enchantments: You can enchant your helmet, gloves, and boots with powerful, unique modifiers. Helmet enchantments are particularly sought after, as they can significantly boost specific skills.
- Unique Labyrinth Items: If you left Izaro's mechanisms active, interacted with specific Darkshrines (Trinkets), or used additional Offerings to the Goddess at the Font, you may be able to obtain unique Labyrinth-exclusive items like Izaro's Tributes, Trinkets, or even items required for the Uber Lab's "Gift to the Goddess" variant (which is distinct from the Eternal Labyrinth but uses the same mechanics).
- Currency & Divination Cards: The chests surrounding the Divine Font will contain various currency items, unique items, and divination cards.
Conquering the Eternal Labyrinth is a significant achievement in Path of Exile, marking the completion of your Ascendancy journey and providing powerful tools to further enhance your character.
