You’re deep in the Vastiri Plains, your "Honor" bar is bleeding out, and honestly, you're about one wrong step away from getting booted out of the trial. Then you see it— a glowing pool of water. That’s the Maraketh Shrine. Or, more accurately, it’s the only thing standing between you and a very frustrating "Trial Failed" screen.
Most players treat shrines in Path of Exile 2 like they did in the first game: a nice little speed boost or some extra damage to help clear a pack. But the poe 2 maraketh shrine is a completely different beast. It isn't just a buff. It’s a literal survival mechanic built into the Trial of Sekhemas. If you ignore how these work, you aren't just playing sub-optimally—you’re basically asking to lose your entry coin.
The Ritual of Venerating a Maraketh Shrine
In the Trial of Sekhemas, "Honor" is your second life bar. Take a hit from a trap? Honor goes down. Get nicked by a Maraketh Nomad? Honor goes down. If that bar hits zero, you’re out, even if your actual HP is full. This is where the Maraketh Shrine comes in.
To actually use one, you have to "venerate" it. This isn't free. You need Sacred Water, a currency you pick up from the Djinn vendor or find as loot within the trial. Typically, it costs 5 Sacred Water to activate a shrine.
Once you pay the toll, the shrine restores a chunk of your lost Honor. It sounds simple, but the strategy comes in when you use it. Do you spend your water now to top off, or do you risk one more room hoping for a bigger payout? Honestly, I’ve seen more runs die because people were too stingy with their water than for any other reason.
The Boons You Actually Get
Venerating isn't just about the Honor bar. Depending on your relics and the specific trial layout, you can trigger specific buffs:
- Fountain of Youth: This is the big one. It massively increases the amount of Honor you get back when you click the shrine.
- Holy Water: A smaller, secondary buff that gives you minor utility boosts. It’s not going to carry your build, but it helps.
- The "Veneration" Trap: Watch out for certain Pact or Affliction mods. Some will actually slap you with a "Minor Affliction" every time you use a Maraketh Shrine. It's a nasty trade-off.
Why You Keep Missing Them
A lot of players complain that they "never see" these shrines. Here's the deal: they aren't randomly scattered like the shrines in a standard Waystone map. You’ll almost always find them at the conclusion of a trial segment.
Basically, look for the water fountains. They look like decorative architecture, which is why people zoom right past them. In a game where everything is trying to kill you, a peaceful-looking pool of water doesn't exactly scream "Click me to save your run," but that’s exactly what it is.
💡 You might also like: Why Soul Drinkers Warhammer 40k Fans Still Argue About Mutation and Loyalty
The High-Level Strategy: Relics and Pathing
If you're serious about farming the Trial of Sekhemas for those sweet Divine Orbs or Socket Runes, you have to build around these shrines. You can't just wing it.
Relics like the Annihilating Coffer or the Seal Relic of Affluence change the math. Some relics give you a chance to find double Sacred Water, while others make the shrines more potent. If your build is a bit "glass cannon" and you're losing Honor fast, you need to path your trial map specifically toward rooms that lead to these fountains.
I’ve had runs where I was down to my last 100 Honor, and finding a Maraketh Shrine felt better than dropping a Mirror. Seriously.
Common Misconceptions
People often confuse these with the standard buffs like the Acceleration Shrine or the Gloom Shrine. Those are great for mapping (especially with a dedicated Atlas tree), but they won't save your Honor in the Sekhema trials.
👉 See also: GTA 5 Stand Menu: Why Everyone is Using It and the Risks You Need to Know
Also, don't think you can just "outplay" the need for shrines. Even the best players take chip damage from the environmental hazards in Act 2. The floors collapse, poison darts fly out of nowhere—the game is designed to whittle you down. The Maraketh Shrine is the reset button.
How to Maximize Your Shrine Efficiency
If you want to stop failing your trials, follow these steps:
- Hoard Sacred Water: Don't buy every shiny thing the Djinn vendor offers. Keep a reserve of at least 10–15 water so you can always afford a shrine when you're in a pinch.
- Check Your Pacts: Before you accept a deal that gives you a "Minor Affliction on Veneration," look at your Honor bar. If you're at 20%, that pact is a death sentence.
- Identify the Visual: Look for the stone basins with glowing blue water. In the dusty, orange-tinted Vastiri Plains, the blue stands out if you're looking for it.
- Prioritize Honor Relics: If you're struggling to finish the trial, swap your damage relics for anything that mentions "Honour Restoration" or "Shrine Effect."
Managing your resources in PoE 2 is half the battle. The other half is just not standing in the fire. Next time you're in the Trial of Sekhemas, don't just rush the exit. Stop at the fountain, pay the water, and keep your run alive. It’s the difference between a stash full of loot and a wasted coin.
To get the most out of your next run, take a look at your current Relic inventory. If you don't have at least one relic that boosts Sacred Water drops, that should be your first priority before entering your next high-tier Trial of Sekhemas.