Venarius

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For The NPC in the Synthesis league, see Cavas, Forgotten Spirit.
High Templar Venarius
High Templar Venarius
High Templar Venarius
Level(s) 83 (CortexCortex
Synthesised Map
Map Level: 83
Map Tier: 11
Item Quantity: +100%
Monster Pack Size: +25%
25% increased Pack size
100% increased Experience gain
Monster Level: 83
Map has (3-5) additional random Modifiers
Map has (2-4) additional Synthesis Global Modifiers
CorruptedThough my life is gone, my purpose is not.
My will remains, emboldened and empowered by the righteousness of my cause.
Travel to this Map by using it in a personal Map Device. Maps can only be used once.
)
84 (Replica CortexReplica Cortex
Synthesised Map
Map Level: 84
Map Tier: 11
Item Quantity: +100%
Monster Pack Size: +25%
25% increased Pack size
200% increased Experience gain
Monster Level: 84
Map has (6-8) additional random Modifiers
Map has (4-6) additional Synthesis Global Modifiers
Corrupted"Did nobody think to report that we had acquired some sort of free-floating
Memory? Cease testing and lock this away immediately!"
- Administrator Qotra
Travel to this Map by using it in a personal Map Device. Maps can only be used once.
)
85 (Uber)
Location(s) Memory Nexus (during Synthesis league)
Synthesis unique maps as non-targetable enemy
Modifier(s) Construct

High Templar Venarius is an antagonist from the Synthesis league. Once an ally known as Cavas, Forgotten Spirit, he turns against the player after recovering his own memories. He is not directly fought, but rather he summons various Synthesised bosses for the player to fight in synthesis unique maps.

This page describes his boss encounter in the CortexCortex
Synthesised Map
Map Level: 83
Map Tier: 11
Item Quantity: +100%
Monster Pack Size: +25%
25% increased Pack size
100% increased Experience gain
Monster Level: 83
Map has (3-5) additional random Modifiers
Map has (2-4) additional Synthesis Global Modifiers
CorruptedThough my life is gone, my purpose is not.
My will remains, emboldened and empowered by the righteousness of my cause.
Travel to this Map by using it in a personal Map Device. Maps can only be used once.
(and Replica CortexReplica Cortex
Synthesised Map
Map Level: 84
Map Tier: 11
Item Quantity: +100%
Monster Pack Size: +25%
25% increased Pack size
200% increased Experience gain
Monster Level: 84
Map has (6-8) additional random Modifiers
Map has (4-6) additional Synthesis Global Modifiers
Corrupted"Did nobody think to report that we had acquired some sort of free-floating
Memory? Cease testing and lock this away immediately!"
- Administrator Qotra
Travel to this Map by using it in a personal Map Device. Maps can only be used once.
) map.

Encounter

Venarius appears in every synthesis unique map. But only the CortexCortex
Synthesised Map
Map Level: 83
Map Tier: 11
Item Quantity: +100%
Monster Pack Size: +25%
25% increased Pack size
100% increased Experience gain
Monster Level: 83
Map has (3-5) additional random Modifiers
Map has (2-4) additional Synthesis Global Modifiers
CorruptedThough my life is gone, my purpose is not.
My will remains, emboldened and empowered by the righteousness of my cause.
Travel to this Map by using it in a personal Map Device. Maps can only be used once.
(and its replica variant) are multi-boss fights. In all of the unique maps, Venarius mainly acts as the narrator of the boss fight of that map, as the map bosses themselves do not have voicelines.

Venarius himself does not fight the player; however, he will summon Synthesised bosses to fight the player instead.

