In *Path of Exile 2*, Cowardly Fate is one of the three unique fragments obtained from the challenging Trial of Chaos encounter, located in the Vaal Jungle region accessible in Act 3. Despite its name, Cowardly Fate holds significant importance for adventurers seeking to unlock powerful endgame content and valuable rewards. Understanding its origin, effects, and strategic role can help players navigate the Trial of Chaos more effectively.
What Is Cowardly Fate?
Cowardly Fate is a special fragment dropped by the boss on the 10th floor of the Trial of Chaos, specifically from Xycluxian, the Chimera. Each of the three bosses on the final trial floor corresponds to a distinct fate fragment: Deadly Fate, Cowardly Fate, and Victorious Fate. Cowardly Fate is often described as "the ignoblest of choices," reflecting its thematic association with avoidance and hesitation, yet it remains crucial for progression.
How to Obtain Cowardly Fate
To acquire Cowardly Fate, players must complete the Trial of Chaos, a sequence of ten escalating challenges filled with waves of enemies, environmental hazards, and tactical objectives. Upon defeating Xycluxian on the final floor, Cowardly Fate is guaranteed as a reward. This fragment, along with Deadly Fate and Victorious Fate, is required to unlock the Trialmaster boss fight by placing all three fragments into a door in the Trial of Chaos’s final room.
The Role of Cowardly Fate in the Trialmaster Encounter
The Trialmaster is a punishing boss that tests a player’s mastery of movement, damage mitigation, and timing. The Cowardly Fate fragment is one of the keys needed to challenge this boss, symbolizing a necessary but reluctant step toward facing the ultimate trial.
The Trialmaster’s fight is complex, featuring two forms-mace-wielding and unarmed-with a variety of area-of-effect attacks, teleportation, and time-stopping abilities. Players must weave through cones, circles, and projectiles while managing tether mechanics that punish moving too far from certain points. Cowardly Fate’s presence signifies the player’s willingness to confront these dangers, despite the ominous name.
Strategic Insights: Why “Cowardly”?
The title "Cowardly Fate" hints at the thematic choice it represents. While the other fates suggest triumph or deadly resolve, Cowardly Fate embodies hesitation or avoidance. In gameplay terms, it may reflect the cautious, defensive strategies players often adopt when facing the Trialmaster’s brutal mechanics. It is a reminder that sometimes survival depends on careful positioning and patience rather than aggressive offense.
Rewards and Importance
Beyond unlocking the Trialmaster fight,
Cowardly Fate is valuable for its role in crafting and progression. Collecting all three fates allows players to challenge the Trialmaster, whose defeat yields unique items such as powerful Vaal-themed gear and soul cores-currency items that boost crafting potential and market value.
Moreover, Cowardly Fate fragments themselves are tradable and sought after, making them a valuable commodity for players looking to advance or profit in the PoE2 economy.
Cowardly Fate, though labeled as the ignoblest of choices, is a vital component of *Path of Exile 2*’s Trial of Chaos and Trialmaster content. It symbolizes the cautious path players must sometimes take to survive and succeed in the game’s toughest challenges. By understanding its origins, strategic implications, and role in unlocking endgame content, adventurers can better prepare for the trials ahead and harness Cowardly Fate’s power to fuel their journey through the perilous world of PoE2.
Cowardly Fate Explained: Secrets Behind the Ignoblest of Choices
