Conquering Act 2's Boss in POE2 - Azarian, The Forsaken Son

Dec-24-2024

 

In Act 2 of Path of Exile 2, players venture into the Vastiri Desert in pursuit of Jamanra, the Risen King, who has fled deeper into the desert after an initial confrontation. To continue the chase, you'll need to assemble the powerful Horn of Orbala—a crucial artifact that will allow you to overcome the desert's fierce winds and sandstorms.

 

However, before you can complete the Horn of Orbala, you must first acquire its parts, including the Essence of Water. This is where you encounter Azarian, the Forsaken Son, the boss guarding the Essence of Water in the City of Seven Waters quest.

 

Azarian is no mere obstacle; he is a formidable adversary whose arena-based fight offers a unique set of challenges. To defeat him, you'll need to carefully manage the environment, your positioning, and your timing. In this guide, we'll break down Azarian's location, his attacks, and strategies to help you conquer him and obtain the Essence of Water.

 

 

 

Azarian's Location

Azarian resides deep within Keth, a section of Act 2's sprawling map, which also features the Lost City and the Buried Shrines. As you progress through this area, you'll eventually come to a tomb where Azarian stands watch over the Water Goddess's resting place. To face him, you'll need to navigate through these challenging areas, clearing enemies and solving puzzles until you reach his domain.

 

Fight Location

The fight with Azarian takes place in a square-shaped arena, where four braziers sit at each corner. These braziers play a crucial role in the fight, as they can be destroyed and cause massive hazards if struck by attacks. The danger comes from the pools of fire that are created when these braziers are hit. If all four braziers are destroyed, the arena becomes almost entirely engulfed in fire, leaving only the very center as a safe zone.

 

While this central safe space may seem like a refuge, it's actually quite perilous. Azarian frequently moves to this area and unleashes powerful attacks, meaning you may be forced into the flames to avoid his strikes. To minimize risk, you should aim to avoid breaking the braziers and keep Azarian away from them. The more braziers you can keep intact, the easier the fight will be.

 

How to Avoid and Counter Them

Azarian's attack patterns are brutal and require careful timing to avoid. Here's a breakdown of each of his main attacks and how to counter them:

 

1. Flaming Advance

Description: Azarian spins his weapons and charges forward in a straight line, dealing damage with each swing.

How to Avoid: Watch for a brief charge-up animation before the attack and dodge out of the way when you see it. Keep an eye on his movements and avoid getting caught in his path.

 

2. Fireball Toss

Description: Azarian thrusts his arm into the ground and releases fireballs in a cone shape. These fireballs sometimes form a persistent wall of fire along the trajectory.

How to Avoid: Pay attention to the side of his body from which he pulls his arm, as the fireballs will fly in the opposite direction. Keep your distance and dodge the fireballs as they land.

 

3. Flame Shot

Description: Azarian spreads his arms back and thrusts them forward, releasing a cone of fire.

How to Avoid: When you see him prepare this attack, quickly dodge to either side. Avoiding the front of Azarian is crucial, as the fireball spread can overwhelm you if you remain in front.

 

4. Flame Slam

Description: Azarian raises his arms and slams them down in front of him, creating two short cones of fire.

How to Avoid: This attack is difficult to dodge because Azarian turns slightly when using it. Instead of dodging immediately when you see him raise his arms, wait until the last moment to move to the side. This will help you avoid getting hit.

 

When you facing Azarian, one of the most crucial aspects of this fight is managing fire damage. Equip items that boost your fire resistance, such as a Ruby Charm, which can significantly reduce the damage from Azarian's fiery attacks. A Regal Orb can also help enhance the rarity of your charms, further improving your survivability.

 

The builds you’ve chosen also impact this battle with Azarian. Ranged builds have the advantage of distance, allowing you to avoid direct hits from Azarian's melee attacks. However, if the braziers explode, the fire pools can push you into close combat with Azarian, which can be dangerous for ranged characters. Melee builds, on the other hand, will need to be especially cautious of Azarian's Flaming Advance, which can drag you along with him and deal continuous damage.

 

During the fight, pay attention to the Flames. The biggest threat in this fight isn't just Azarian's attacks; it's the environmental hazards caused by the braziers. Keep track of their positions and avoid damaging them. If they break, you'll have limited options for avoiding both Azarian's attacks and the flames.

 

Finally, patience and learning patterns is important. Like many Path of Exile 2 bosses, Azarian requires patience and practice. Once you learn his attack patterns and timing, you'll be able to dodge and counterattack more effectively. This will make the battle more manageable, and you'll eventually defeat Azarian.

 

Once Azarian is defeated, you will be one step closer to assembling the Horn of Orbala, your key to continuing your pursuit of Jamanra in the Vastiri Desert. Best of luck!