Finding missing Pablo in Dead Island 2 isn't just about the rewards. It's about that nagging feeling you get when you see an empty cot in the Serling Hotel. You’ve probably spent hours slashing through the undead in Hell-A, but this specific Lost & Found quest feels a bit more personal because Pablo actually had a plan. Or at least, he thought he did.
He went out for supplies. Specifically, insulin. It’s a classic zombie trope, but in the sun-drenched, blood-soaked streets of Venice Beach, it becomes a frantic scavenger hunt that tests how well you actually know the map.
If you're staring at the quest board in the Serling Hotel and wondering why the "Missing: Pablo" flyer is mocking you, don't worry. You aren't the only one who got turned around near the gym.
Where the Trail Starts
You can't just stumble onto Pablo. First, you have to reach the Serling Hotel in Ocean Avenue. This happens fairly late in the main story. Once the hotel becomes your base of operations, check the wall near the fast travel map.
The flyer tells you he headed to Venice Beach. He was looking for protein powder and insulin. It’s a weird combo, honestly, but Pablo was trying to be a hero for the other survivors.
Fast travel to Venice Beach. The air smells like salt and rotting meat.
Your first real clue points toward Rose’s Tattoos. It’s located along the main strip of shops. You’ll know you’re there when you see the shutters halfway down. Slide under. Inside, the place is a mess. Look for a note titled "Need Insulin." It confirms Pablo was there, but he didn't find what he needed.
The note suggests he headed toward a pharmacy. But Venice Beach has more than one spot for meds, so this is where people usually get stuck.
Muscle Beach and the Protein Powder
Before the pharmacy, there's the protein powder. Pablo had priorities.
🔗 Read more: Type Soul Codes for January 2025: How to Actually Get Your Rerolls Back
Head over to Muscle Beach Nutrition. It’s that bright, obnoxious storefront near the outdoor gym. The gate is locked, but this is Dead Island 2, so there’s always a way in. Check the back or look for a circuit breaker.
Inside, you'll find "Protein Please." This note is grim. It paints a picture of a guy who is clearly out of his depth. He’s surrounded by "shamblers" and "runners," yet he’s still worried about supplements.
The Pharmacy Pitstop
Now for the insulin. You need to find GangGreen.
This is a weed dispensary and pharmacy combo—peak California. It’s located further down the boardwalk. The front door is locked tight. To get in, you need to find the GangGreen Gate Key. Look around the immediate area outside; usually, there’s a unique zombie nearby or a hidden spot behind the building where the key is tucked away.
Once you’re inside GangGreen, look behind the counter. You’ll find another note: "Tapped Out."
🔗 Read more: Solving the Stained Glass Window BG3 Puzzle Without Losing Your Mind
Pablo was here. He got the insulin. But he also mentions he’s heading back, or at least trying to. He mentions a shortcut.
The Final Location of Missing Pablo in Dead Island 2
This is the part that kills the "heroic rescue" vibe.
You aren't looking for a living, breathing Pablo anymore. Most players spend way too much time searching the rooftops, thinking he’s pinned down by a Crusher.
Go to the parking lot behind the shops near the Venice Beach fast travel point. There’s a specific area with a lot of trash and some fenced-off sections. You are looking for a body slumped against a pile of pallets or near a shopping cart.
When you find him, it’s quiet. No boss fight. No cinematic. Just a guy who almost made it back.
Pick up the final note next to him. It’s heartbreaking, really. He had the supplies. He was right there.
Why This Quest Matters for Your Build
Why bother? Because the reward is the Fire Axe.
Specifically, a high-tier version that scales to your level. In the mid-to-late game, the Fire Axe is a beast for limb-removal builds. If you’re playing as Dani or Ryan, the heavy attacks on this thing can clear a path through a crowd of Apex Variants faster than almost any other non-legendary weapon.
Plus, you get a chunk of XP. At this stage of the game, every level matters because the zombies level up with you. If your gear is lagging behind, you’re basically delivery food for a Butcher.
💡 You might also like: Dark Moon Moonstone of the Covenant: What Most People Get Wrong
Tactical Advice for the Search
- Watch the Water: Venice Beach is full of puddles and broken hydrants. Use your Chem Bomb or an electric weapon. It’s the most efficient way to clear the shops without wasting ammo.
- Don't Ignore the Screamer: Near the pharmacy, a Screamer often spawns. If you don't take her out immediately, she’ll pull every zombie from the beach right onto your head while you’re trying to read Pablo’s notes.
- Check the Buffs: Before you head out, eat some snacks or use the workbench at the Blue Crab Grill. You want your stamina regeneration high because there’s a lot of sprinting involved in this quest.
Finding missing Pablo in Dead Island 2 is a reminder of what the game does best. It blends ridiculous, over-the-top gore with these tiny, grounded stories of people just trying to survive the "Zompocalypse." Pablo wasn't a soldier or a slayer. He was just a guy with a grocery list who ran out of luck.
Actionable Steps for Your Playthrough
- Go to the Serling Hotel and grab the quest from the board immediately after finishing the "Final Gauntlet" story beat.
- Clear Rose’s Tattoos first, then Muscle Beach Nutrition, and finally GangGreen. This follows the chronological order of his movements.
- Equip a weapon with the Puncturing mod before heading to the parking lot; the zombies in that area often have riot gear or bone armor that requires high penetration.
- Collect the Fire Axe and head straight to a workbench to apply a "cremate" or "electrocute" mod. A base Fire Axe is good, but a modified one is a top-tier endgame tool.
Once the quest is marked complete, the "Missing" board will update with new names. Keep checking back. Each one of these Lost & Found missions usually hides one of the better-performing weapons in the game, and they provide the much-needed backstory to the ruins of LA.