Path of Exile 2: Forgotten Bounty Quest Guide

The sprawling and dangerous world of Path of Exile 2 is filled with quests that push your combat skills, puzzle-solving instincts, and lore knowledge to their limits. Among the most intriguing side quests you’ll encounter is “Forgotten Bounty”, a mysterious bounty hunt that combines exploration, battle, and treasure hunting in true Path of Exile fashion. This quest rewards players with valuable loot, deepens the story’s lore, and serves as an excellent test of your mid-game progression in Path of Exile 2 Trade.

In this complete guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about the Forgotten Bounty quest — where to find it, how to complete its objectives, what enemies to expect, and the unique rewards waiting for you at the end.

How to Unlock the Forgotten Bounty Quest

The Forgotten Bounty quest becomes available in Act 4, after you’ve completed the main story mission “Echoes of the Past.” Once that mission is finished, speak with Captain Draven, the battle-hardened mercenary stationed in the Encampment of Ashes. He’ll mention a long-lost bounty posted decades ago — one that was never claimed because the target disappeared into the depths of the desert.

Draven explains that a bandit lord known as Garruk the Lost was once hunted by the mercenaries of Oriath but vanished with his treasure hoard before capture. Rumors say Garruk’s spirit still guards his ill-gotten gains, hidden somewhere beyond the Scorched Expanse. Draven tasks you with retrieving the bounty, promising a reward worthy of the danger.

To start the quest:

Speak with Captain Draven in the Encampment of Ashes.

Accept the quest “Forgotten Bounty.”

The quest marker will appear, directing you to the Scorched Expanse region.

Entering the Scorched Expanse

The Scorched Expanse is a sun-baked desert filled with ruins and merciless enemies. You’ll need to fight through waves of Sand Wraiths, Ash Golems, and Nomad Raiders. The terrain is hazardous, with patches of burning ground and frequent sandstorms that obscure visibility.

Make sure you’re adequately prepared:

Recommended Level: 35–38.

Elemental Resistances: Fire and Lightning resistance are crucial.

Flasks: Bring at least one Quartz Flask for phasing through enemies and avoiding traps.

Movement Skill: Having Dash, Flame Dash, or Whirling Blades is invaluable here.

As you explore, you’ll notice scattered remnants of an old mercenary camp — burned wagons, bones, and broken weapons. Among these ruins, you’ll find a Tattered Bounty Poster, which updates your quest objective. Reading it reveals Garruk’s last known location: the Sun-Scorched Canyon, hidden deep within the desert.

Finding the Sun-Scorched Canyon

The Sun-Scorched Canyon isn’t visible on the main map until you find three Bounty Marks, each guarded by a miniboss. These Marks serve as keys that unlock the canyon’s entrance.

The Bounty Marks are located in separate areas of the Scorched Expanse:

The Shifting Dunes: Defeat Rasha the Sand Queen, a unique Scorpion-type boss that uses poison clouds and burrow attacks.

The Ashen Ridge: Battle Korr the Flameforger, a blacksmith-giant who wields a flaming hammer and leaves trails of molten slag.

The Forgotten Oasis: Face Elder Wraith Azuriel, a ghostly mage who summons sandstorms and casts lightning strikes.

Each miniboss drops a Bounty Mark Fragment. When all three fragments are collected, they automatically combine into a single Complete Bounty Mark in your inventory.

With the Mark in hand, the quest log updates: “Use the Complete Bounty Mark to unlock Garruk’s hidden refuge.”

You’ll now see the canyon’s entrance on your map, marked by a skull-shaped icon in the southeast corner of the Expanse.

Inside the Sun-Scorched Canyon

Entering the Sun-Scorched Canyon feels like stepping into a tomb sealed by the desert itself. The environment is darker, filled with red sand, cracked stone, and ancient carvings depicting Garruk’s conquests. The air hums with eerie whispers.

This area has three major sections:

The Outer Canyon: Filled with elite Nomad warriors, traps, and scorching geysers that erupt periodically.

The Burial Chambers: A maze-like interior filled with skeleton warriors and cursed spirits.

The Inner Sanctum: Garruk’s final resting place and the location of the boss fight.

Keep an eye out for traps — pressure plates trigger flame jets and collapsing ceilings. Using movement skills to leap over or dash through these hazards can save valuable life and flask charges.