  • Fractal Gargantuan, a giant unique golem
    • Golem Whip: Two cleaves in front
    • Golem Beam: "Light of Salvation!" - Fires a long laser
    • Leap Slam: Charges and springs into the air before slamming
    • V Turret Slam: "Wraeclast needs me!" - Slams the ground, creating two lines of body-blocking turrets
    • Projectile Laser Combo: Fires a few projectiles that decelerate, then fires a laser beam swipe that explodes the projectiles
    • Projectile Spin Combo: "Darkness surrounds us!" - Fires projectiles that decelerate, then spins while firing two laser beams that explode the projectiles
    • Single Projectile Combo: Fires a single decelerating projectile before quickly shooting it with a laser beam, exploding the projectile
  • Synthete Masterpiece, a humanoid unique monster
    • Beam Barrage: "Be no more." - Fires several lasers in one direction
    • Celestial Projectiles: Fires 3 slow moving projectiles
    • Wormhole Slam: "Feel the pull of the void!" - Summons several black orbs that follow the player, accelerating over time. If they touch the player, the player will be teleported in front of the boss. He then deals a heavy slam in an cone in front. (Can be avoided by dashing away just before he slams)"Yes, that's it! Death sweeps in."
    • Cross Mortar: Creates a set of 4 orbs that spin in a circle, slowly spreading out and dealing damage on impact
    • Charged Slam: "Sin surrounds you!" - Charges up a large area on the ground that slows the player before exploding in a bubble
    • Concentrated Beam Blast: "Burn away sin!" - Crosses four laser beams, detonating in an AOE around the overlapping point
    • Projectile Barrage: fires a barrage of celestial projectiles in an arc
  • Intermission phase; "In this, the realm of the past, I am King, and you will bow!" - weaker synthesised monsters spawn from four portals
  • Fractal Titan, a giant unique golem
    • Uses the same skills as Fractal Gargantuan, as well as:
    • Unstable Energy Phase: "Haha! Yes! Feed!" - Summons and begins to absorb several orbs of Unstable Energy to power up. These can be detonated by walking through them. After a delay, releases several rings outwards dealing heavy damage "Obliterate sin!"
  • Synthete Nightmare, a humanoid unique monster
    • Uses the same skills as Synthete Masterpiece, as well as:
    • Multi-Teleport: "Belief overwhelms!" - Rapidly teleports around the arena, firing projectiles towards the player. Shortly after, a ring of orbs will appear, which sequentially fire and explode at a specific location.
    • Laser Cage: "Cleansing flames!" - Floats up, creating a ring of lasers that shrink towards the center of the arena before exploding in a large AOE. Must use a movement skill to jump out of the way.

Additionally, Venarius will constantly spawn ground effects in the arena which reset each phase:

  • Void Pits: Creates a small black pool on the ground; reduces action speed by 5% and deals physical damage over time, stacking up to 10 times. Appears in all four Unique phases.
  • Energy Pylon: Summons stationary Pylons on the ground that continuously deal Lightning damage in a small area when touched; these can be deactivated by touching them again after a short cooldown. Appears in the last two Unique phases.
    • There is a bug where touching a Pylon while transitioning between the Fractal Titan and the Synthete Nightmare will cause the Pylons to persist.

Uber boss variant

Using five Synthesising FragmentsSynthesising FragmentThe Cortex is level 85
Venarius' full power is unleashed in the Cortex
When memories become twisted by a corrupted mind,
history is rewritten, time after time.
Use five of these in a personal Map Device to open Portals to The Cortex. Can only be used once.
opens a harder instance of the boss fight. Venarius is fought in Area Level 85 and greatly increases in difficulty. The fight with Venarius will have the following changes:

  • Area has the mod Monsters take 70% less damage.
  • Area has 100% increased effect of Additional Modifiers (random map mods & synthesis global mods).
  • Each unique phase will spawn an additional Unique Synthete (map bosses from Synthesis Maps). These bosses will persist between stages, should you kill the main boss before them.
  • Energy Pylons will spawn in all four Unique phases.

