How Do You Deal With The Encounter With Ekbab And Iktab In Path Of Exile 2? - Battle Guide
Path of Exile 2, which has been popular all over the world for some time, has become a popular target for many players who love challenges because of its unique boss battle encounter mechanism. A double boss encounter in Act 2 of this sequel has become the most discussed topic among exiles.
The two bosses are Ekbab, Ancient Steed and Iktab, Deathlord. They will reward you with Mastodon Tusks and a piece to assemble the Horn of Vastiri, so that you can cross the current desert and go to more dangerous places.
Since the difficulty of fighting two bosses at the same time is very high among the boss encounters in the whole game, this guide will show you how to find Ekbab and Iktab, as well as the attacks and mechanisms they use in the battle, so that you can complete this unique boss encounter faster and more comfortable.
How To Find Ekbab And Iktab?
The first thing we need to know is that Ekbab, Ancient Steed and Iktab, Deathlord are located in The Bone Pits in Act 2, which you will find during A Theft of Ivory quest.
You will explore two very important locations during this quest, the first being the Mastodon Badlands. Although there is no boss to fight here, it is great for farming POE 2 Currency and some loot, as it contains a lot of lower-level monsters that are easily defeated by your normal attacks. The other location is The Bone Pits where you fight Ekbab and Iktab.
How To Defeat Ekbab And Iktab?
As you explore The Bone Pits, a very large area, you will definitely come across Blackrib Pit, which is the location of the arena where you fight these two bosses. Since this arena is regional, try not to set foot in it until you have decided on a strategy to deal with them.
It is also worth noting that when either Ekbab or Iktab is defeated, the other will be given some power, which will cause their damage output per attack to be very high and very efficient, so when making your build, you can’t focus your main attack power on only one boss.
You can try to spend some POE 2 Exalted Orbs to invest in multiple gears with different offensiveness, so that they can deal equal damage to each other, so that Ekbab and Iktab’s health will be depleted at the same rate, and then quickly defeat them one after another. After you prepare a powerful build, you also need to understand the attack moves and mechanics of these two bosses so that you can react faster and more accurately during the battle.
Also Read: Player Feedback: The Endgame In Path Of Exile 2 Would Be Better With Some Changes!
Ekbab, The Ancient Seed
- Ground Slam: If you see Ekbab is standing up, it means that it is about to raise its front hooves and slam itself in front of it, which will cause a wave of cascading damage to you. So you need to dodge immediately when you see it standing up to avoid this attack.
- Tusk Swipe: At this time, Ekbab will swing his head to the left to cause tremendous damage, so you can stay on its right side to avoid this move. But it should be noted that it is always moving, so Ekbab will often swing to the right, so please always pay attention to the direction of its head swing.
- Charge: When you see Ekbab start to retreat, it is about to use this attack move: charging forward to cause unbearable straight-line damage once hit. At this time, it is recommended that you can increase the mobility in the build as much as possible, or keep some distance to better avoid this attack.
In general, most of the attacks used by Ekbab can be judged by its actions before the attack and the distance between you and the boss. The safe area you are standing in is generally safer on both sides. So between Ekbab and Iktab, Ekbab is easier, but when it gains a buff because of Iktab’s death, it will be your real challenge.
After gaining the specified buff, Ekbab will create a smaller version of Iktab’s Ghost Nova, which will fire a number of projectiles at you. There will also be one or two small ghost orbs that will follow you around and explode when they get close to you. The strategies available here are very limited, as each player’s play style is slightly different, but the easiest way to practice is to just keep dodging their attacks until the projectiles are gone.
Iktab, The Dreadlord
- Lightning Wand: Iktab will fire a bunch of small lightning projectiles around the arena that will explode when they hit your character. Unfortunately, it’s hard to tell where the projectiles are from, so when you see the first set, it’s best to stay at a distance or dodge.
- Sigil Meteor: If you see orange marks on the ground, it means Iktab is about to summon a meteor to hit those marks for heavy damage. Obviously, you need to avoid the orange marks and find a way to deal some damage to the boss from a safe area.
- Lightning Strikes: Not only do you need to avoid the orange marks, but you also need to pay special attention to the blue ones that appear in the arena, as they are the signs that Iktab will release Lightning Strikes to deal heavy lightning damage to you. During this process, it is recommended that you equip some POE 2 Items that can provide you with lightning resistance to keep your character safe.
- Ghost Nova: After getting all the above moves, you will see a nova appear in the center of the arena, which will periodically fire some projectiles at you while slowly spinning. It is best to move to the edge of the arena and give yourself some space to deal damage to the boss. Also, be careful to avoid each projectile as the nova moves, which has tremendous damage.
