Grim Dawn The Sacred Ashes Quest Guide

Looking to complement your Demolitionist or Nightblade build, or just want to earn some extra faction reputation? The Grim Dawn Sacred Ashes side quest is a great way to kill two birds with one stone, if you can figure out how to finish it!

This Act III quest can be initiated regardless of whether you team up with the Order of Death’s Vigil or Kymon’s Chosen. There are different reasons to go either route, as the bosses change between the quests for either faction so you have access to two distinct infrequent weapon drops.

How To Complete The Sacred Ashes Quest

         Finding the Tomb of the Archon for The Sacred Ashes quest

Here’s who to talk to start The Sacred Ashes quest for either faction option in Act III:

• Kymon’s Chosen: Talk to Father Kymon in Kymon’s Sanctuary after completing the Enemy Of My Enemy quest given by Brother Elluvius
• Order of Death’s Vigil: Talk to The Keeper of Tomes in the Bastion of the Order, after completing the quest A Catalyst given by Varuuk

After initiating the quest, head southwest from the Fort Ikon rift through the Fort’s southern gate (you are at the right spot if you get mobbed by Fleshwarped on the way out). Keep heading south across the bridge, then follow the wagon tracks southwest.

When you see a big stone staircase and the wagon tracks break south next to a wood sign post, stop following the tracks and instead keep going west through the gate to find the Tomb of Archon Barthollem.

The Tomb will be filled with enemy members of whichever faction you didn’t side with during the main campaign. Proceed through the dungeon to the bottom of the second level (the stairs down are at the far northwest end).

Head through the iron gate to find the boss guarding the item you need to complete the quest.

Although you don’t need it for this quest, note that the second level of this area has a loose torch near the northern end that offers access to the secret Lost Tomb of the Damned area.

         Tomb of Archon Barthollem map location

Death’s Vigil Sacred Ashes Boss

If you are with Death’s Vigil, the battle is with Archon Barthollem. He makes extensive use of fire damage, and when using a glass cannon or a melee build, watch out for his area effect Ring Of Fire ability.

The boss has a low chance to drop Archon’s Warmaul when defeated — a two handed mace that deals fire damage and gives +3 to the Demolitionist skill Fire Strike.

Archon Barthollem is farmable after completing the quest, so you can return repeatedly and fight him to try to get the Warmaul later.

After the battle, pick up the Desecrated Ashes of Empyrion from Barthollem’s corpse, then return them to The Keeper Of Tomes in the Bastion of the Order to complete the quest.

Kymon’s Chosen Sacred Ashes Boss

If you sided with Kymon’s Chosen, the battle is with Malkadarr, Champion of Death’s Vigil. Be on the lookout for Ice Crystal summons and be prepared to face extensive use of cold damage.

The boss has a low chance to drop Malkadarr’s Dreadblade — a one handed sword that increases cold damage and gives +2 to the Nightblade skill Execution.

Like with Barthollem, Malkadarr is farmable after completing the quest, so you can return repeatedly and fight him to try to get the Dreadblade. Following the battle, pick up the Sacred Ashes of Empyrion from the corpse and return them to Father Kymon to complete the quest.

      Fighting Archon Barthollem in the Tomb 

Unlike most other quests, this one doesn’t come with a random item that increases in effectiveness on harder difficulties. Instead you always get XP, some Iron Bits, +500 faction reputation, and a random level 35 relic blueprint.

Need help putting together the ultimate build to smash through quests like The Sacred Ashes and get into the rogue-like dungeons? Check out our best Grim Dawn 2019 builds here, or if you just getting started and need a start to finish guide, head over to our beginner’s walkthrough to Grim Dawn builds.