If you've been swinging the scythe left and right for a while having a blast, you should have a look at this Darksiders II guide, which should help you get through the side quests in the game, find relics, etc.
Click on the following links to jump to one section or another:
ALYA
The Hammer's Forge: After you've acquired The Maker's Key and cleared the Drenchfort, talk to Alya to gain access to The Hammer's Forge. You'll need to enter an optional dungeon, known as The Shattered Forge (situated north of the Shadow Gorge) and track down Splinter-Bone, the lost hammer of Valus. It's a fairly simple, twelve-room dungeon, so you shouldn't have too much trouble with it. Just watch for enemy ambushes as you proceed through the place, and you'll be en route to Alya with Valus's hammer in short order - you'll get a substantial XP and Gilt reward for your troubles. Make sure you're at least level 8 before attempting this one.
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BLACKROOT
Sticks and Stones: While travelling through The Fjord for the first time, you'll eventually come across a construct named Blackroot. It'll ask The Pale Rider to collect a number of special gemstones, known as Stonebites, using the Lure Stone and his pistol, Redemption. You'll need to shoot seventy Stonebites total. Once you've accomplished Blackroot's task, you'll get the Guillotine - a fine new pair of scythes for Death.
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THE CHANCELLOR
The Chancellor's Quarry: Upon arriving in the realm of Lostlight, Death will come across an angel named Nathaniel. This angel will ask Death to bring a piece of parchment to a location known as The Eternal Throne. When you arrive there, give the scroll to The Chancellor, who will send the Reaper to a location known as The Soul Arbiter's Maze . Located in The Spine's west valley, this place is a nasty piece of work, and without all The Arbiter's Scrolls, you're probably not going to be able to solve it, or find any of the secret items.
If you're not too keen on a drawn-out fetch quest, refer to the directions below to make your way through the maze in short order (and track down all the secret items in the process). Before we start: each room contains four doors (one for each cardinal direction) and a number of hostile monsters. The Soul Arbiter himself awaits you at the end. Have fun!
Path to the Exit
Floor 1: N, W
Floor 2: E, S, N
Floor 3: W, E, N, N
Floor 4: E, W, N, S
Floor 5: W, W, N, E
Floor 6: S, E, E, N, N
Floor 7: S, W, E, E, E
Floor 8: N, W, N, W, E
Floor 9: E, N, E, N, S
Floor 10: W, E, N, S, W
Secret Treasures
Floor 1: S, E
Floor 2: N, N
Floor 3: N, S, E
Floor 4: W, E, N
Floor 5: W, N, S
Floor 6: E, E, S
Floor 7: S, S, W, N, N
Floor 8: N, S, S, E, N
Floor 9: S, W, E, E, N
Floor 10: N, S, E, W
The Soul Arbiter
Be careful when fighting the arbiter – this guy is fast. There are a few things worth noting for this battle: at several points throughout (based on how much health he has remaining) he'll make himself invincible and summon a legion of undead to his side. Keep away from him when he starts to levitate, counters are your friend, and watch out for the fight against the Undead General- the invincible Soul Arbiter will be participating in that one. After slaying the master of the maze, go downstairs, grab some loot, and return to The Chancellor for your reward – Pillager.
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THE CRUCIBLE
Accessed after defeating The Guardian towards the end of the Forge Lands, The Crucible is a brutal arena which will pit Death against 100 waves of enemies, divided into four different ‘stages.' It can be visited (or revisited) at any point in The Pale Rider's travels. There are a number of rewards available for Death on completion of each Stage, and on completion of The Crucible itself.
Stage I: Hearstone Talisman
Stage II: Abyssal Armor Boots
Stage III: Barbed Defiler
Stage IV: Abyssal Spaulders, Assassin Talisman
Complete All Stages in One Go: Aftermath
Take Down Wicked Killington: Elemental Talisman
Generally, it's best to visit The Crucible later in the game(around level 30, so you can better survive), as specific Tarot cards are required to access each Stage of The Crucible, defeating The Guarding unlocks waves 1-25, taking down The Wailing Host gets you access to Wave 25-50, taking down Samael gains you access
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MURIA
Shaman's Craft: It's pretty much impossible to miss this one, and equally difficult to fail it- speak to Muria when you meet her for the first time at Tri-Stone, and you'll complete the objectives as you advance through the Forge Lands. It's a pretty long quest chain, but your reward's a nice one – The Grim Talisman, an artifact which increases the rate at which Death builds Reaper Energy.