When Ekbab dies, all of Iktab’s attacks gain a huge buff: Sigil meteors will form waves that cover most of the arena, Lightning Strikes become denser, and Ghost Nova’s novas will spin faster and projectiles will fly faster.
In addition, Iktab gains a new attack called Bone Tendrils, which is the only Area Damage of the two bosses. You will see 5 circular AOEs around where you are standing, which will explode after a few seconds. So you may need to move around to stay in a safe area.
That’s it for finding and fighting the two powerful bosses Ekbab and Iktab in POE 2. Overall, the best strategy for completing this encounter is to deal with Iktab first, as Ekbab has a strengthened attack that is easier to avoid. Once you defeat them both, you can find Mastodon Tusks from the loot provided to you and then embark on your journey to find the rest of Horn of Vastiri. Have fun!
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If you regularly farm Abyss content in Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.5.5, using Heart of the Well to make currency is a strategy well worth trying.
Acquiring them isn't complicated: simply spawn Rogue Exiles on top of Abyss, and they have a chance to drop Heart of the Well diamond. These diamonds are inexpensive, typically costing between 16 and 18 Chaos Orbs.
The goal is straightforward: take this cheap material and use Desecrate to craft it into a high-value jewel, profiting from the price difference. Sounds tempting, doesn't it?
Affix Rules
Before diving in, you need to understand the affix distribution for Heart of the Well.
The first and last Desecrate steps always grant a prefix, while the intermediate steps grant a suffix. This makes the initial prefix crucial; you'll usually want to activate an Omen of Abyssal Echoes to gamble for a beneficial affix.
Among prefixes, Lightning and Cold damage bonuses are the most valuable. Fire bonuses are usable, but Chaos bonuses are the least desirable.
If the first step doesn't yield a beneficial affix, continuing the process is usually not cost-effective; it's best to stop there rather than stubbornly pushing on.
There are plenty of good options for suffixes - such as Rage, Attack Speed, Cast Speed, Mana on Kill, Critical Strike-related mods, Rage on Melee Hit, and Skill Effect Duration - all of which have a market.
Memorize the valuable affixes so you can make quick decisions during the crafting process.
Crafting Process
First, head to The Well of Souls to perform the crafting.
Next, activate Omen of Abyssal Echoes and perform the first Desecrate on the diamond.
If you land a Lightning or Cold bonus, you can happily proceed. A Fire bonus is also worth keeping, but be cautious with Chaos bonuses, as they rarely fetch a high price.
During the intermediate steps, aim for the useful suffixes mentioned earlier; these significantly boost the final sale price.
Finally, use the last Desecrate to gamble for another beneficial prefix, aiming to secure a double-bonus item.
If you end up with a dud, don't rush to throw it away; Reforging Bench in PoE 2 allows you to combine three jewels of the same type to recoup some value - or even turn trash into treasure.
Throughout the process, constantly evaluate whether the base item is worth continuing with; avoid wasting time on jewels that lack potential.
When crafting in bulk, try focusing on the first prefix roll across all items first. Discard any that don't yield the desired bonus before processing the rest; this approach is significantly more efficient.
Also, patience is key during crafting. Not every Heart of the Well will roll a great combination of modifiers, but when you do hit a good one, the payoff is often substantial.
Comparing Market Prices
Keep in mind that the price variance for finished jewels in Path of Exile 2 is huge, so always check the market before selling.
A near-perfect Heart of the Well can fetch around 65 PoE 2 Divine Orbs - a single sale that could recoup the majority of your total crafting costs.
A Heart of the Well with both Fire and Lightning bonuses goes for about 14 Divines; adding a Critical Spell Damage bonus pushes the price to 20 Divines, and including Critical Hit Chance can bring it close to 50 Divines (listing it at 49 Divines often makes it easier to sell).
Similarly, Cold and Lightning bonus combination is highly sought-after in PoE 2; adding Critical Hit Chance allows for a price of around 24 Divines, while adding Mana Regeneration can push it to 34 Divines.
However, as mentioned earlier, combinations like Fire and Chaos bonuses are cheaper; a pure Chaos bonus version might only sell for 1 Divine Orb.
Unless, of course, you also roll Spell Damage bonus or Mana on Kill, which could raise the price to 5 or 6 Divines.
Heart of the Well, featuring other useful modifiers - such as Movement Speed or Attack Speed - can also command prices ranging from 18 to 35 Divine Orbs.
Finally, when setting your price, it is best to check what other players are asking for similar Heart of the Well.
Listing yours slightly lower usually helps it sell faster without sacrificing too much profit. If a jewel sits unsold for a long time, you can lower the price appropriately, but avoid dropping it too far below your cost.
