Summary
Path of Exile 2is enjoying an active early access phase, and its players and developers both agree thatthis is a challenging game. This is in large part because of the game’s bosses, whose variety and complexity are among the games' biggest strengths.Path of Exile 2expects players to learn attack patterns and master its bosses.
Act 2 is a step-up in difficulty from the first act, partly because of the resistance penalty that’s applied to players as soon as they enter the act. There are 14 bosses, some mandatory and some optional, for players to overcome in this chapter, including someepic fights. Here’s a ranking of all of Act 2’s bosses based on how memorable they are, how rewarding they are, and how tough they are to beat.
14Rathbreaker
Centaur Spear Brigade
Rathbreaker is the first boss of Act 2. Players must take him out before they get access to the Ardura Caravan, which acts as the chapter’s hub. The only stand-out feature of this fight is the boss’s high physical damage, as there’s only one main attack to avoid. The boss does a series of three attacks that send out straight lines of damage in front of him, with the third attack being a high damage slam that players have to avoid. Dodging behind the boss makes this attack a non-issue. Players also need to watch out for hyena adds and the spear barrage from the cliffs.
13L’im The Impaler
Bleeding Out
L’im The Impaler has some fearsome physical damage and the ability to bleed the player. Other than that, they don’t have much in their kit to keep players occupied. Found in the Hilani Gates map, this optional boss feels forgettable, and doesn’t have a side quest or any unique loot attached. Their model does appear to be a nod toElden Ring’s Messmer the Impaler, though, so that’s one stand-out feature.
She’s Coming
Rudja, The Dread Engineer is the second mandatory boss in Act 2, and many players will remember her most devastating attack. Most of Rudja’s fight is manageable. She’ll throw bombs that are easy to avoid, and occasionally turn her flamethrower on the player for some big fire damage.
Rudja telegraphs her worst attack by stopping and strapping a bomb to her weapon, before rushing at the player while swinging wildly. The resulting explosion if the player is caught by the swings isenough to one-shot most characters. Players will get used to the timing of running away and dodging fairly quickly, but this panic-inducing attack makes Rudja memorable, at least.
11Watchful Twins
The Turkey Twins
The Watchful Twins are an optional boss in Deshar, but not a particularly memorable one. The bosses are a duo of larger versions of the Giant bird-like enemies the player has been fighting on the ramparts of Deshar. They have some elemental abilities, but they don’t do much to stand out from the regular enemy type otherwise. The player just has to watch out in case both bosses decide to jump slam with awkward timing, as taking two of thesehigh-damage melee hitsin quick succession is likely to kill.
10Balbala The Traitor
Rite Of Passage
While this boss is technically optional, every player will end up fighting Balbala in the traitor’s passage. That’s because this fight is a part of the side quest to unlock the Trial of the Sekhemas, which players need to complete to unlock theirAscendancy class. The fight also has some interesting mechanics that make it an early stand-out among Act 2’s bosses.
There’s a lot of poison damage, so a poison immunity charm can make things a little easier. Players still need to get used to the two main mechanics, though. First, the boss places circles around the arena that can spawn adds. Players can run over the circles to get rid of them, but will have to dodge the resulting dive attack from the boss. At intervals, the boss will disappear, and the room will start filling with gas. Players need to find the boss to stop the gas killing them. These unique mechanics make this an interesting fight.
9Iktab The Deathlord / Ekbab The Ancient Steed
Iktab and Ekbab are an imposing final encounter for the Mastodon Badlands. This is one of the three major boss encounters players will have to clear as part of the quest to get rid of the sandstorm created by Jamanra. This undead pair have a complementary set of abilities that can make this fight tough to navigate for someearly game builds.
Iktab is a mage who fires spells from range and creates large AoE projectiles. Meanwhile, the hulking bone mammoth Ekbab charges the player and deals high physical damage. Players can kill either one first, and the remaining enemy will get some new abilities for the remainder of the fight.
8Azarian, The Forsaken Son
Forsaken Fire Master
Azarian is another major boss that players will need to defeat to progress to the final maps of Act 2. His major attacks are all fire-based, but he packs some moderate physical damage as well. The main thing to watch out for is the destructible braziers at the four corners of the room. If the boss or player breaks them, they will spread scorched ground that deals continuous fire damage.
If all four braziers are broken, this essentially forces players to stand in the center of the room with the boss to avoid taking continuous damage. It’s not the most challenging fight in the Act and can be overcome with high fire resistance, but it’s thematically interesting as this scion of fire holds a goddess of water as his prisoner.
7Kabala, Constrictor Queen
Burrowing Snake Queen
The Constrictor Queen doesn’t stand out much, but the reward of two free passive skill points is an essential pickup. The other distinct factor of the fight is its small arena. Kabala will try to trap players for a big damage AoE, and alternately try and zone them out of the arena so she can burrow underground to restore her energy shield. If players have enoughdamage output, they don’t need to worry too much about this rotation. Her energy shield will disappear quickly once players can target her again.
6Jamanra, The Risen King
Jamanra, Part One
The first encounter with Jamanra happens early in Act 2, and is a precursor to what comes later. His lightning moves aren’t as strong here as they are at the end of the Act, but he’s still capable of cutting down players who haven’t stacked anylightning resistanceyet. The fight is memorable as it sets up the rest of the Act, with Jamanra escaping and summoning a sandstorm that blocks players from pursuing him. This sets up the most open-ended quest chain in the game. Players have to visit multiple locations in any order to get the parts required to progress.
5The Ninth Treasure Of Keth
A Living Treasure
While exploring the Lost City map in Keth, players can optionally visit the Galleria. This optional map includes some chances at extra loot, and the unique optional boss The Ninth Treasure of Keth. This boss is unlikely to give many players trouble, but the concept of a living, bejeweled, beetle-automaton is fun and creative.
The main thing to watch out for is managing the waves of small beetle adds that the boss summons. The reward will interest new players who stumble across this boss, as it will likely be the first time they drop a Jewel, which players can socket into their skill tree for a passive buff.