Drops

Drop rates are estimated based on crowdsourced data and may not be accurate. version 3.24.0, n=135r/100u[1][2]

Venarius Uber Venarius
Guaranteed
Unique
  • Offering to the SerpentOffering to the Serpent
    Legion Gloves
    Armour: (257-363)
    Energy Shield: (52-75)
    Requires Level 57, 44 Str, 44 Int<One to three random Synthesis implicit modifiers>+(15-25) to all Attributes
    (150-200)% increased Armour and Energy Shield
    50% reduced Maximum Recovery per Life Leech
    (6-10)% increased Attack and Cast Speed
    (15-25)% increased Damage while Leeching
    Life Leech effects are not removed when Unreserved Life is Filled
    "You covet the strength of your peers, mortal?
    Perhaps it can be yours, if you are willing to make an offering of their blood..."
    - Vaal Myth of the Third Snake
    (45%)
  • PerepiteiaPerepiteia
    Ezomyte Spiked Shield
    Chance to Block: 25%
    Evasion: (724-1045)
    Energy Shield: (148-215)
    Movement Speed: -3%
    Requires Level 62, 85 Dex, 85 Int<Three random synthesis implicit modifiers>+(1-3) to Level of Socketed Lightning Gems
    Triggers Level 20 Lightning Aegis when Equipped
    (1-20)% increased Attack Speed
    (1-20)% increased Cast Speed
    (300-400)% increased Evasion and Energy Shield
    +(1-75) to maximum Mana
    (1-20)% increased Movement Speed
    Something within the machine never stops moving,
    but Oriathan scholars dare not open it to find out why.
    (45%)
  • Garb of the EphemeralGarb of the Ephemeral
    Savant's Robe
    Energy Shield: (322-435)
    Movement Speed: -3%
    Requires Level 56, 600 Str, 752 Int<One to three random Synthesis implicit modifiers>(180-230)% increased Energy Shield
    +600 Strength and Intelligence Requirement
    Gain a Divine Charge on Hit
    +10 to maximum Divine Charges
    You gain Divinity for 10 seconds on reaching maximum Divine Charges
    Lose all Divine Charges when you gain Divinity
    Nearby Allies' Action Speed cannot be modified to below Base Value
    Nearby Enemies cannot deal Critical Strikes
    Exceptional men and women of strong will can flicker a spark,
    but something much greater is needed to unleash the wildfire of true divine flames.
    (~8%)
  • Bottled FaithBottled Faith
    Sulphur Flask
    Lasts (5.60-6.80) Seconds
    Consumes 40 of 60 Charges on use
    40% increased Damage
    Requires Level 27Creates Consecrated Ground on Use(30-15)% reduced Duration
    Consecrated Ground created by this Flask has Tripled Radius
    Consecrated Ground created during Effect applies (7-10)% increased Damage taken to Enemies
    (100-150)% increased Critical Strike Chance against Enemies on Consecrated Ground during Effect
    A tourniquet for the soul, squeezing ethereal into physical.Right click to drink. Can only hold charges while in belt. Refills as you kill monsters.
    (~2%)
  • Mask of the TribunalMask of the Tribunal
    Magistrate Crown
    Armour: (400-567)
    Energy Shield: (82-117)
    Requires Level 58, 64 Str, 64 Int<Three random Synthesis implicit modifiers>+(25-30) to all Attributes
    (150-200)% increased Armour and Energy Shield
    Nearby Allies have 1% Chance to Block Attack Damage per 100 Strength you have
    Nearby Allies have +(6-8)% to Critical Strike Multiplier per 100 Dexterity you have
    Nearby Allies have (2-4)% increased Cast Speed per 100 Intelligence you have
    2% increased Mana Reservation Efficiency of Skills per 250 total Attributes
    The judge determines worthiness by comparison to the paragon: himself.
    (40%)
  • NebulisNebulis
    Void Sceptre
    Sceptre
    Physical Damage: 50-76
    Critical Strike Chance: 7.30%
    Attacks per Second: 1.25
    Weapon Range: 1.1 metres
    Requires Level 68, 104 Str, 122 Int<Three random synthesis implicit modifiers>(15-20)% increased Cast Speed
    (15-20)% increased Cold Damage per 1% Cold Resistance above 75%
    (15-20)% increased Lightning Damage per 1% Lightning Resistance above 75%
    The vastness of the cosmos holds energies beyond comprehension, should one have the fortitude to grasp them.
    (~33%)
  • Circle of AmbitionCircle of Ambition
    Prismatic Ring
    Requires Level 64<Three random Synthesis implicit modifiers>+(10-20) to all Attributes
    +(10-20)% to all Elemental Resistances
    10% increased Mana Reservation Efficiency of Herald Skills
    <Three Random Herald modifiers>
    I will build the wall that stands against the tide.
    The day is coming... I have seen it.
    (~17%)
  • The ApostateThe Apostate
    Cabalist Regalia
    Movement Speed: -3%Requires Level 35Has no Attribute Requirements or Energy Shield (Hidden)
    +(30-50) to Strength
    +(20-30)% to all Elemental Resistances
    Gain Maximum Life instead of Maximum Energy Shield from Equipped Armour Items
    When I finally rejected my faith entirely, my stagnant belief
    became thick white blood, as choking as it was nourishing.
    (~8%)
  • Rational DoctrineRational Doctrine
    Cobalt Jewel
    <Three random synthesis implicit modifiers>You have Consecrated Ground around you while
    stationary if Strength is your highest Attribute
    25% chance to create Profane Ground on Critical
    Strike if Intelligence is your highest Attribute
    Effects of Consecrated Ground you create Linger for 4 seconds
    Effects of Profane Ground you create Linger for 4 seconds
    Logic wanes in shining faith, and in rationalism, ardour dims
    Thus, the cynic and the zealot are divided
    But can they not be one and the same?
    Place into an allocated Jewel Socket on the Passive Skill Tree. Right click to remove from the Socket.
    (~2%)
Encounter-
specific
drops
  • Forgotten Reliquary KeyForgotten Reliquary KeyI have already lost more
    than you shall ever possess.
    Travel to the Forgotten Reliquary by using this item in a personal Map Device. Can only be used once.
Additional
drops
  • The HookThe Hook8Level 21 Transfigured Gem
    Quality: +23%
    Corrupted
    Every obsession began with a single, innocent taste.
    (~5%)
  • Imperfect MemoriesImperfect Memories5Jewellery
    Item Level: 100
    Three-Implicit
    Synthesised
    Everything is eroded by time, but sometimes the edges that fade can make a wonderful memory even more beautiful.
  • DementophobiaDementophobia1110x Delirium OrbI never truly understood the depths of my insanity,
    until I realized the voices beckoning me towards the abyss,
    were none other than my own.

