The Halls of the Dead and Tattoo Rewards

Following the completion of the Trials of Mettle, you'll gain access to Path of Exile 2 Currency the Halls of the Dead, an ancient dungeon full of mini-trials and traps. This area is critical because it grants additional Blank Tattoos - items that can be converted into permanent attribute or resistance bonuses.

Each test in the Halls of the Dead is associated with a different god and their elemental domain:

Tawhoa's Test - Grants the Blank Tattoo of Tawhoa, which becomes either +5 Dexterity or +5% Lightning Resistance.
Tasalio's Test - Rewards the Blank Tattoo of Tasalio, giving +5 Intelligence or +5% Cold Resistance.
Ngamavu's Test - Offers the Blank Tattoo of Ngamavu, providing +5 Strength or +5% Fire Resistance.

These Tattoos can be freely assigned, allowing players to tailor their resistances and attributes based on their gear needs or build path. For endgame optimization, this flexibility is invaluable - especially when combined with high-end Path of Exile 2 Items that demand specific stat thresholds.

Optional Reward: Pay Your Respects (+5% Maximum Mana)

Within the Silent Hall subsection of the Halls of the Dead, you may encounter a glowing green pool. Interacting with it triggers the Pay Your Respects event, granting a permanent +5% Maximum Mana bonus.

This effect persists across all future content and synergizes particularly well with mana-intensive builds such as Witch, Warlock, and Hierophant archetypes. Given its permanent nature, it's one of the most efficient side rewards in Path of Exile 2 - don't skip it.

Final Boss: Yama the White

The culmination of the Trial of the Ancestors is the battle against Yama the White, a spectral champion wielding devastating projectiles and time manipulation abilities.

Key mechanics to watch for include:

Dive Bombs - High-damage aerial attacks that can one-shot unprepared players.
Time Stop Clone Mechanic - Yama freezes time and summons clones of your character. One of them channels a deadly AoE - stand next to this clone to minimize incoming damage.
Spectral Waves - Slow-moving waves that apply Cold exposure and heavy slowing effects.

Once Yama is defeated, a portal opens leading to the Mother, who offers final dialogue and unlocks your concluding reward.

Final Reward: Hinekora's Tattoo

Upon speaking with Navali at the end of the questline, players receive Hinekora's Tattoo, one of the best permanent rewards in Path of Exile 2.

Effect:

Grants +2 Weapon Set Passive Skill Points, enabling greater flexibility in weapon-based builds and alternate skill setups.

This boost is especially valuable for advanced characters who experiment with multiple skill loadouts or weapon archetypes. It opens up new avenues for hybrid scaling and unique weapon synergies.

Why You Shouldn't Skip the Trial of the Ancestors

Even though it's an optional questline, the Trial of the Ancestors is essential for character optimization. Completing it provides multiple permanent bonuses that impact both early and late game progression:

+5 Strength, Dexterity, or Intelligence Tattoos
+5% Elemental Resistances
+5% Maximum Mana
+2 Weapon Set Passive Skill Points

These stat boosts make it easier to meet gem and gear requirements while improving survivability and efficiency in higher-tier content. In addition, the questline's rich lore deepens the connection between Matiki, Hinekora, and cheap POE 2 Divine Orbs Navali, enriching the overall story of Path of Exile 2.