Path of Exile Guide: How to Handle the Deal With The Bandits Quest
This walkthrough will guide you through the Deal with the Bandits quest, explain your options, and analyze the best choices depending on your build and playstyle to get Path of exile currency.
What is the "Deal with the Bandits" Quest?
In Act 2, as you explore the Bandit Camp in the Forest Encampment, you come across three bandit leaders: Alira, Kraityn, and Oak.
Each bandit offers a different reward if you choose to side with them. Alternatively, you can decide to kill all the bandits instead of siding with any of them, which grants a different bonus.
The choice affects your passive skill tree, specifically granting you a one-time skill point bonus or attribute bonus, which can shape your early and mid-game progression.
How to Reach the Bandit Camp
After completing the earlier objectives in Act 2, you will be directed to the Bandit Camp located in the Forest Encampment area. To reach the Bandit Camp:
From the Forest Encampment, head south towards the Weaver's Chambers waypoint.
Explore the area until you find the Bandit Camp, a distinct area surrounded by tents and guarded by bandits.
You will find the three bandit leaders inside or near the camp. Interacting with them will trigger the quest decision.
The Choices and Rewards
1. Siding with Alira
Reward:
+20% to all Elemental Resistances
+20% to Mana Regeneration Rate
+10% to Global Critical Strike Multiplier
Overview:
Alira's reward is tailored for players who focus on elemental damage and rely on mana regeneration. The critical strike multiplier also benefits critical builds, especially casters or elemental attackers.
Best For:
Elemental casters (like elemental wands, spell casters)
Builds that depend on critical strikes (crit builds)
Players who need help with mana sustain
2. Siding with Kraityn
Reward:
+15% to Global Physical Damage Reduction
+12% to Attack Speed
+10% to Movement Speed
Overview:
Kraityn's rewards favor melee or physical damage dealers who benefit from survivability and faster attacks. The movement speed boost also helps with mobility, which is useful for many melee builds.
Best For:
Melee physical damage builds (e.g., Duelists, Marauders)
Players who want to improve survivability and offense simultaneously
Those who prefer faster combat and better positioning
3. Siding with Oak
Reward:
+6% Life Regeneration Rate
+15% to Maximum Life
All Resistances increased by 6%
Overview:
Oak's rewards emphasize survivability through increased life and life regeneration. He's the tanky choice for players who want to boost their defenses and sustain in fights.
Best For:
Tanky builds focused on life rather than energy shield
Beginners who want more survivability
Players who favor slower, tougher playstyles
4. Killing All the Bandits
Reward:
2 Passive Skill Points (free skill points on your tree)
Overview:
If you choose to kill all the bandits, you gain two passive skill points instead of the attribute and minor passive bonuses offered by siding with one. This option is often preferred by players who want maximum flexibility in their build.
Best For:
Players who want to maximize passive skill points early on
Those who have a well-planned skill tree that benefits more from extra points
Builds that do not specifically require the elemental, physical, or life bonuses
How to Make Your Choice: Factors to Consider
1. Your Build Type
Elemental/Caster builds usually benefit most from Alira for the mana regeneration and crit multiplier.
Physical/melee builds tend to favor Kraityn for attack speed and damage reduction.
Tanky life-based builds often pick Oak for the life bonuses.
If your build is flexible or you want pure skill tree points, killing all bandits is usually the best.
2. Your Playstyle
Aggressive players who want to maximize damage and movement often side with Kraityn.
Defensive players looking for survivability might prefer Oak.
Players focused on spellcasting and crit prefer Alira.
If you want freedom without commitment, killing all bandits gives you passive points for customization.
3. Long-Term Progression
The passive skill points from killing all bandits are valuable because they allow you to invest them anywhere on the skill tree, enabling unique and powerful builds. For this reason, many high-level players opt to kill all bandits despite missing out on the attribute boosts.
How to Complete the Quest Step-by-Step
Locate the Bandit Camp: Found near the Weaver's Chambers waypoint in Act 2.
Talk to Each Bandit Leader: You will find Alira, Kraityn, and Oak inside the camp. Interact with them to hear their offer.
Make Your Choice:
To side with a bandit, simply choose their option during the dialogue.
To kill all bandits, you need to attack and kill all three leaders: Alira, Kraityn, and Oak. Be prepared-they are strong bosses, especially on higher difficulties.
Claim Your Reward: After choosing or defeating them, the game will grant your selected bonuses.
Tips for Killing All Bandits
If you opt for the skill points by killing all bandits, here are some tips:
Prepare for a tough fight: Each bandit leader has unique skills and attacks. Bring potions and good gear.
Bring mobility skills: Dodge their attacks with skills like Dash or Leap Slam.
Attack one bandit at a time: Try to isolate each leader to avoid fighting them all simultaneously.
Use crowd control: Stuns, freezes, or slows can help control the fight.
Conclusion: Which Option is Best?
There's no one-size-fits-all answer for the Deal with the Bandits quest in Path of Exile. It depends heavily on your build, playstyle, and personal preference.
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For flexibility and optimal build customization, killing all the bandits for the two free passive skill points is usually the best choice.
For elemental or crit builds, siding with Alira is very strong.
For melee physical builds, siding with Kraityn gives excellent bonuses.
For tanky, life-based builds, siding with Oak boosts survivability.
Understanding your character's needs and future skill tree goals is key to making the best choice.