Note that all synthesised items dropped have three synthesised implicits.

Do not leave the zone/map after killing the Synthete Nightmare, as this may prevent Venarius from dropping loot (due to a delayed animation).

Lore

Venarius was a High Templar of the Order of the Templar, preceding Dominus. Contrary to his position, Venarius is not a pious man, and knew from an early age that the Templars were despicable and secretly despised them. His ascension within the Templar ranks were simply a means for him to secure power for himself and what he believes is for the "greater good". His actions were responsible for starting off the events of the Epilogue storyline; his discovery of the map device, his orders to Valdo Caeserius to investigate the device, and his freeing of the Elder.

Atlas of Worlds expansion

Venarius was first mentioned in the Shaper Memory Fragments that introduced in Atlas of Worlds expansion (version 2.4.0). Such lore and lore objects were superseded by War for the Atlas expansion, which introduced the Elder as an endgame boss. Subsequent atlas expansions, Conquerors of the Atlas, Echoes of the Atlas and Siege of the Atlas did not supersede the existence of the Elder and Venarius, only pushed the event of the killing / re-sealing of the Elder before the start of Epilogue (unknown it is "before Act 1" or "after Act 1" or "after Act 10"). These events were thus completed by NPC representing older player protagonists known as the Elderslayers, instead of the players themselves.

For the only superseded lore of Venarius, the High Templar Venarius gave Valdo Caesarius a box that contains pieces of a golden device. Caesarius proactively assembled the device and "slipped into dreams". Venarius discovered the completion of the map device and used Zana, daughter of Valdo Caesarius, as a threat to force Valdo open the entrance to the dreams. Venarius then entered the dream realm with four Templar Guards, Valdo destroyed the map device, but was also sucked into the dreams, trapped until he eventually became The Shaper. The four High Templar's personal guards are hypothesized to have become the four Shaper Guardians.

