Act 2 of Path of Exile 2 transports you to the harsh and haunting Vastiri Desert, where corruption spreads like wildfire and ancient gods still stir beneath the sands. Your ultimate target here is Jamanra, the Risen King, but before you can track him down, you'll have to complete several major quests, one of which leads you straight into the fiery clutches of Azarian, the Forsaken Son.
This boss guards the Essence of Water, a critical item needed to rebuild the Horn of Orbala, an ancient artifact required to clear the raging desert storms and continue your pursuit of Jamanra. The battle against Azarian is one of the toughest encounters in Act 2, testing your patience, positioning, and ability to adapt. Here's everything you need to know to find, and defeat, the Forsaken Son.
Where To Find Azarian, The Forsaken Son
Your journey begins with the quest "The City of Seven Waters." This mission takes you deep into Keth, a lost city buried beneath sand and myth. As you push through waves of corrupted enemies and navigate its crumbling shrines, you'll eventually descend into the Buried Shrines, a dungeon-like area that culminates in Azarian's lair, the Tomb of the Water Goddess.
This is where the Forsaken Son awaits. Once you enter his arena, the chamber seals behind you. There's no escape, only survival.
Arena Layout and Mechanics
The fight against Azarian unfolds in a square-shaped arena with four massive braziers stationed at each corner. These braziers aren't just decoration, they're one of the key mechanics of the fight.
Any direct hit, from your skills or Azarian's attacks, can ignite or destroy a brazier. When one goes off, it explodes violently, coating that corner of the arena in flame. If all four are destroyed, most of the arena becomes engulfed in fire, leaving only a small patch of safety in the center.
This turns the battlefield into a deadly trap. The more braziers you break, the less room you have to dodge, and Azarian excels at forcing you into tight spaces. The best strategy? Keep the braziers intact for as long as possible. It's tempting to let them blow up early, but doing so makes the fight exponentially harder.
Azarian's Attacks and How To Counter Them
Azarian's moveset revolves around wide arcs of flame, explosive projectiles, and relentless charges that punish poor positioning. Here's a breakdown of his main attacks and the best way to avoid them:
Flaming Advance
Azarian spins his weapons in a whirling blaze while lunging forward in a straight line, damaging everything in his path.
How to avoid: He briefly charges up before lunging, watch for that pause. The instant you see him tense, roll or dash sideways.
Pro tip: Don't try to run backward; he'll close the distance too quickly.
Fireball Toss
Azarian slams one hand into the ground and pulls out searing fireballs, which he hurls in a wide cone. Occasionally, this attack leaves behind walls of fire that linger for several seconds.
How to avoid: Pay attention to which side he digs from, the fireballs will travel in the opposite direction. Use the gaps between the fire trails to reposition.
