The Love is Dead quest in Path of Exile stands out as one of Act 8's most emotional and memorable story moments. While mechanically simple, it delivers impactful lore, solid experience, and a valuable Book of Skill reward. Whether you're pushing through the campaign in PoE 3.27: Keepers of the Flame or rerunning the story for a new league start, this guide walks you through the fastest route, the key fights, and essential interactions you shouldn't miss.

How to Start the Love is Dead Quest

You begin this storyline early in Act 8:

1. Enter The Sarn Encampment, the central town hub of the act.

2. Speak with Clarissa, who will immediately assign you the Love is Dead quest.

3. Clarissa explains that she seeks the Ankh of Eternity, a sacred Azmerian artifact she believes can restore Tolman's soul and resurrect him.

With her plea for help, your mission starts. Your objective is simple: retrieve the Ankh from The Quay and then assist Clarissa in the resurrection ritual.

Love Is Dead Quest Summary

·Act: 8

·Starting NPC: Clarissa

·Main Locations: The Sarn Encampment → The Quay → Resurrection Site → The Sarn Encampment

·Primary Objective: Recover the Ankh of Eternity and help Clarissa attempt to revive Tolman

·Final Encounter: Zombie Tolman

Reward:

·Book of Skill (1 Passive Skill Point + 2 Respec Points)

·A chunk of Act 8 experience

This makes Love is Dead one of the most rewarding questlines in the middle acts - perfect for accelerating character progression.

Step 1: Retrieve the Ankh of Eternity (Fastest Route)

Head to The Quay, which you can access via the eastern exit of The Sarn Encampment. The zone layout is linear but winding, with lots of branching docks and ruined boardwalks.

Enemies here include:

·Corrupted mariners

·Cannibal undead

·Imperial spirits

·Occasionally, dangerous, rare monsters

Since this area hits harder than previous zones, consider upgrading your life, resistances, and armor/evasion gear. If your build struggles, you can always invest in upgrades using Path of Exile Currency from the trade market or buy POE Items to speed up gearing.

Finding the Ankh Quickly

The Ankh shrine always spawns deep in the zone, usually on the outer edges of the boardwalk layout. Look for:

·A large Azmerian-style ritual pedestal

·Clusters of undead guarding it

·Occasional mini-bosses or rare packs nearby

Interact with the shrine to collect the Ankh of Eternity, which updates your quest objective.

Step 2: Deliver the Ankh to Clarissa

After obtaining the relic, continue forward into the small side area called the Resurrection Site. Clarissa is already there waiting, ready to begin the ritual.

Before interacting with her, prepare yourself - the ritual triggers a multi-phase combat encounter.

When you hand her the Ankh, the ritual begins. However, the resurrection backfires, twisting Tolman's body into a corrupted undead version rather than restoring him.

This led to the fight.

Step 3: Defeat Zombie Tolman and Survive the Undead Waves

The encounter consists of two phases:

Phase 1 - Undead Waves

Groups of zombies and corrupted spirits spawn in increasing numbers.

Tips for surviving the mob waves:

·Keep moving - don't let yourself get surrounded.

·Use AoE or movement skills like Whirling Blades, Leap Slam, or Flame Dash for repositioning.

·Maintain flask uptime, especially on life and mobility flasks.

If your build feels underpowered, consider improving your defenses or buying affordable Path of Exile Items such as higher-resistance gear or additional armor/evasion. Even small upgrades make a noticeable difference in Act 8 survivability.

Phase 2 - Zombie Tolman

Once the waves thin out, Tolman appears.

He uses heavy melee swings that can deal large chunks of damage, especially to low-armor characters.

Tips for Tolman:

·Keep distance if you're playing a ranged or spellcaster build.

·Kill stray adds first so you have space to maneuver.

·Use Granite, Jade, or Quartz Flasks to reduce incoming physical damage.

·If you have access to defensive layers like Molten Shell or Steelskin, use them on cooldown.

When Tolman falls, the arena quiets, and Clarissa collapses beside him in grief-a moment that deeply shapes her Act 8 storyline.

Step 4: Speak to Clarissa

Talk to Clarissa after the encounter completes. She realizes the Ankh's magic is corrupted and vows to destroy it to prevent future tragedy.

She thanks you and returns to The Sarn Encampment.

Step 5: Return to The Sarn Encampment for Rewards

Head back to town to find Clarissa again. Speak with her to finish the quest and receive:

·Book of Skill (1 extra Passive Skill Point + 2 Respec Points)

·Additional experience toward progressing Act 8

This is one of the most important mid-game passive point quests in Path of Exile, so never skip it.

Why Love Is Dead Matters in PoE 3.27

Beyond simple progression, Love Is Dead offers meaningful story payoff:

1. Character Development:

Clarissa's arc is one of the most personal in the game, exploring grief, hope, and tragic loss in a brutal world.

2. Guaranteed Passive Point:

Every character needs this permanent upgrade - it's essential for any campaign run.

3. Smooth Leveling:

The XP and gear drops from the Tolman fight help bridge the difficulty spike in Act 8.

Final Thoughts

Whether you're a league starter pushing through the story or a returning player refreshing yourself on key quests, Love Is Dead is essential for both gameplay progression and narrative depth. With this fast and efficient route, you'll breeze through the quest, earn your passive point, and stay fully prepared for Act 8's later challenges.