War for the Atlas

War for the Atlas expansion was released in version 3.1.0 which superseded the end game storyline, which the lore from Shaper's Memory Fragment are replaced by new version in Book of Memories. Synthesis league (version 3.6.0) further explore the past of Venarius.

In this version, High Templar Venarius was the previous High Templar of Oriath, preceding High Templar Dominus. Scattered memory fragments give pieces of his past: even as a child, he knew how corrupt the Templars were and secretly despised them, yet joined their ranks so that he could seize as much power for himself. When the Templars discovered a strange device in an expedition in Wraeclast, Venarius tasked Chief Arkhon Valdo Caesarius to research the object. Valdo mentioned little of his findings on the device, and once Venarius discovered he had been withholding its secrets (the entrance to the dream as well as the Shade), he tortured and publicly shamed him to force him to reveal its secrets, and it wasn't until Venarius threatened to kill his daughter where Valdo agreed.

Venarius and his Templars was led to a portal into a dream world, and into the Elder's prison. This version of the storyline Valdo entered the dream together with Venarius as a tour guide.[3] In the Atlas, The Elder asks Venarius to pull the sword sealing his body in exchange for power. Venarius agreed to the deal, and pulled the sword out of the Elder's chest, releasing it into the Atlas once again. It was assumed Venarius was wiped out by the Elder shortly after, but in truth he survived.

Synthesis league

In the Synthesis league timeline, Venarius was but a wandering spirit with no memory of his past calling himself Cavas, Forgotten Spirit. The player met Cavas in Act 1 and triggered the plot during the Epilogue, in maps. When Zana attempted to have Cavas investigate the Shaper's Memory Fragments, she discovered that he had been altering them. This led to the revelation of Cavas' true identity as the High Templar Venarius, his threats towards Valdo, and his fate in the Atlas.

"

After obtaining your first Shaper Memory Fragment, your next memory will be a special one in which Cavas regains his memory, discovering that he is in fact High Templar Venarius -- the man who sent the Shaper into the Atlas and who freed the Elder.

This revelation does not come as a surprise to Zana, as she was present when Venarius demanded that her father (the Shaper) build the map device he eventually used.

Venarius, however, has a bit of a saviour complex, and sees himself as the only man who can save Wraeclast from the eldritch horrors of the Atlas. Also he can apparently modify the Fragmented Memories, rewriting what they contain. He plans to rewrite the memories of living people so that they follow him and support him in his planned fight against the Elder. Zana is not on board, and neither are you! So he flees, and Zana takes over his duties in the hopes that the two of you can recover these memories before Venarius has a chance to rewrite them.

"

- Official Path of Exile website[4]

Synthesis league was not added to the core game due to poor reception, and Cavas Venarius' Synthesis league storyline and betrayal were scrapped; Synthesis rewards were reintegrated into other league mechanics instead. Player can still met Venarius in unique synthesis maps, but the preceding lore was absent in-game due to the removal of Fragmented Memories and dialogue, and the Book of Memories was removed after the introduction of the new atlas expansion Conquerors of the Atlas. However, based on the existence of the Vault of Venarius, or based on the dialogue of The Last to Die, the existence of Cavas/Venarius and presumably his encounter with the Elder is still canon, despite lack of in-game lore objects and dialogues to tell the whole story arc.

Conquerors of the Atlas expansion

In the Epilogue questline of the Conquerors of the Atlas and Echoes of the Atlas expansions (version 3.9.0 to version 3.16.3c), Officer Kirac and the player visits the Vault of Venarius in the Haunted Reliquary, which contained pieces of another map device needed to reopen the way into the Atlas.

