How to Beat Kabala, The Constrictor Queen in Path of Exile 2
By the time you reach the arid dunes of Keth in Path of Exile 2, you've likely trudged through more desert zones than you care to count. But before your pilgrimage through sun-scorched sand comes to an end, the game throws one more major challenge your way: Kabala, The Constrictor Queen. Nestled deep within the Venom Pit, a circular arena half-swallowed by the desert, you'll face one of Act 2's most memorable and mechanically demanding bosses. Her battle blends environmental hazards, deadly burst attacks, and relentless adds, making her a formidable opponent for both new and veteran players.
Whether you're progressing naturally or farming POE 2 Currency on the side to bolster your build, knowing how to counter Kabala's abilities is essential.
Entering the Venom Pit
The Venom Pit is unmistakably designed for a boss encounter. Broken stone walls, ancient pottery, and slanted sandy pathways create a contained space where Kabala dominates the center. As soon as you step into the arena, the ground trembles, sand shifts beneath your boots, and Kabala erupts upward from the middle of the battlefield. This is your first warning: the center of the arena is the most dangerous place to stand throughout the fight.
From the moment Kabala surfaces, the fight begins in full force. Fortunately, despite her intimidating appearance, her attack patterns are relatively limited. Once you recognize each of her moves and learn how to respond, the battle becomes far more manageable.
Kabala's Movements and Attacks
Kabala rotates between a handful of core abilities, all of which revolve around controlling your movement or punishing your position. Her toolkit is designed to corner you, pressure you with adds, and bait you into stepping into lethal zones. Here's how to avoid falling victim to her tricks.
1. The Skeleton Cobra Swarm
One of Kabala's signature abilities involves her summoning skeleton cobras from the pottery shards scattered around the arena. These add phases are deceptively dangerous, not because the cobras deal massive damage individually, but because they overwhelm you quickly. If you get surrounded, Kabala can easily finish you off while you're immobilized or distracted.
When you hear the summoning cue and see cobras emerging, immediately roll or dash away from the center of the arena into one of the sandy pathways that lead downward toward the entrance. Once you're in a narrow corridor, use your strongest area-of-effect (AoE) skill to wipe out the entire group. This positioning prevents enemies from surrounding you and allows you to thin the horde in seconds.
If you're undergeared or still working to acquire more POE 2 Currency to upgrade crucial items, these add waves may feel brutal. In that case, consider equipping temporary AoE-boosting support gems or flasks that help control groups more effectively.
2. Kabala's Burrow and Bone Wall Attack
After exchanging blows for a short while, Kabala will retreat underground by burrowing into the central portion of the arena. A few seconds later, she bursts upward in a devastating area-of-effect explosion that sends shockwaves through the pit. At the same time, she generates bone walls that divide or obstruct parts of the arena, limiting your escape routes.
When Kabala begins to burrow, stop what you're doing and head directly up the pathway leading into the arena. This elevated position gives you a safe vantage point outside her explosion radius. Wait until the eruption finishes, then re-enter the arena through a gap in the bone walls.
These bone walls can disrupt line-of-sight for ranged builds or confine melee builds to tight hallways. If your gear is still catching up, or if you're farming POE 2 Currency to buy better weapons or support gems, you'll want to pay special attention to your positioning during this phase. Panic movement often leads to step-ins to her AoE, which is one of the most common causes of player death during this fight.
3. The Bone Shrapnel Burst
Kabala's most lethal attack is her explosive bone shrapnel blast. Centered from the middle of the arena, this ability sends sharp bone fragments flying in every direction. Getting caught too close deals massive physical damage and can delete your life bar instantly. Even tankier builds can struggle against this if unprepared.
Fortunately, the strategy for avoiding this attack is the same as her burrow explosion. The moment you see her channeling the shrapnel attack, retreat up the sandy path toward the arena entrance. This keeps you far enough away to avoid taking lethal damage while still remaining close enough to re-engage quickly. Once the explosion ends, return to the arena floor and resume the fight.
Rewards for Defeating Kabala
Once you defeat Kabala, The Constrictor Queen, you'll be rewarded with:
Book of Specialization – Grants +2 Weapon Set Passive Skill Points
These specialization points allow you to expand your weapon-specific passive grid, opening new build paths and enhancing your combat style. Many players choose to invest these points into weapon nodes that increase critical strike chance, elemental scaling, or survivability depending on their playstyle.
While Kabala doesn't drop vast amounts of POE 2 Currency, the power spike provided by specialization points is more than enough to justify the challenge. Completing this fight efficiently means you can progress deeper into Act 2 where higher-value loot and better currency farming opportunities become available.
Final Tips Before Facing Kabala
Learn the arena layout, the pathways leading in and out are crucial for dodging her biggest attacks.
Prioritize AoE skills for handling cobra swarms.
Watch Kabala's animations closely, her underground burrow and shrapnel burst both have clear tells.
Upgrade your flasks and gear, especially if you haven't collected enough POE 2 Currency to maintain optimal resistance or life regeneration.
With preparation, awareness, and a build capable of handling both single-target and AoE threats, Kabala becomes a fair but intense mid-game challenge.
MMOexp POE 2 Team