Returns and Risks
The cost of this strategy - profiting from the price spread of Heart of the Well jewels - is around 75 Divine Orbs. Since there is potential to nearly double your investment, the profit margins are indeed attractive.
Of course, not every Heart of the Well you craft will yield a profit; producing duds is inevitable. You will need to rely on Reforging Bench and smart pricing strategies to minimize losses.
However, you must approach this with the right mindset: view it as a steady, long-term jewel-trading business rather than a gamble for an overnight fortune.
You must strictly adhere to the rules for filtering modifiers during every craft: abandon the item immediately if the initial roll lacks beneficial stats, or stop if the suffix rolls are subpar. Only by maintaining this discipline can you ensure consistent profitability.
This type of jewel has performed strongly across multiple leagues in PoE 2, and it remains a powerful option in the current Patch 0.5.5. Consequently, if you regularly farm Abyss content, this strategy will generate a reliable stream of extra income.
Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.5.5 has been live for two weeks. Although this is merely an interim mini-league without a massive amount of new content, players have fully immersed themselves in it, discovering new gameplay mechanics and build possibilities.
Compared to the ongoing Patch 0.5.0, 0.5.5 Forbidden Rites League introduces several commendable changes to PoE 2, though there are still areas that fall short of perfection.
With the full 1.0 launch of PoE 2 approaching after 0.5.5, we are highlighting the shortcomings revealed by this patch. We hope the development team can address these issues promptly to ensure a superior experience for the final release.
Review of new gameplay in 0.5.5
Forbidden Rites League replaces the campaign's Remnants mechanic with Rituals. This allows you to encounter Exiles early on and earn extra PoE 2 currency, or valuable gear to boost your build's power, through these encounters.
While the difficulty spikes sharply as you progress, making it easy to die if your build isn't fully optimized, the mechanic offers a fresh experience and additional ways to generate rewards beyond what was available in 0.5.0.
However, once you reach the endgame, the relevance and profitability of Ritual mechanic begin to wane, eventually becoming lackluster. Unless you specifically tailor your tactics to it, the mechanic tends to fade into the background of your daily farming routine.
Another addition in Patch 0.5.5 is the optimization of Trial of Chaos. By reducing the number of gimmicky room types, more levels now focus on pure combat; simultaneously, the boss arenas have been downsized to create a tighter, more intense combat experience.
Additionally, in the new Trial of Chaos, you can earn top-tier loot by challenging Trialmaster or simply collect Soul Cores. These can be used to enhance your gear setup or sold for currency.
Issues with Atlas system
As the core of Path of Exile 2, Atlas defines the endgame experience, while its associated passive tree determines your character's ultimate potential.
Although the current Atlas system has improved compared to earlier versions, there are still design elements that hinder the overall flow of gameplay.
While acquiring passive points is faster now than before, the issue remains that you must endure a lengthy grind before you can truly begin efficient mapping.
Even if you have allocated the nodes for the main passive tree and those related to Vaal Temple, theoretically enabling you to farm the temple, you won't achieve a truly reliable farming experience without also investing in other areas and Masters of Atlas nodes.
However, doing so forces you to clear a multitude of worthless, throwaway maps just to unlock the necessary pathing nodes, significantly disrupting the momentum of executing your specific mapping strategy.
Another issue is that the feedback and rewards for defeating the boss, Arbiter of Divinity, lack clarity; this not only risks discouraging players but also confuses newcomers unfamiliar with the encounter.
The current mechanics require you to collect fragments and defeat Arbiter of Divinity a second time to fully claim the available points. Faced with such a tedious and unengaging system, you might prefer simply trading for the fragments on the exchange.
We suggest that PoE 2 development team enhance the rewards and sense of accomplishment associated with the first defeat of Arbiter of Divinity, while also allowing players to gradually unlock the remaining Atlas points through open-world gameplay or standard mapping.
Suggestions for QoL improvements
Beyond core gameplay, ensuring a strong launch for Path of Exile 2 version 1.0 requires the development team to prioritize further QoL optimizations.
First, regarding item storage, the game could adopt a feature from the original title: a dedicated mini-stash located near the map interface for storing temporarily acquired maps and currency used for rerolling map modifiers, thereby preventing them from cluttering the main inventory.
Additionally, when encountering Strongboxes or rare enemies within a map, the system should allow players to access currency directly from their main stash or provide a dedicated storage space, eliminating the need to constantly carry around a multitude of miscellaneous orbs.
Furthermore, Tablet configuration system should allow players to preset and instantly switch between different tablet combinations to adapt to varying terrain or strategies, reducing the tedium of frequent manual swapping.