This area is no longer accessible after the introduction of the Siege of the Atlas expansion (version 3.17.0), in which a time-skip occurs wherein Sirus has already destroyed Oriath at the start of Epilogue of this expansion. While impossible to directly verify the canonicity of the Vault of Venarius still existing, the events of sealing the Elder still exist as memories in the new endgame, so the storylines of Venarius, Valdo (The Shaper) and The Elder lore is presumably still canon.

Scourge league

The Last to Die, NPC of Scourge league (version 3.16.0), mentioned that there were "countless" alternative Wraeclasts. Of those, the only one that managed to survive the Scourge was one "dominated by the shade of High Templar Venarius." She seemed to believe that going there to ask for help would be ill-advised.[5] Scourge league was not added as a core game mechanic, and the canonicity of the Last to Die in the current timeline is unknown, as the player can no longer encounter her.

Siege of the Atlas expansion

The new dialogue added into the game in Siege of the Atlas (version 3.17.0) dated the trapping of Valdo Caesarius (The Shaper) in The Atlas, due to the action of High Templar Venarius, was 20 years before the Epilogue.[6] While the Epilogue of Siege of the Atlas timeline itself is a year after Act 10. We don't know the timespan of Act 1 to 10, but the event of Valdo Caesarius is probably 19 years before the Act 10. There is no other mention of Venarius in-game, but since the itemized memories existed as unique synthesis map, probably the whole map device, Valdo (The Shaper), Venarius, and The Elder's story arcs are still canon - albeit the player's character was not directly involved in any of it.

Sanctum league

In the Sanctum league (version 3.20.0), defeating Lycia, Herald of the Scourge unlocks new dialogue options from Divinia which concerns the demons of the Scourge (see #Scourge league for details). She mentions their existence was a deeply guarded secret known only to the High Templars. Considering Venarius was a High Templar, one can assume he knew about the Scourge. This dialogue confirms the events of Scourge and Synthesis leagues are somewhat canon, despite the players no longer able to interact with the two league mechanics (the current Beyond mechanic is not the original Scourge league mechanic). In the cutscene in Synthesis league where Venarius recovers his memories, he mentions wants to "protect Wraeclast properly" from the "demons" that are threatening to invade Wraeclast and destroy all of civilization; Venarius was willing to brainwash all of humanity to prepare for the inevitable Scourge invasion.

Path of Exile Mobile

From left to right: Dominus, Venarius, and Valdo Caeserius as well as Elder tentacles as featured in a loading screen in Path of Exile Mobile, 20 years before the storyline of Path of Exile

Path of Exile Mobile's story takes place 20 years before the first game, during the aftermath of the events that took place in Valdo's backstory as told in the War of the Atlas expansion. The player character is a prisoner ordered by Inquisitor Dominus to act as a disposable scout to enter the Atlas and find Valdo Caeserius - and his mysterious benefactor - in exchange for their freedom. Venarius is expected to have a role in the game's story, though the details are currently unknown.

Version history

Version Changes
3.24.0
  • The Cosmic Wounds, Memento Mori, Thirst for Knowledge, Insatiable Appetite, Throw the Gauntlet, and The Perfect Storm Atlas Keystone Passives have been removed. Instead, we have added a new set of fragments that can be used to access the Uber Pinnacle Bosses.
    • Uber Pinnacle Bosses no longer drop additional rewards granted from their respective keystones (Uber Venarius no longer drops rare synthesised items). [Undocumented This change was not documented by any official sources. It was discovered through player testing or datamining.]
  • Rebalanced the drops and drop rates of Uber Pinnacle Bosses and introduced new exclusive Uber unique items. [Undocumented This change was not documented by any official sources. It was discovered through player testing or datamining.]
3.20.0
  • Pinnacle bosses, Map bosses, Incursion architects, Betrayal targets, Breachlords and others no longer have 33% or 66% less effect of curses on them respectively.
3.18.0
  • Added 7 new uber versions of Pinnacle Boss fights, accessible through Atlas Keystone Passives. These fights are extremely difficult, so only attempt them if you have a very powerful character.
3.6.0
  • Introduced to the game as NPC and map boss.
2.4.0
  • Introduced to the game, as part of the lore.

References