In Path of Exile (PoE), the "Shrinking Light" quest is a crucial part of your journey into the treacherous depths of the Azurite Mine. As you delve deeper, the encroaching darkness becomes a relentless adversary, threatening to overwhelm you unless you take action. This quest tasks you with upgrading your light radius at the Voltaxic Generator in the Mine Encampment, ensuring that you can continue your exploration without succumbing to the suffocating dark. This guide will walk you through the steps of the quest and the importance of managing your light radius.
As you venture deeper into the Azurite Mine, the darkness becomes more oppressive, literally shrinking the area illuminated by your light source. Niko, Master of the Depths, warns you of this growing danger and advises you to upgrade your light radius using Azurite, a precious resource you gather during your delves.
Your primary objective in this quest is to use the Voltaxic Generator located in the Mine Encampment to upgrade your light radius. This upgrade is essential for surviving the increasingly hostile environment of the deeper mine levels, where the darkness is not just a lack of light but an active, malevolent force seeking to consume you.
Objective:
Niko’s ominous warnings throughout this quest emphasize the importance of maintaining and upgrading your light radius. His dialogue reflects the growing danger as you delve deeper and the increasingly aggressive nature of the encroaching darkness.
Key Dialogues:
Light Radius: "Deeper you go, the more claustrophobic it feels. Like the darkness is closing in. Might be, exile. Might be trying to strangle ya. Might be time we try to squeeze a little more juice out of those lights. If you’ve got any Azurite spare, could be worth upgrading the lights at the generator."
Light Radius: "You’ve done it now, exile. You’ve really done it now. Look how the darkness crowds around the light, waiting to pounce on you. The deeper you go, the stronger it gets. Pushes in towards the light. Only one way to fight back, exile. More light. Brighter light! Upgrade it at the generator with your ore. See how the darkness feels about that, eh? Heheheheh."
In the Azurite Mine, the light radius is not just a visual effect but a vital mechanic that determines your survival. The darkness in the mine is deadly, draining your life rapidly if you stray too far from your light source. As you progress to deeper levels, the default light radius becomes insufficient, making upgrades essential.
The Voltaxic Generator allows you to spend Azurite, the currency you collect during your delves, to enhance your light radius. This upgrade pushes back the darkness, giving you more room to explore, avoid hazards, and fight the dangerous creatures lurking in the shadows.
Once you have used the Voltaxic Generator to upgrade your light radius, the quest is complete. This upgrade will allow you to delve deeper into the mine with greater safety, pushing the boundaries of how far you can explore before the darkness overtakes you.
Objective:
The "Shrinking Light" quest is a reminder of the constant battle between light and darkness that defines the Delve league in Path of Exile. By upgrading your light radius, you not only increase your chances of survival but also empower yourself to explore the deepest, most dangerous parts of the Azurite Mine. Niko’s eerie warnings underscore the seriousness of this quest, urging you to respect the darkness—and to fight it with every tool at your disposal.
As you continue your journey, remember that light is your greatest ally in the mine’s depths. Keep upgrading, keep exploring, and always be mindful of the darkness that seeks to consume you. Good luck, Exile, and may your light shine ever brighter.