Spark of Life: After you've brought Nathaniel's Scroll to The Chancellor at the Eternal Throne, bring it to Muria at Tri-Stone. Muria will send you to The Scar, situated in The Forge Lands, south of The Charred Pass. You'll need to travel there and beat down a construct named Ghom, and your reward will be a king's ransom in gilt and a hefty XP bonus.
You should be able to find your own way through The Scar, so we'll skip straight to the strategy for the Ghom battle. He starts out slow, and you should have no trouble evading him and his attacks while pummeling him into submission. Just make sure to evade him whenever he starts to glow - it means he's going to go “boom.”
After the battle goes on for a bit, he'll start causing flames to engulf sections of the arena. Keep yourself light on your feet, and don't worry about attacking him during this segment - you'll just get yourself burned. Also, unless the constructs Ghom summons when his health reaches 50% get between the two of you, just ignore them and keep beating him into submission. Return to Muria with the good news for your well-deserved reward.
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NATHANIEL
The Lost Soul: You'll complete this quest by completing Muria's and The Chancellor's quests. There's really not much to say about this one - you'll get a bit of XP and Gilt, but the real rewards come at the end of the two quest chains Nathaniel's task nets you. You'll need to travel to both The Eternal Throne and Tri-Stone in order to mark this one as ‘done.'
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ORAN
Silent Stone: This one's pretty simple. Once you acquire The Maker's Key by clearing the Drenchfort, swim to the end of the harbor in the Fjord. You'll see a massive, broken construct there. Use the key to awaken it, and he'll notice something's a little off - he seems to be missing his limbs.
Wandering Stone: Naturally, Oran's going to ask The Pale Rider to locate his missing body parts for him- it's a simple matter of walking up to the body parts and awakening them with the action button- they'll find their own way back to Oran. They're located in the following areas:
Maker's Chronicle (DLC Only): If you've downloaded the Death Riders pack, Oran will have another side quest for you after you've helped him put himself back together – he needs you to track down something known as the Maker's Chronicle. Go to Tri-Stone and talk to Muria. Once you've collected six life seeds for her (just go into the Fjord or Drenchfort and kill things until you've gathered the requisite amount), she'll give you the Lodestone. From there, it's a straight shot to Baneswood, where the Chronicle is located. Return to Oran with the Chronicle, and you're done!
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OSTEGOTH
Lost Relics: The goat-faced merchant tends to wander a bit, but there's a good chance you'll encounter him eventually in your travels. When you do, he'll request that you track down thirty lost relics and return them to him. If you manage to complete this task for him he'll give you the Abyssal Gauntlets- not a bad reward for your work at all. A complete listing is below.
Etu-Goth
Relic 1
Location: Kingdom of the Dead – Leviathan's Gorge
Details: This one will be on the cliffs to the northeast. Can't miss it.
Relic 2
Location: Lair of the Deposed King – Basement Level 2
Details: Go down the steps at the entrance, make your way past a few jumps, and find your way to a set of ruined stairs. Jump down them, then turn and look into the wreckage behind you.
Relic 3
Location: Gilded Arena – Broken Stairwell II Area 13
Details: You'll eventually find yourself in a room with a statue puzzle. Fall down the stairwell after this room, then start heading back up the stairs- you'll see the relic on a platform nearby.
Relic 4
Location: Eternal Throne
Details: It's right behind the throne. Can't miss it.
Relic 5
Location: Kingdom of the Dead – Sentinel's Gaze
Details: Climb up a Shadowbomb Pod, and look for a torch to find this one.
Relic 6
Location: Phariseer's Tomb (Third Floor)
Details: After fighting the Undead General, smash some crates to the northwest.
Relic 7
Location: Kingdom of the Dead - Spine
Details: Go south from the entrance of the Soul Arbiter's Maze. The relic will be at the edge of a cliff.
Relic 8
Location: Judicator's Tomb (First Floor)
Details: After taking down the prison boss, you'll find yourself in a platforming segment. When you reach the eastern edge (where you need to start climbing), go down as far as you can, and drop down.
Relic 9
Location: Psychameron (First Floor)
Details: This one will be on a platform right at the end of a bridge, just before the boss arena.
Relic 10
Location: City of the Dead (Second Floor)
Details: When you reach a room guarded by two Wraiths, kill them and start solving the puzzle. The relic will be against the southern wall.
Relic 11
Location: Lostlight – Path to Crystal Spire
Details: Outside Vulgrim's gate, hidden in the bushes.
Relic 12
Location: Earth (First Floor)
Details: In the entrance of a ruined hotel, across from a treasure chest behind a collapsed wall.
Relic 13
Location: Ivory Citadel (Third Floor)
Details: Once you've purified the water at the top of the western tower, jump down into the aqueduct, then run through the water pouring from it.
