Lair of the Deposed King - Exploring the upper level of the dungeon | Additional Locations Darksiders 2 Guide
Last update: 11 May 2016
Whether you've been able to explore the locked mausoleum or not, go back to the staircase and head for the door you've ignored earlier; it's on the top, second, level of the basement (the above screen).
Head east, using a flight of stairs on your way. Watch out, because as soon as you reach the bottom level you'll be attacked by a batch of Scarabs - unless your character isn't too low-leveled, they won't be too much of a problem for you.
After the battle, examine the south wall and make your way up it. When you reach the top ledge, move left and do some wall-running. Continue moving left.
Wall-run again, using a ledge on the way. After you reach the new edge, wall-run up the wall and use Death Grip on the hook above you (the above screen). The only thing left is to check out the balcony for a Soul Arbiter's Scroll.
Jump down and go back to where you've started the climb. Proceed east, down the demolished stairs (the above screen). Take care of some Skeletons and Scarabs, then examine the area below the stairs to find a Relic of Etu-Goth ([Lost Relics] side quest).
Head north, looting chests as you go. Open the new door and for starters go north again. When you get to the room you see on the above screen, wall-run along the right wall. Check out the new ledge to find a Boatman Coin. Afterwards, use Death Grip on the upper hook to get to a chest with a random treasure.
Backtrack to the last chamber and use the Skeleton Key you got from the third level to open the west door pictured above.
[TIP: In the central room described here, you can also fight a monster which is involved in a side quest called [The Bloodless]. You'll find more details under that quest's chapter.]
Go west to reach a room with a lift. You don't need to examine the south corridor - it only has a switch which can help you leave the dungeon. Instead, hit the crystal to get the lift running.
Once you're down on the lower level, start off by scouting out the nearby hallway and two side chambers to eliminate all Ice Skeletons you stumble upon. In the south room, look around for a Soul Arbiter's Scroll as well (you don't have to pick anything up, just approach the signs painted on the wall). Finally, enter the west chamber to commence a mini-boss battle - with the Deposed King himself.
The Deposed King is definitely the most difficult of all the mini-bosses connected with Thane's side quests. He's the most resistant and he deals quite a lot of damage. I strongly recommend keeping an eye out for the powerful mace attack especially (screenshot 1) - you'll get frozen if you're in its range (screenshot 2) and will be busy getting free (by mashing E) while receiving ice damage in the meantime.
The rest of the Deposed King's repertoire isn't that powerful, though you shouldn't underestimate it all the same. It consists of standard melee attacks, shield bashes (the above screen) and turning into a hurricane.
I suggest hitting the boss each time one his most powerful strikes fails, because he'll need some time to pick his mace from the ground. Use your best special attacks, but not too much at the same time so as not to let him respond at once.
It's also a good idea to use the Reaper Form. If you want to do it that way, I suggest using it right at the start, because there's a chance it will charge up again before the end of the battle. The main reward for defeating the Deposed King is the legendary weapon Sceptre of the Deposed King, but don't forget to loot the chests at the end of the chamber as well. This is the end of the trip to this dungeon.
[TIP: Defeating the Deposed King has been a part of [Find and kill the Deposed King] side quest. If you haven't unlocked it yet, it will automatically show up in your quest log, so don't worry about missing the reward.]