Where to Find the Unique Vendor in Path of Exile 2

Step 3: Find Elder Madox

• Take the path away from the vault entrance.
• Follow this trail to the edge of the map. You will find Elder Madox, an elderly man, sitting calmly by a cliffside overlooking the mountains.
• Note: The exact layout of Kriar Peaks can have some procedural generation,but the checkpoint-fork clue is the consistent, intended way to findhim.

How Elder Madox's Shop Works & What He Offers

The Mechanics: A One-Time Gift

• One Free Unique Per Character: This is not a shop with prices. When you speak to him, he will offeryou a selection of Unique items from his inventory. You may select one, and only one, for free.
• Permanent Choice: The choice is final for that character. You cannot return later to pick a different item from his inventory.
• Account-Wide, Not League-Wide: This is a permanent league (Standard/Solo Self-Found) feature. It is highly unlikely this free vendor will be available intemporary challenge leagues, where the economy and fresh start are coreto the experience.

The Item Pool: From Leveling Gems to Legendaries

Elder Madox's inventory pulls from a wide range of Unique items. His offerings are completely random for each character, creating a exciting "gacha" moment. The pool includes:

• Common Leveling Uniques: Items like Doomgate or Earthbound that are powerful for acts 1-10 but lose relevance later.
• Powerful Build-Defining Uniques: He can offer top-tier endgame items. References to Headhunter (a belt that grants monster mods on kill) or Astramentis (a massive all-stat amulet) in the original text are placeholders for PoE 2's equivalent S-tier chase Uniques.
• Strategy: There is no way to re-roll his offerings. You get what you get on thatcharacter. The goal is to identify which item he offers you has the most value—either for your current build, a build you want to try, or fortrade capital.

Strategic Guide: How to Choose Your Free Unique

Since you only get one shot, use this decision tree:

1. Identify Immediate Power: Is one of the offered items a direct, massive upgrade for your current build? If yes, take it. Power now accelerates all future farming.
2. Evaluate Trade Value: If nothing is useful for your build, identify the most valuable trade item he offers. Use your knowledge or a trade macro/website to checkapproximate value. This liquid currency can fund the rest of yourgearing.
3. Plan for an Alternate Character (Alt): Is there a build you've been dying to try that is completely enabled by one of the Uniques he's offering? Taking it can be the perfect reasonto start that new character.
4. Consider Leveling Speed: A strong, low-level Unique can make leveling your next character (or this one, if you're early) incredibly smooth.

Why Finding Elder Madox is Always Worth It

• Zero Opportunity Cost: It costs you only the time to find him (10-15 minutes).
• High Potential Upside: The chance to get an item worth multiple hours of farming for free is invaluable.
• Mandatory for Alt Characters: Making the trek to Kriar Peaks on every new character you plan toinvest in should become a standard part of your leveling route.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Can I find Elder Madox in every game mode?
A: He is intended as a permanent league feature. He will almost certainly NOT be available in Challenge Leagues (like the Necropolis League), as a free deterministic Unique would disrupt the fresh economy. He will be present in Standard, Hardcore, Solo Self-Found (SSF), and their permanent variants.

Q: If I don't like what he offers, can I leave and come back later for a different selection?
A: No. His offered inventory is generated the first time you speak to him onthat character and is locked in. You must make a choice from what ispresented at that moment.

Q: Does my character's level, class, or quest progress affect what he offers?
A: Most likely, yes. While not officially confirmed, based on Path of Exile 1 vendor mechanics, his pool likely respects item level requirements. A higher-level character may see a wider pool including higher-level bases.

Q: I'm playing Solo Self-Found (SSF). Is he still available?
A: Yes. In fact, he is even more critical in SSF, where you cannot trade for Uniques. He represents one of yourfew guaranteed chances to acquire specific powerful items.

Q: Is this a one-time find per account, or per character?
A: Per character. Every new character you level can make the journey to Kriar Peaks, find Elder Madox, and claim their one free Unique. This makes him acornerstone of alt-character strategy.

Elder Madox is a brilliant piece of PoE 2 design—a rewarding secret that teaches exploration and offers athrilling moment of discovery and potential power to every player.

Have you found Elder Madox yet? What incredible (or hilariously bad) Unique did he offer you? Share your results and how it shaped your build in the comments below.If you found an alternative landmark or path to locate him, let thecommunity know! For more essential Path of Exile 2 secrets, build-defining Unique locations, and leveling guides, exploreour full PoE 2 database. Now, get out there, find that checkpoint, andclaim your prize.