Ideally, the development team should also resolve the issue where tablets remain locked in a character's inventory when switching to a different character. In fact, the most efficient solution would be to make tablets shared across all characters on the same account.
It is worth noting that in the current trading market, some unscrupulous players sell used Tablets, which have very few remaining uses, as if they were fresh, fully-charged items.
To mitigate this issue, it would be best to either prohibit the sale of used Tablets entirely or mandate the display of their remaining usage count.
Regarding game balance and mechanics, PoE 2 currently relies too heavily on Hit Damage, making it difficult for DoT and Chaos-based builds to scale effectively in the endgame.
We also recommend that Path of Exile 2 implement a death replay feature. This would allow players to review the source of fatal damage and real-time combat logs, helping them understand exactly why they died and enabling more efficient build optimization. Such a feature would also assist in identifying hidden bugs.
While PoE 2 version 0.5.5 has certainly made strides in campaign innovation and core gameplay improvements, further refinements to the finer details are needed to ensure the final 1.0 release is truly polished. We sincerely hope the development team delivers an official launch in December that satisfies the player base.
Exiles, do you want to experience the thrill of commanding an army of archers and blanketing the entire screen in a rain of arrows in Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.5.5? Tactician build we are introducing here is designed exactly for that kind of spectacle.
Centered on Archon of Undead and high-frequency Command skills, Tactician can rapidly clear screens while maintaining a solid defensive position through crowd control, letting your minions handle the suppressive fire!
Core Damage Output
First, Tactician's primary damage comes from Supporting Fire and Command: Death From Above. These skills carry the Minion tag and unleash a massive volley of arrows from your army positioned in the rear.
The damage of a single arrow is already substantial, and the shotgun effect allows multiple arrows to strike the same target; this damage stacking becomes even more devastating against large-sized enemies.
Next, we incorporate Pin II support gem and Tactician's Right Where We Want Them skill. Enemies affected by Pin are immobilized, providing screen-wide crowd control while keeping foes stationary to absorb the full brunt of the arrow barrage.
This combination gives the Tactician screen-clearing and single-target damage capabilities that far exceed expectations.
Rotation Mechanics
Command: Death From Above normally has a cooldown of around 10 seconds, but Archon of Undead provides damage bonuses and accelerates Command skill cooldown recovery. This compresses the cooldown to nearly one second, while the effect lasts for approximately six seconds.
Additionally, any Command skill has a 50% chance to trigger Archon of Undead. We can exploit this by frequently using Command: Explosive Demise from Skeletal Arsonist minion (it is recommended to carry two Skeletal Arsonists to ensure uptime in case one dies unexpectedly).
While Dominion passive reduces the effectiveness of Archon buffs by 50%, it also removes the recovery period, allowing for a continuous uptime window; overall, it remains a worthwhile choice.
Meanwhile, using Command skills generates Puppet Master stacks (up to a maximum of 11). These stacks boost Tactician's skill speed, reduce the movement speed penalty associated with Command skills, and increase minion movement speed.
By frequently using Command skills in Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.5.5, you can achieve an Archon of Undead uptime of nearly 95%.
Defense and Control
As previously mentioned, Tactician can pin enemies using support gems; this serves as a crucial form of crowd control for the build.
Pinned enemies are immobilized, which not only reduces the damage Tactician takes but also keeps foes within the area of effect of your arrow barrages, ensuring more consistent damage output.
Regarding basic survivability, mechanics such as armor, deflection, resistances, and the armor also applies to elemental damage stat all play a role in Path of Exile 2.
Ideally, your shield should feature Spirit of the Ox or Spirit of the Bear. Spirit of the Ox is generally the priority, as it grants immunity to slows and ailments while providing additional armor and damage reduction.
Additionally, Tactician can utilize defensive items like Romira's Requital (to transfer 10% of damage taken to minions) and Amanamu's Tithe (to gain an Abyssal Monster modifier upon a minion's death).
Minion Setup
Regarding minion selection, Skeletal Arsonist will be commanded frequently; therefore, its skill level should not be too high, or the mana cost of Command: Explosive Demise will become unmanageable.
Meanwhile, Skeletal Brute can be linked with Muster to amplify minion damage, Armour Demolisher II to accelerate Armour Break, and Lightning Attunement to add lightning damage and facilitate Shock application.
Thunderstorm allows Tactician to apply more reliable Shock effects during boss encounters in PoE 2, further stabilizing overall damage output.
Equipment Configuration
Scepter
Choose a scepter base that increases the maximum stacks of Puppet Master, boosts Spirit, and raises the level of summoning skills; mana regeneration affixes are also highly beneficial.
