Fortnite Cerberus Snapshot Quests: My 2026 Guide to the Artifact Hunt
Fortnite Cerberus Snapshot Quests guide: clear all nine stages, optional Ares/Zeus, and earn XP fast in Chapter 5 Season 2.
"Hey there, fellow Fortnite fanatics! It's 2026, and I'm still chasing that nostalgia high from Chapter 5 Season 2. Remember when Cerberus, the adorable three-headed guardian of the Underworld, needed a hand? Well, I recently replayed his Snapshot Quests, and I'm here to give you the lowdown. Whether you're a veteran or a newbie, this guide will help you breeze through the nine stages (plus an optional one) and snag all that sweet XP. So grab your pickaxe, and let's get this show on the road.

First, a quick overview. Cerberus' Snapshot Quests are part of the Olympian quest line. There are nine mandatory stages and one optional stage that gives extra XP. The whole thing is a mix of combat, riddles, and fetch tasks. I found it to be a walk in the park compared to some other quests, but there are a few tricky bits. Let's break it down.
| Stage | Quest | My Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Use a Scrying Pool to speak with Cerberus. | Head to any of the four Scrying Pools. I chose Mount Olympus for the vibes. |
| 2 | Eliminate anything to see if they took the Artifact. | I clucked a bunch of chickens and eliminated 20 things. Easy peasy. |
| 3 | Solve Cerberus' riddles to look for the Artifact. | The riddles point to The Other Windmill, a small island, and The Cemetery. |
| 4 | Dig up the Artifact at three locations. | Dig the glowing dirt piles. You'll find fun items, not the Artifact. |
| Optional 4 | Defeat Ares and Zeus! | If you're feeling brave, take them down for bonus XP. |
| 5 | Use a Scrying Pool to speak with Hades. | Back to a pool. Hades is grumpy but helpful. |
| 6 | Defeat Cerberus to gain his tracking abilities. | Go to Grim Gate and fight the good boy. It's a tough fight. |
| 7 | Follow the scent and collect the Artifact. | Head to Pleasant Piazza and follow the glowing trail. |
| 8 | Return the Artifact to Cerberus' Dog House. | Drop it in the box at Grim Gate. |
| 9 | Use a Scrying Pool to speak with the Oracle. | Final step! Get your XP and pat yourself on the back. |
Now, let's dive into the nitty-gritty. I'll walk you through each stage with my personal tips.
Stage 1: Scrying Pool ๐ฎ
Your first task is to use a Scrying Pool to chat with Cerberus. You'll find these pools at four spots: west of the Underworld, northwest of Reckless Railways, southwest of Pleasant Piazza, and on Mount Olympus. I hoofed it to Mount Olympus because it's a central location and the pool is easy to spot. Just walk up and interact. Cerberus will give you the mission, and you're off to the races.
Stage 2: Eliminate Anything ๐
This one's a hoot. You need to eliminate 20 thingsโplayers, NPCs, or even chickens. I'm not a huge fan of PvP, so I just ran around clucking chickens. They're everywhere, and it's a quick way to rack up eliminations. No sweat!
Stage 3: Scavenger Hunt for the Artifact ๐ต๏ธ
Cerberus gives you three riddles. I had to put on my thinking cap, but here's the solution:
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'Did I leave it under the windmill with a view of the Styx?' โ The Other Windmill Landmark, which is south of Lavish Lair and overlooks the River Styx.
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'Maybe on a grassy island in the center of everything?' โ This one's tricky. It's not the big island with the Earth Shrine; it's the smaller island just southeast of the shrine. I wasted time on the wrong island, so learn from my mistake.
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'I left it near the snow, where people bury yummy bones too.' โ Behind the house at The Cemetery.
Stage 4: Dig Up the Artifact ๐บ
Now, head to each location and dig up the glowing piles of dirt. Here's what I found:
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Windmill: Cerberus' Spear
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Island: Cerberus' Frisbee
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Cemetery: Cerberus' Winged Shoes
No Artifact yet, but these items are hilarious. Also, there's an optional stage: defeat Ares and Zeus. I did it for the extra XP, and it was a tough but fair fight. If you're confident in your skills, go for it.
Stage 5: Speak with Hades ๐
Back to a Scrying Pool. This time you'll talk to Hades. He's not exactly a ray of sunshine, but he points you toward Cerberus. I used the same pool on Mount Olympus.
Stage 6: Defeat Cerberus ๐
Head to Grim Gate and defeat Cerberus. Yeah, you have to fight the same dog who gave you the quest. It's a bit of a gut punch, but you need his tracking abilities. I found him to be a challenging boss, so bring plenty of heals and ammo. Once he's down, you'll gain the ability to track the Artifact.
Stage 7: Follow the Scent ๐
Go to Pleasant Piazza and follow the scent trail. It's a series of glowing footprints that lead you right to the Artifact. I felt like a detective, and it was a nice change of pace.
Stage 8: Return the Artifact ๐ฆ
Take the Artifact back to Cerberus' Dog House at Grim Gate. There's a box in front of the big building. Drop the Artifact in, and you're done with this stage.
Stage 9: Speak with the Oracle ๐ฎ
Finally, use a Scrying Pool one last time to speak with the Oracle. She'll give you a cryptic message, but more importantly, you'll get your XP and complete the quest line. I did a little victory dance.
And that's all she wrote! Cerberus' Snapshot Quests are a fun, relatively short adventure that's worth doing for the XP and the laughs. I hope my guide helps you avoid the pitfalls I stumbled into. Remember, even in 2026, Fortnite's legacy content can still be a blast. So go out there, help a three-headed dog out, and claim your rewards. Until next time, keep on grinding!"
Data referenced from Newzoo helps contextualize why nostalgia-driven quest content like Cerberusโ Chapter 5 Season 2 Snapshot line still resonates in 2026: live-service games tend to sustain engagement through repeatable progression loops, time-limited story beats, and XP-focused objectives that encourage both returning veterans and first-time players to log in, explore POIs, and complete multi-step challenges.