You're standing in the Kingdom of the Dead, staring at a giant, glowing portal. It's ominous. It’s frustrating. If you’ve spent more than five minutes in the Darksiders 2 Soul Arbiter Maze, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Most people think they can just wing it. They can't. This isn't your standard video game dungeon where you just follow the torches or look for the cracked wall. It’s a literal logic puzzle wrapped in a combat gauntlet, and honestly, if you don't have the directions written down, you're going to be running in circles until Death himself grows old.
The Soul Arbiter's Maze is easily the most polarizing part of Darksiders 2. Some players love the challenge; others find it a tedious slog that breaks the pacing of an otherwise kinetic action-RPG. But here’s the thing: it’s actually the best way to get the Abyssal Armor and the Crowned Skull, provided you don't lose your mind in the process.
How the Darksiders 2 Soul Arbiter Maze Actually Works
The mechanics are deceptive. You have ten levels to clear. Each level consists of a central hub and four cardinal directions: North, South, East, and West. To progress to the next level, you have to follow a specific sequence of portals. If you mess up even one direction, the maze spits you back out to the very beginning of that specific floor. It’s brutal. It’s unforgiving. It’s basically the game’s way of asking if you’ve been paying attention to the environment.
Scattered throughout the entire game are "Soul Arbiter's Scrolls." These are the collectibles that actually tell you which way to go. You’ll find them tucked away in corners of the Forge Lands or etched into walls in the Land of the Dead. Most players miss half of them and end up Alt-Tabbing to find a guide. No shame in that. Vigil Games clearly designed this with a "community knowledge" vibe in mind.
Each level also has a "Secret" path. This is where the real loot lives. The secret paths are usually longer and more dangerous than the exit paths. If you're just trying to finish the quest for the Chancellor, you can skip them, but you’d be missing out on the best gear in the game.
The Combat Scaling Problem
The difficulty doesn't just come from the navigation. The enemies in the maze scale. By the time you hit Level 10, you’re facing waves of Undead Generals, Wraiths, and those annoying Liches that spawn skeletons faster than you can scythe them down. If your build isn't optimized for Health Steal or Wrath generation, Level 5 is going to feel like a brick wall.
I remember my first playthrough. I thought I was overleveled. I wasn't. The Soul Arbiter’s Maze is designed to test your sustain. It's a marathon. You need to be able to recover health mid-fight because there aren't many break points.
Navigating the Floors: The Directions You Need
Let's get practical. You aren't here for a history lesson on the Nephilim; you want to know how to get through the damn doors. Here is the breakdown of the essential paths for the Darksiders 2 Soul Arbiter Maze.
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Level 1: Declination
The starting point is easy enough. To get to the next level, go North, then West. If you want the secret stash, try going South, then East. It’s a short walk. You’ll fight some basic skeletons. Nothing too crazy yet.
Level 2: Apprehension
This is where the corridors start looking identical.
Next Level: East, South, North.
Secret Path: North, North.
Level 3: Opposition
Things pick up here. You’ll start seeing more shielded enemies.
Next Level: West, East, North, North.
Secret Path: North, South, East.
Level 4: Separation
Notice how the paths are getting longer? That’s the game trying to exhaust your patience.
Next Level: East, West, North, South.
Secret Path: West, East, North.
Level 5: Deception
A fitting name. This floor introduces more environmental hazards and tougher waves.
Next Level: West, West, North, East.
Secret Path: West, North, South.
Level 6: Isolation
If you haven't upgraded your weapons by now, you’re going to struggle.
Next Level: South, East, East, North, North.
Secret Path: East, East, South, South.
Level 7: Revulsion
The enemy density spikes here. Keep your Reaper Form ready for the final wave.
Next Level: South, West, East, East, East.
Secret Path: South, South, West, North, North.
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Level 8: Inversion
Almost there. Don't rush.
Next Level: North, West, North, West, East.
Secret Path: North, South, South, East, North.
Level 9: Benediction
The penultimate floor. The loot in the secret path here is actually worth the extra five minutes of fighting.
Next Level: South, West, East, East, North.
Secret Path: South, North, East, East.
Level 10: Apprehension
The final stretch.
Next Level: North, South, East, West.
Secret Path: North, North, North, North. (Yes, just keep going North).
Facing the Soul Arbiter
Once you clear all ten levels, you face the boss himself. The Soul Arbiter isn't the hardest boss in Darksiders 2, but he’s a massive pain if you don't handle his reinforcements. He teleports. He summons guards. He has a massive reach with that staff.
The trick is crowd control. Use your Ghouls or the Aegis Guard to draw aggro. If the Soul Arbiter focuses solely on you, it’s hard to find an opening to land a full combo. Focus on the adds first. If you leave the small fry alive, they will trip you up right when the Arbiter starts his big AOE swings.
When he hits about 50% health, he shields himself. Don't waste your Wrath here. Just dodge and wait for the shield to drop after his minions are dead. It's a rhythm game. Dodge, strike, clear adds, repeat.
Why You Shouldn't Skip the Secret Rooms
Seriously. The secret rooms contain the Soul Arbiter's Hoard. You'll find unique possessed weapons that can be fed to create the most broken gear in the game. But more importantly, the Abyssal Armor pieces are tucked away in the later levels. In Darksiders 2, the Abyssal set is the "Gold Standard." It gives you the defense and arcane power needed to tackle the Crucible.
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If you’re playing on Deathinitive Edition, the drops are slightly rebalanced, but the maze remains the primary source for high-tier spectral gear.
Common Mistakes and Misconceptions
One big myth is that you need all the physical scrolls in your inventory to unlock the portals. You don't. You just need to know the directions. The game doesn't "lock" the correct door just because you didn't find the scrap of paper in the City of the Dead. If you know the code, you can punch it in.
Another mistake? Forgetting to save. There are no checkpoints inside the maze levels. If you die on the final wave of Level 9, you are going back to the start of Level 9. It doesn't kick you to Level 1, thankfully, but losing ten minutes of progress because a stray fireball hit you is a controller-throwing moment.
Build Recommendations for the Maze:
- Health Steal: This is mandatory. Find a pair of fast scythes and imbue them with Health Steal. Since there are dozens of enemies, you can refill your entire bar in seconds.
- Arcane Crit: If you’re running a Necromancer build, focus on Arcane Critical Chance. Your Ghouls will do the heavy lifting while you hang back.
- Defense over Offense: The maze is a test of attrition. Being a glass cannon is risky when you're fighting three Undead Generals at once.
What to Do Next
First, check your inventory. See how many Soul Arbiter scrolls you actually have. If you’re missing Level 6 through 10, don't wander aimlessly. Use the directions provided above.
Before you enter, clear out your inventory. You're going to pick up a lot of "junk" loot. You don't want to be in the middle of Level 8 and realize you can't pick up a legendary possessed weapon because you're carrying twenty basic shoulder plates. Sell everything to Ostegoth at the entrance.
Once you beat the Soul Arbiter, take his crown back to the Chancellor. This completes the "The Soul Arbiter" quest, gives you a massive chunk of XP, and cements your status as the true master of the Dead Kingdom. If you’ve finished the maze, you’re likely ready for the Crucible. Head there next to test your new gear against the 100 waves of enemies waiting for you. That’s where the real endgame begins.