A Shining Scepter base provides free Purity of Fire and Purity of Lightning auras, whereas a Stoic Scepter focuses more on supplementing Energy Shield.
Gloves
Players should select armor-based gloves with high armor values; using Leather Bound Gauntlets allows your armor to simultaneously provide an equal amount of Evasion.
Body Armor
For body armor, a Death Mail or similar defensive chest piece - supplemented with movement speed and resistances - will greatly benefit Tactician.
Rings
Prioritize finding rings with Cooldown Recovery Rate and Minion Damage modifiers for Tactician; critical strike modifiers are only valuable if you choose to use Omen Scepter (introduced in PoE 2 Patch 0.5.5).
Amulet
Ideally, your amulet should provide +4 to Summoning Skill Levels and resistances, and have Dominion passive allocated.
Additionally, if you need to address resistance issues, a Mageblood paired with Legacy of Bismuth can simultaneously solve your resistance problems while significantly boosting Tactician's movement speed and overall power.
PoE 2 currency for sale can help you quickly acquire this key gear, making Tactician build process much smoother.
Further Upgrades
Once you achieve high uptime for Archon of Undead, the movement speed, resistances, and immunities provided by the associated passives will alleviate the build's resistance requirements.
For further progression, you can focus on upgrades like a two-socket scepter and a higher Puppet Master proc rate to build a more robust defensive system for your minions.
In short, the core strategy for Tactician build in PoE 2 is to maintain stacks of Archon of Undead and Puppet Master while cycling your Command skills frequently!
As a classic melee Ascendancy in Path of Exile 2, Warbringer dominated the game early in Patch 0.5.0 with a build centered on Sadist's Mercy mace. With the launch of Patch 0.5.5, a few configuration tweaks allow this build to remain highly effective!
If you are looking to try a new melee build, or have been playing Warbringer but want to make a breakthrough in Forbidden Rites league, give this Brutus Strength-Stacking Warbringer build a try!
What are the pros of this build?
Specifically, the new PoE 2 0.5.5 Warbringer build switches to Brutus' Lead Sprinkler Morning Star mace to create a melee build based on strength-stacking.
By leveraging synergies between Warbringer passives, shield mechanics, and Turtle Charm, this build can easily stack block chance to 94% in actual combat.
This means that, aside from a few lethal Red Slams that require manual dodging, you can parry the vast majority of physical and elemental attacks from standard monsters and bosses.
Furthermore, combining this with Iron Reflexes allows you to convert all evasion rating into armor.
By supplementing Strength stats via gloves and boots, and utilizing modifiers that apply Armour to elemental damage, you can effectively mitigate elemental damage, resulting in superior survivability.
Most importantly, unlike other popular builds that require top-tier gear, the cost of acquiring and crafting the gear for this build is relatively low in terms of currency. It offers a high return on investment, making it an excellent choice when resources are scarce.
Core mechanic breakdown
To properly craft and utilize this build, it is essential to understand the specific sources of its damage and survivability.
As the absolute core of the build, Brutus' Lead Sprinkler mace not only provides a massive base health bonus but also directly converts your high Strength attribute into substantial added fire damage.
Compared to Lightning or traditional Critical Strike builds, fire damage offers multiple avenues to achieve 100% resistance penetration, reducing enemy resistances to zero or even negative values, giving it significantly higher potential value than other elemental types.
Meanwhile, Brutus Strength-Stacking Warbringer build centers on the aftershock mechanic of Earthshatter. By combining the Branching Fissure support gem with Splitting Ground passive skill, you drastically increase the number of spikes generated by a single attack.
Each subsequent Aftershock explosion not only deals massive mixed Physical and Fire damage but also reliably triggers Molten Shower skill inherent to Brutus' Lead Sprinkler, dealing widespread, multi-hit damage via a dense barrage of falling fire projectiles.
By allocating Roaring Cries passive, you can consistently generate Rage when using a Warcry, even without enemies nearby. Combining Enraged Warcry with Raging Cry allows you to consume Rage to completely bypass the inherent cooldowns of your Warcry skills.
Further incorporating Infernal Cry grants up to 57% additional Fire damage. At the maximum stack of 48 Rage, you gain an additional 48% bonus, resulting in a massive boost to your damage output.
Additional passive skills
Beyond the passives mentioned above, successfully crafting this build during Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.5.5 requires allocating all passives that enhance shield block chance and block effectiveness.
For instance, the node that restores life upon blocking provides exceptional survivability through frequent blocks.
Meanwhile, the passive node granting 30% block chance when enemies are nearby is crucial for pushing your block chance to its absolute limit.
Regarding offensive nodes, unlocking Jack of All Trades allows you to leverage the all-attribute bonuses provided by your gear for substantial overall gains; Lay Siege capitalizes on the mechanic where every 1% of block chance grants a 1% damage boost.
