You’re staring at the "Lost & Found" board in the Serling Hotel, and there it is. Another missing person. Another payday. This time it's a guy named Pablo. Finding Dead Island 2 Missing Pablo isn't just about the experience points or the loot, though that legendary fire axe at the end is a hell of a motivator. It’s about navigating the messy, sun-drenched ruins of Venice Beach without getting your head chewed off by a Crusher.
Honestly, the "Missing: Pablo" quest is one of those tasks that feels simple until you’re actually standing in the middle of a shopping strip wondering which "protein shop" the note was talking about. You have to hunt down clues in a specific order, and if you miss one, the next won't trigger. It’s frustrating. It’s classic Dead Island.
Starting the Search at Venice Beach
To even see this quest, you’ve got to progress far enough in the main story to reach the Serling Hotel on Ocean Avenue. Once the fast travel map opens up and you've cleared some of the initial chaos, check the wall near the doctor's office. If Pablo's flyer is there, grab it.
The quest immediately points you back to Venice Beach.
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Venice is a nightmare. It’s wide open, packed with runners, and easy to get turned around in. Your first real objective is a place called Venice Pickle. Now, the game gives you a general search area, but it won't hold your hand. You’re looking for a note left behind by Pablo that mentions he was looking for insulin. This isn't just flavor text; it’s the breadcrumb trail.
The Protein Shop and the Circuit Breaker
The first stop is "Roses’s Tattoos," but the real progress happens when you move toward the shops nearby. You’ll find a note titled "Need Insulin" inside a shop called Muscle Beach Nutrition.
Here is where most players get stuck.
The shop is locked behind a powered door. To get in, you have to find a circuit breaker. It’s usually located around the back or in a nearby alleyway infested with walkers. Once you slot that breaker in, the shutters hiss open. Inside, you’ll find Pablo’s first trail. He wasn’t just looting; he was trying to be a hero for someone else.
Tracking Pablo to Gang Green
After you’ve poked around the nutrition store, your map updates. Now you’re heading to Gang Green, which is a weed dispensary further down the boardwalk. This is where things get significantly more dangerous.
The dispensary is gated. To get the "Gang Green Gate Key," you don't actually go into the front door first. Look for a guy named Doc Marin. He’s a unique zombie (a Slobber variant) hanging out in the parking lot or the immediate vicinity of the store. Kill him, take the keys, and head toward the back entrance of the shop.
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Inside Gang Green, you’ll find another note. It’s a bit grim. Pablo was here, but he was definitely running out of time and luck. The note mentions a "store with the guitars." If you know Venice Beach, you know exactly where that is.
The Final Stand at Jo’s Rentals
The "store with guitars" is actually Jo’s Surf & Skate, but the clue leads you specifically toward the rental shops. You’re looking for a place called Jo's Rainy Day Woods or similar rental spots along the strip.
Actually, let's be precise: you need to head toward the "Jo's Rentals" area. Look for a pile of crates and a very dead, very recognizable body.
It’s Pablo.
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He didn't make it. In the world of Dead Island 2, "Missing" quests rarely have a "happily ever after" ending. Usually, you’re just there to collect the remains and whatever gear they were carrying. Beside Pablo’s body, you’ll find the final note and, more importantly, the reward for your trouble.
The Reward: Why You Bothered
Why do this? Why run across Venice Beach for a dead guy?
The Fire Axe.
Completing Dead Island 2 Missing Pablo grants you a high-tier Fire Axe that, at that point in the game, usually outclasses most of your current inventory. It’s got great cleaving potential and, if you’ve been struggling with crowd control, this thing is a godsend. You also get a hefty chunk of XP (around 2,000) which helps if you’re trying to hit the level cap before the final story missions.
People often complain that these quests are "fetch quests." Maybe. But the environmental storytelling in Pablo's notes—the desperation of a guy trying to find medicine in the middle of a literal apocalypse—is what makes the game feel lived-in. It’s not just about the axe. It’s about seeing how the "other" survivors tried (and failed) to navigate the HELL-A landscape.
Essential Tips for the Venice Beach Run
Don't go in blind. Venice Beach is a level-scaled zone that can chew you up if you aren't prepared for the elemental variants.
- Bring Water Cans: There are lots of electrified wires near the shops. Use water to short them out or wash away caustic bile from the Slobbers.
- Check the Roofs: If you can't find a way into a shop, 90% of the time there’s a skylight or a back alley staircase.
- Ignore the Chaff: You don't have to kill every zombie on the boardwalk. Save your weapon durability for the named zombies like Doc Marin who actually hold the keys you need.
- The Circuit Breaker Glitch: Sometimes the circuit breaker for the protein shop doesn't spawn immediately. If this happens, run about 100 meters away and come back to reset the cell.
Addressing the Insulin Misconception
Some players think you need to find actual insulin items to give to an NPC. You don't. The insulin is a narrative device. Your only job is to find the notes that prove where Pablo went. Once you find the body at the final location near the rentals, the quest completes. You don't need to bring anything back to the Serling Hotel, though the board will update to show he's been "found."
It’s a bleak ending for a guy who was just trying to help, but that’s Venice Beach for you.
Next Steps for Players
Once you have finished the quest and claimed the Fire Axe, head to a workbench immediately. This weapon benefits immensely from the Melee Liquidator Mod or the Cremator Mod. Since it’s a heavy-hitting axe, adding fire damage allows you to lean into the "Big Shot" playstyle, where one heavy swing can ignite an entire group of walkers. Afterward, check the Serling Hotel board again; usually, finding Pablo triggers the "Missing: Shane" or "Missing: Nadia" quests if you haven't done them yet. Each offers a similar deep-dive into the lore of the Venice survivors.