Quests in Dark and Darker are never simple errands, they test your exploration skills, puzzle-solving abilities, and combat readiness. Among them, the "Secrets and Vermin" quest stands out as one of the more unique challenges. It combines hidden mechanics with brute-force battles, making it both a cerebral and high-stakes adventure.

 

If you're looking to increase your stash of Dark and Darker Gold and add powerful Dark and Darker Items to your inventory, this quest should be high on your list. Below, we'll walk through the tasks, rewards, strategies, and tips to make sure you complete Secrets and Vermin successfully.

 

Quest Requirements

 

To complete Secrets and Vermin in the Crypt dungeon, you'll need to tackle two main tasks:

 

Interact with the Hidden Statue Lever (1x)

Kill the Giant Worm (3x)

 

At first glance, it may not sound too difficult, but both objectives come with unique challenges. The hidden lever requires careful exploration, while the Giant Worm encounters demand preparation and strong combat execution.

 

Quest Rewards

 

Finishing the quest offers a generous mix of rewards that will strengthen your progression:

 

150 Unique Gold Coin

1 Random Epic Weapon

300 Experience

25 Affinity

 

The epic weapon reward alone makes this quest worthwhile. Combined with the unique gold coins and affinity, you'll walk away with significant progression and valuable resources. Plus, don't overlook the fact that the Crypt dungeon itself often drops rare Dark and Darker Items during your runs.

 

Step 1: Locating the Hidden Statue Lever

 

The first task requires you to find and interact with a hidden statue lever. These levers are designed to blend in with the dungeon's gothic architecture, often tucked away in shadowy corners or behind environmental obstacles.

 

Tips for Finding the Lever

 

Check Walls Closely: Hidden levers are often disguised as part of a statue or wall ornament. Look for subtle visual differences.

 

Light the Area: Carry a torch to illuminate dark alcoves and corners, many players miss the lever simply because they rush in poor visibility.

 

Listen Carefully: Interacting with certain objects sometimes produces faint audio cues, such as grinding stone or shifting walls.

 

Activating the lever may open secret doors, spawn loot, or even trigger enemy ambushes. Be ready for anything.

 

Step 2: Killing the Giant Worm

 

The second objective is where most players struggle. The Giant Worm is a formidable enemy that appears in the Crypt dungeon, and you'll need to kill it three times in a single run.

 

Giant Worm Mechanics

 

Burrow Attacks: The worm can dive underground, re-emerging for surprise strikes.

 

Acid Spit: It launches corrosive projectiles that deal damage over time if you're not careful.

 

Massive Health Pool: Expect a long fight, this isn't a quick kill.

 

Combat Strategies

 

Stay Mobile: Never remain in one spot for too long. Constant movement reduces the chance of being caught by burrow or acid attacks.

 

Use Ranged Weapons: Bows, crossbows, and spells give you an advantage, as staying close to the worm is extremely risky.

 

Coordinate in a Party: If you're not running solo, assign roles, have one player kite the worm while others focus on damage.

 

Stock Up on Potions: Healing and protection potions are critical. This fight is about endurance as much as damage output.

 

Killing the worm three times will take effort, but it's entirely possible if you prepare properly.

 

Efficient Quest Completion Strategy

 

If you want to complete Secrets and Vermin in one smooth run, here's a recommended approach:

 

Scout Early: Focus first on finding the hidden lever. This ensures you won't run out of time later while distracted by worm fights.

 

Clear Trash Mobs: Before engaging the Giant Worm, clear nearby skeletons and other undead enemies. This prevents getting swarmed mid-battle.

 

Fight Worms in Open Areas: The more space you have, the easier it is to dodge burrow attacks.

 

Loot Between Fights: After each worm kill, take a moment to loot corpses, chests, or hidden caches for bonus Dark and Darker Items.

 

Maximizing Rewards

 

The quest rewards are excellent on their own, but you can further increase your haul if you're smart during the run.

 

Loot Every Worm: Giant Worms often drop high-quality Dark and Darker Items. Even if they don't suit your build, they can be sold for Dark and Darker Gold.

 

Open Secret Doors: If the hidden lever reveals extra chambers, these areas often contain rare loot. Don't ignore them.

 

Farm Skeletons and Wraiths: While moving through the Crypt, kill additional mobs to boost your loot chances.

 

By combining the quest with efficient farming, you'll walk away with far more than just the official quest rewards.

 

Solo vs. Group Runs

 

Solo Players

 

Going solo is challenging but not impossible. Focus on mobility, ranged damage, and potions. Use stealth and patience to avoid unnecessary fights while prioritizing the worms and lever.

 

Group Runs

 

In a party, communication is everything. Assign one player to act as the worm's distraction, while ranged attackers deal consistent DPS. Support roles should focus on healing and buffs to sustain the team.

 

Final Thoughts

 

The Secrets and Vermin quest in Dark and Darker is one of the most rewarding yet demanding challenges in the Crypt dungeon. Tracking down a hidden statue lever and taking on the Giant Worm three times requires equal parts exploration, patience, and combat skill.

 

But for your effort, you'll receive 150 unique gold coins, a guaranteed epic weapon, experience, and affinity points. Along the way, you'll also likely collect rare Dark and Darker Items and accumulate extra Dark and Darker Gold by selling or trading your surplus loot.

 

If you're aiming to strengthen your character, boost your inventory, or simply test your dungeon-crawling mettle, Secrets and Vermin is a quest you shouldn't skip. Approach it with preparation, and you'll walk away not just victorious, but rich in both currency and equipment.