More gear options
Undoubtedly, Brutus' Lead Sprinkler mace is the core of this PoE 2 build, but selecting optimal items for other slots will further enhance combat efficiency.
For instance, equipping Constructing Command Viper Cap in the helmet slot, paired with Defy support gem, allows you to bypass mana costs and cast high-level skills more smoothly.
As previously mentioned, Turtle Charm works with Ascendancy passives to provide additional block bonuses. For rings, Vendor's Gamble is recommended to benefit from high health, Spirit, and bonuses to all three elemental resistances.
If you wish to further improve survivability while using Brutus' Lead Sprinkler, pair it with Svalinn Girded Tower Shield for exceptionally high block chance and cast speed.
If you are aiming for maximum damage output, you could opt for a damage-oriented unique shield, though this will reduce your block chance; proceed according to your build's needs and limitations.
When selecting or crafting boots, prioritize modifiers such as movement speed, Strength, base health, resistances, and armor that applies to elemental damage. For gloves, focus more on attack speed and added physical or fire damage.
Practical gameplay
Once you have assembled the basic Brutus Strength-Stacking Warbringer build in PoE 2 0.5.5 using the details above, you are ready for action, provided you execute the skills in the correct order.
Start with your primary damage skill, Earthshatter. Enhance it with Faster Attacks support gem to speed up execution, Branching Fissures to generate more spikes, and Fire Penetration to shred enemy fire resistance and maximize damage.
Simultaneously, utilize Warcry system: Infernal Cry provides extra fire damage, while Enraged Warcry / Raging Cry generates Rage based on the strength of nearby enemies or your own roar, allowing you to chain-cast Warcries by consuming that Rage.
Compared to Path of Exile 2 caster builds, where a barrage of special effects often obscures the player's view, this build features relatively clear attack trajectories, ensuring that visual effects do not excessively hide ground-based danger zones.
Furthermore, even when you are deep within a dense crowd of enemies, mechanics such as a high block rate combined with health recovery on block allow you to easily stabilize your health.
This creates a virtuous cycle where the more enemies there are, the higher your damage output, and the safer you become.
That covers everything for this build. If you're interested, why not craft it right away and use it to progress through version 0.5.5? Best of luck!
After completing the campaign of Path of Exile 2 Forbidden Rites and the subsequent Interlude, you will reach the endgame. The core of the endgame system is Atlas passive skill tree. It boosts item rarity and the number of rare monsters within maps, while also increasing Waystone drop rates - ensuring a steady supply of map resources as you progress from Tier 1 to Tier 15.
Patch 0.5.5 introduced a crucial change to Atlas progression flow. Previously, unlocking all Atlas passive points required defeating the Arbiter of Divinity five times; in Forbidden Rites, this requirement has been reduced to just two kills, significantly shortening the time needed to fully develop your Atlas setup.
Once you have completed the initial Atlas unlocks, you can shift your focus from map progression to maximizing profits much sooner. Let's look at how to efficiently plan your Atlas to boost your endgame returns.
Phase 1: Quickly Unlocking Atlas Passive Points
Starting Strategy: Don't Start at Tier 1
Upon entering the endgame, Doryani gives you a Tier 1 Waystone. However, if your build is already combat-ready, there is no need to slowly climb up from Tier 1. The game's experience penalty mechanics allow a level 64 character to kill level 71 enemies without losing out on experience gains, so you can absolutely start progressing using higher-tier Waystones right away.
Core Principle: Speed-Run Bosses, Skip Mechanics
While you are still working to unlock all your Atlas points, there is only one priority: complete maps as quickly as possible to unlock those points.
This means rushing straight to the boss upon entering a map, rather than clearing out every single monster. Also, remember not to use Tablet infusion mechanics, upgrade maps with Orbs of Alchemy or Regal Orbs, or spend time on league mechanics like Rituals or Breaches.
The reason for this is that, without the bonuses provided by Atlas passive points, the returns from these mechanics are extremely low. Take Ritual mechanic as an example: without specific Ritual passive points, the Favor you earn is insufficient to purchase rare items. You are forced to rely on Defer function - saving desired rewards for future Ritual encounters - meaning the actual return on investment is quite limited.
Second Kill of Arbiter of Divinity: Claiming All Remaining Atlas Points at Once
Another significant change in version 0.5.5 concerns the use of Origin Core.
After completing Precursor Fortress main questline, you must clear Patriarch Halls and Matriarch Halls to obtain Origin Spark and Origin Cradle, respectively. You then combine these two items to create an Origin Core and defeat Arbiter of Divinity.