Boss Battle: Garruk the Lost

When you reach the Inner Sanctum, you’ll find Garruk’s massive throne made of bones and gold. As you approach, his spectral form rises from the throne, clad in blackened armor and wielding a massive axe known as The Bounty’s End.

Garruk’s dialogue sets the tone:

“You come for gold? You come for glory? I am both, and I am neither. Leave now, or join the forgotten.”

The fight against Garruk is one of the most intense mid-game encounters in Path of Exile 2. It has three distinct phases, each introducing new mechanics.

Phase One: The Ghost Warlord

Garruk uses wide axe swings and fire-infused slams. His attacks deal primarily Physical and Fire Damage. Every few seconds, he leaps toward the player, leaving behind a burning crater that lingers for several seconds.

Stay mobile — never stand in the fire zones.

Use high physical mitigation or Molten Shell for defense.

When he raises his axe above his head, prepare to dodge; this is the cue for his ground-slam AoE.

Once his health reaches 70%, he roars, shattering the ground and summoning ghostly warriors to assist him.

Phase Two: The Fallen Army

In this stage, Garruk becomes invulnerable while waves of Spectral Raiders spawn. These minions attack in coordinated formations, dealing a mix of Physical and Chaos damage.

Prioritize ranged enemies first — they’re the main source of chip damage.

Use AoE skills like Cyclone, Rain of Arrows, or Creeping Frost to clear mobs efficiently.

When the last Raider dies, Garruk reappears stronger and enraged.

Phase Three: The Spirit of Greed

Now fully spectral, Garruk glows gold and gains new abilities. His axe attacks now fire spectral shockwaves that bounce off walls. Periodically, he summons treasure illusions — golden chests that explode after a short delay.

Lure him to open areas to avoid being trapped by bouncing projectiles.

Destroy the treasure illusions immediately or kite him away from them.

Cold or Lightning damage works best during this phase, as he gains increased Fire resistance.

When his health drops below 10%, Garruk lets out one last scream:

“I was the last king of thieves… and now, I am nothing.”

He then explodes into a burst of golden light, leaving behind a pile of shimmering loot.

Quest Rewards and Loot

After defeating Garruk the Lost, you’ll automatically complete the quest objective. The loot chest that spawns nearby contains rare and unique items, as well as a guaranteed Legendary Reward tied to the quest.

Guaranteed Drops:

The Bounty’s End (Unique Two-Handed Axe):

“Enemies slain grant additional currency drops.”

This axe is excellent for farming, providing increased item quantity bonuses when clearing maps.

Forgotten Gold Ring (Unique Item):

“Increases rarity of items found by 15% but reduces your movement speed by 5%.”

A trade-off item favored by treasure hunters.

You’ll also receive:

A large amount of experience.

A cache of Orbs of Alteration, Chaos Orbs, and Scouring Orbs.

A Map Fragment that unlocks access to the hidden Vault of Garruk, a high-level optional dungeon for endgame farming.

Finally, returning to Captain Draven completes the quest formally. He acknowledges your success with the line:

“You’ve done what no mercenary ever could. Garruk’s legend ends with you.”

Draven rewards you with a rare armor piece that scales with your character’s level and class archetype.

Lore and Hidden Details

The Forgotten Bounty quest reveals intriguing pieces of Path of Exile 2’s lore. Garruk was once a powerful warlord who served under an Oriathan noble before turning rogue and stealing an imperial treasure meant for the king himself. His transformation into a cursed specter symbolizes the greed and decay that define the land’s history.

Exploring his lair also uncovers secret writings carved into stone tablets. If you find all three, you unlock the hidden achievement “Echoes of a Warlord.” Reading them reveals Garruk’s final thoughts:

“Gold buys power. Power buys fear. But fear buys nothing in death.”

It’s a chilling reflection of Path of Exile’s recurring theme — that no matter how much you gain, the pursuit of power always consumes its seekers.

Final Thoughts

The Forgotten Bounty quest in Path of Exile 2 is a shining example of how the game blends storytelling, challenge, and reward. It’s more than just another side mission — it’s an adventure filled with lore to buy Path of Exile 2 Currency, high-stakes combat, and meaningful loot.

Whether you’re chasing Garruk’s treasure for the unique gear or simply exploring every corner of Wraeclast’s cursed lands, this quest delivers everything fans love about Path of Exile: dark atmosphere, skill-based combat, and the thrill of uncovering ancient secrets.