Relic 14
Location: Ivory Citadel (First Floor)
Details: Later in the dungeon, it'll be in a room behind a statue (after you've acquired the skeleton key and removed the corruption).
Khagoth
Relic 15
Location: The Black Stone (Past) – First Floor
Details: After fighting off the Maelstroms, find a side room with a Shadowbomb pod. The relic will be in the southeastern corner.
Relic 16
Location: The Maw (Western Area Ruins)
Details: Go to the southern edge of the area to find a switch, Pull it, then climb the wall nearby.
Relic 17
Location: Judicator's Tomb (Second Floor, Northwest)
Details: Underwater, in the western side of the map.
Relic 18
Location: Ivory Citadel (Second Floor, North)
Details: Behind several webs of corruption in an open courtyard towards the northern section of the citadel.
Relic 19
Location: Shadow's Edge
Details: Outside the Black Stone dungeon, take the left path to reach a pressure plate. Split souls at the top of the wall, and go right.
Relic 20
Location: Shadow's Edge (Death's Tomb 4)
Details: Once you've gathered forty Pages of the dead, return and you'll have access to this relic.
Renagoth
Relic 21
Location: Gilded Arena (First Floor)
Details: At the top of a tall ledge towards the eastern wall of the arena.
Relic 22
Location: Leviathan's Gap
Details: At the edge of the gorge's western cliffs, behind a stone.
Relic 23
Location: Kingdom of the Dead (The Spine)
Details: East of the Judicator's tomb, near a tower.
Relic 24
Location: Psychameron (First Floor)
Details: Get the skeleton key, and start climbing back to the top floor of the dungeon. On the way, you can use Death Grip to get the relic.
Relic 25
Location: City of the Dead (First Floor)
Details: Near the boss door
Relic 26
Location: Lostlight (Crystal Spire Exterior)
Details: A hidden alcove on the outside of the Crystal Spire.
Relic 27
Location: Earth (Basement)
Details: Inside a derelict subway, near where the Staff of Arafel used to be, behind a cluster of corruption crystals.
Relic 28
Location: Earth (First Floor)
Details: Near the exit to the derelict subway, behind a car to the northwest.
Relic 29
Location: Ivory Citadel (Third Floor, East)
Details: Inside the Aqueduct near the eastern tower. Drop down twice, and turn around.
Relic 30
Location: Ivory Citadel (Second Floor, West)
Details: Inside a room with a portal-based puzzle, across from a switch.
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THANE
The Maker Warrior: Basically, you've got to beat the crap out of Thane. Wait until after you've cleared Drenchfort, and you should be able to rise to the occasion easily. You can attempt it sooner, but there's a good chance he'll mop the floor with you if you try before reaching at least level 4 or 5. Once you've beaten him down, he'll offer you several additional quests.
Find and Kill Gorewood: Pretty much what's written on the box. Best wait until hitting level 10 before trying this one, though. You'll need to travel to the Weeping Crag, and take down Gorewood. Evasion's key for this fight- you don't want to get hit by this guy, because he hits like a freight train made of explosions. The Crag itself is near the Stalker's Den. Your reward will be the Gorewood Maul.
Find and Kill Bheithir: Down in The Nook, there's a massive phoenix known as Bheithir. This one's a tough fight, but you'll be fine if you've got teleport slash- try not to let the fiend face you at any point during the fight. Return with news of the Phoenix's demise for Bheithir's Talons.
Find and Kill Achidna: At the end of the Psychameron waits a massive, grotesque spider known as Achidna. There's really no way you can miss fighting this beast- you need to kill her during the main quest. You'll receive Achidna's Fangs for taking her down.
Find and Kill the Deposed King: First thing's first, if you're thinking of attempting this quest at any level below twenty…don't. Argul's probably among the toughest bosses in the game, and if you go in unprepared or under-leveled, Death will be sent to an early grave. When you fight him, keep on your feet- don't even think about attacking him unless his mace is stuck in the ground. Also, you should probably try to avoid getting hit- the mace freezes you. Don't bother countering during this fight- just stay out of his way. You'll be awarded the Scepter of the Deposed King for your troubles.
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URIEL
Light of the Fallen: Your task, should you chose to accept it, is mercy killing. Uriel will award Death Sunder if he's willing to travel around the ruined city and track down ten Hellguard who are being held by demons, and end their pain. Very straightforward, and quite easy to accomplish.
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VULGRIM
The Book of the Dead: You need to find all the pages of the book of the dead: forty in all. For every ten you return to Vulgrim, he'll give you a key to one of the Death Tombs. Use this guide to track them down.
The Death Tombs are in the following areas:
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