There is a crucial mechanic here: defeating the boss for the first time using the quest-rewarded Origin Core does not immediately grant you all the remaining Atlas points. However, if you defeat Arbiter of Divinity a second time using a non-quest version of Origin Core, you can instantly complete the entire Precursor Fortress and claim all remaining Atlas passive points in one go.
Therefore, the primary goal of the second kill isn't simply to fight the boss again, but to secure the remaining Atlas points in a single step.
If you prefer not to traverse the world map again to hunt for Origin Spark and Cradle, you can simply use PoE 2 currency to acquire a finished Origin Core. This allows you to skip the material-gathering phase, proceed directly to the second Arbiter kill, and quickly max out your remaining Atlas points.
Phase 2: Mid-Game Mapping - Expedition and Delirium
Expedition: A Reliable Source of Divine Orbs and Perfect Jeweller's Orbs
Once you have maxed out your Atlas points, your mapping strategy should shift from speed-running to maximizing profit. The first mechanic worth prioritizing is Expedition.
You can unlock Expedition content at Ruins of Kingsmarch, located in the southeast section of Atlas. Completing the associated quests grants you access to Grand Expeditions.
Grand Expeditions have a critical Tier requirement: you must use Tier 14 maps or higher to ensure Vaal Monolith rolls the maximum possible modifier values. Using maps below Tier 14 results in significantly reduced rewards from Remnants.
In Tier 15 Grand Expeditions, Remnants can drop high-value items such as Divine Orbs, Perfect Jeweller's Orbs, and Masterwork Runes. Completing Expedition storyline also unlocks specific Expedition Atlas points, further enhancing the quality of rewards from Remnants.
Delirium: 200% Delirium and Liquid Emotions Returns
Once Expedition farming is stabilized, the next mechanic worth investing in is Delirium. Starting from Hilda's Campsite, head to Withered Willow to complete the Delirium encounter chain and unlock the corresponding Atlas passive points; then, challenge Simulacrum and Raven.
Running 200% Delirium is a highly efficient mapping strategy in PoE 2 version 0.5.5. Notably, city maps allow for the placement of four Tablets - one more than standard maps - making them key to maximizing returns. A common approach is to use a Grand Mirror to trigger the Delirium fog, gradually raise Delirium level to 200% using surrounding maps, and then farm this high-intensity map repeatedly.
Key rewards include Simulacrum Splinters, complete Simulacrums, high-value currency drops from extra monsters, and Delirium-exclusive Liquid Emotions. The latter often provides a significant source of additional income.
Additionally, you can combine Delirium Tablets with Expedition mechanics to reap rewards from both systems in a single map, balancing experience gains with extra loot.
Phase 3: Unlocking and Utilizing Masters of the Atlas
The endgame of PoE 2 version 0.5.5 features three Masters of the Atlas - Hilda, Doryani, and Jado - each offering 12 passive points. These points directly influence the types of loot you receive and the map's difficulty; proper configuration determines whether you are buried in mediocre spoils or consistently acquire high-value items.
Hilda
Unlocking Hilda is the most straightforward process: she awaits you at Hilda's Campsite, southwest of Ziggurat Refuge. She will mark the location of a Great Beast for you; simply travel there and defeat it to earn Hilda's Master passive points. Her passive tree focuses on enhancing rewards from bosses and powerful enemies, making it ideal for players who rely on boss farming as their primary income source.
Doryani
To unlock Doryani, you must complete Corrupted Nexus map. Doryani focuses more on enhancing Atlas itself and map control - such as boosting Waystone modifier effects, altering map zones, and improving map progression capabilities - making it ideal for players looking to optimize mapping efficiency and command over the Atlas.
Jado
Unlocking Jado requires clearing Anomaly Maps. Jado's passive nodes primarily enhance Strongboxes, map layouts, and Anomaly Maps, with some nodes also boosting the acquisition rate of high-value items like Uniques. If your goal is farming Strongboxes, Uniques, or Anomaly content, Jado is an excellent choice.
Overall, endgame progression in PoE 2 version 0.5.5 follows a clear trajectory: the early stage centers on speed-running maps to quickly unlock Atlas points; the mid-stage shifts toward high-yield mechanics like Expedition and Delirium; and once Atlas setup is established, you configure your Masters of the Atlas passives based on your specific farming objectives.
You might be wondering: if you're on a tight budget in Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.5.5 - or even relying solely on gear picked up along the way - is there a build capable of reaching the endgame? The answer is a resounding yes: Disciple of Varashta summoning build.
You'll start as a Sorceress and officially bring the build online once you complete your first Ascendancy at level 20–21 to become a Disciple of Varashta.
