Quest Time: Finding the Forge and Surviving the Abandoned Foundry

Once Balbala is out of the way, you’ll be sent to POE2 Currency complete “Finding the Forge,” one of the first major side quests in Act 1. The goal: retrieve Renly’s Tools from deep inside the Abandoned Foundry. This dungeon isn’t just a test of combat—it’s also a maze designed to challenge your navigation skills.

The Foundry is filled with twisting paths, blocked routes, hidden traps, and dangerous ambushes. It’s also procedurally generated, which means no two players will see the exact same layout. Still, there are some visual hints that always hold true: glowing forge stations, heaps of scrap metal, and mechanical sounds often indicate you're getting close to the objective.

Dealing With Ambushes and Environmental Hazards

The biggest threats in the Foundry aren’t just monsters—they’re the environment itself. You’ll face:

    Spike traps and pressure plates

    Narrow corridors with flame jets

    Enemy ambushes near the tools’ chest

To survive:

    Stay mobile, and don’t charge blindly into new rooms.

    Use crowd-control skills to handle ambushes efficiently.

    Keep healing flasks charged to quickly recover from traps or status effects.

The enemies guarding Renly’s Tools are no joke either. They hit hard, and their numbers can overwhelm players who aren’t well-equipped.

Use Your Currency Wisely Before Entering the Foundry

Like with Balbala, your success in the Foundry is tied closely to your gear. POE 2 Currency lets you prepare effectively:

    Craft gear with trap resistance or regeneration bonuses.

    Upgrade weapons that offer cleave or ranged control, which are useful for groups.

    Buy gear or gems from other players, especially if your drops haven’t kept pace.

Even something as small as using Orbs of Augmentation to improve flask quality can make a major difference in your survival chances.

Completing the Quest and Moving Forward

Once you locate the chest hidden deep within the Foundry and defeat its guardians, you’ll retrieve Renly’s Tools. Completing the quest nets you experience, loot, and progression within the Act 1 storyline. More importantly, it prepares you for the types of challenges that Path of Exile 2 will continue to throw your way.

You’ll also come away with valuable lessons:

    Don’t rush exploration—look for patterns and clues in the environment.

    Respect enemy mechanics—even minor mobs can be deadly in large numbers.

    Make gear upgrades a habit, not an afterthought.

Conclusion: A Strong Start in a Ruthless World

Between Balbala’s tactical boss fight and the treacherous depths of the Foundry, Act 1 of Path of Exile 2 pushes players to grow quickly. These encounters are not only a test of your reflexes and game knowledge—they're also a crash course in how to buy POE 2 Exalted Orbs survive POE2's brutal design.

By mastering movement, using gear upgrades strategically, and investing your POE 2 Currency wisely, you’ll be well-positioned to take on everything Wraeclast throws at you. The early game may be unforgiving, but with patience and preparation, you'll thrive where others fall.