It doesn't rely on expensive core items; your minions handle the vast majority of the damage output, while your character simply needs to maintain command skills and key buffs.
Core Mechanics
To summarize the core mechanics of this Disciple of Varashta Summoner: you maximize the bonuses applied to Kelari, the Tainted Sands via your minion systems, stack Muster's more damage multiplier using a variety of minion types, and rely on the permanently active Archon of Undeath buff for burst damage.
In more detail: Kelari, the Tainted Sands counts as a minion during damage calculation, meaning it benefits from both minion damage modifiers and allies in presence deal increased damage bonuses.
Muster support gem grants 7% more damage for each distinct type of minion you have; therefore, the greater the variety of minions, the higher the damage output of Kelari, the Tainted Sands.
By allocating Dominion on your amulet, you can keep Archon of Undeath buff active almost constantly, ensuring Disciple of Varashta Summoner remains powerful throughout PoE 2 combat encounters.
Gear Choices
Weapon
Weapon selection is crucial for this build. You should prioritize a Rattling Scepter that features allies in presence deal increased damage, +1 to Level of all Minion Skills, and the ability to stack Puppet Master charges.
Helmet
For the helmet, aim for high Energy Shield, resistances, and +1 to Level of all Minion Skills.
Body Armour
The goals for the body armour mirror those of the helmet: prioritize high Energy Shield and resistances, while trying to secure +1 to Level of all Minion Skills.
Focus
High Energy Shield and resistances remain the priorities for Focus. Ideally, you want a Focus with +2 to Level of all Minion Skills, though this affix is expensive, so your choice will depend on your PoE2 currency budget.
Gloves
Continuing the approach used for other armor pieces, you should look for Energy Shield and resistances on your gloves, as well as any +1 to Level of All Minion Skills modifiers you can afford in Path of Exile 2.
Boots
Use Bones of Ullr boots; the primary goal is to gain Minion Reservation Efficiency while also providing some movement speed for your Disciple of Varashta setup.
Rings
For your two ring slots, prioritize a Topaz Ring to fill in any missing resistances. For the other slot, use an Evergrasping Ring, as it carries virtually no downsides within Chaos Inoculation system we are utilizing.
Amulet
As previously mentioned, remember to allocate Dominion passive to your amulet; ideally, look for stats like +1 to Level of All Minion Skills and Spirit.
Belt
The belt isn't a critical component for this Disciple of Varashta minion build, though for specific boss encounters, you might consider using one that grants immunity to Corrupted Blood.
Skill Setup
Boss Encounters
When facing bosses, your primary damage skills will be Kelari, the Tainted Sands and Kelari's Deception. Link these with Muster, Concentrated Area, Kurgal's Leash, Hulking Minions, and Bidding III (to improve cooldown recovery).
Kurgal's Leash grants your minions Unholy Might after you use command skills, while Hulking Minions provides a more damage multiplier to your support skills.
Mapping
When clearing maps in PoE 2 Patch 0.5.5, this Disciple of Varashta build can utilize Navira's Fracturing.
However, this skill only takes effect if enemies are standing on Chilled Ground. Therefore, you should pair it with Companion: Plague Harvester and its Trail of Ice skill, allowing the companion to automatically create Chilled Ground.
Minions
Regarding minions, aim to have at least one of each type active and equip Last Gasp support gem. The required skills are:
- Skeletal Warrior
- Skeletal Storm Mage
- Skeletal Brute
- Skeletal Cleric
- Skeletal Sniper
- Skeletal Arsonist
- Skeletal Frost Mage
- Skeletal Reaver
Pain Offering is reserved for boss encounters; link it with Prolonged Duration, Minion Mastery, Magnified Area II, and Danse Macabre support gems.
Passive Skill Tree
For Disciple of Varashta summoning build, players should first prioritize Energy Shield-related nodes, such as The Fourth Teaching, Energy Shield, and Sacred Rituals.
Minion damage is also a key consideration, making nodes like Spell and Minion Damage, Growing Swarm, and Restless Dead top priorities.
If you wish to boost your minions' critical strike damage, nodes such as Minion Critical Chance and Grip of Evil offer excellent bonuses in Path of Exile 2.
Additionally, you can invest points into nodes affecting a minion area of effect, Puppet Master stacks, Archon of Undeath buffs, elemental resistances, and movement speed, finally rounding out the build with Chaos Inoculation.
The overall strategy is to maintain Archon of Undeath uptime while relying on Energy Shield to anchor the build's defenses.
As your PoE 2 currency budget grows, you can further scale your Energy Shield and minion skill levels, making Disciple of Varashta summoning build feel increasingly smooth and powerful in PoE 2 Patch 0.5.5!
