Path of Exile 2: How to Defeat Draven, the Eternal Praetor

In Path of Exile 2, Act One introduces several memorable encounters, but few are as atmospheric, or as deadly, as the battle with Draven, the Eternal Praetor. Once a regent of great power, Draven now exists as an undead guardian bound to the crypts beneath Wraeclast. Together with his consort Asinia, he protects the key fragments you need to complete the main quest Sorrow Among Stones.

This guide will help you locate Draven, understand his mechanics, and develop a strategy to defeat him efficiently, whether you're a nimble archer or a hardened melee fighter. We'll also cover how to manage his minions, what loot you can expect, and how farming POE 2 Currency can make the encounter easier.

Where to Find Draven, the Eternal Praetor

You'll encounter Draven during the quest Sorrow Among Stones, which takes place in the Mausoleum of the Praetor. This eerie underground complex is filled with skeletal warriors, corrupted spirits, and undead knights who serve Draven in death as they once did in life.

Draven waits in the largest chamber, the Heart of the Mausoleum. You'll recognize the arena instantly: it's a vast circular room lined with tombs and graves. Once you approach the central crypt, the stone lid will crack open, and Draven himself will rise from the grave, cloaked in necrotic energy and wielding spectral power.

Prepare before entering this chamber, it's a long fight that requires endurance, crowd control, and constant movement.

Understanding Draven's Minions

Throughout the fight, Grasping Ghouls will continuously spawn around the arena. These crawling undead attempt to reach Draven, and if they succeed, he will absorb them to gain power.

Here's what you need to know:

If you step on a Ghoul while it's over a grave, it will resurrect an Eternal Knight from that tomb.

Killing an Eternal Knight is not the end, if another Ghoul crawls over its corpse, it will rise again.

The best way to manage the situation is to kite Draven around the room so the Ghouls follow him into clear spaces between graves. Once there, squash the Ghouls before they can reach him.

If Draven successfully absorbs three Ghouls, he becomes empowered for 20 seconds. During this state:

His Volley of Souls attack fires two waves instead of one.

His attack and movement speeds increase dramatically.

He glows with a spectral aura until the effect fades, at which point he kneels briefly before returning to normal.

Avoid letting him reach this empowered state if possible, as it drastically increases the difficulty of the fight.

Draven's Attack Patterns and Phases

The battle with Draven revolves around mobility and positioning. His attacks are telegraphed, but his mix of projectile bursts and area control can overwhelm unprepared players.

Phase One (Above 66% Health)

At the start, Draven will focus on:

Absorbing Ghouls to power up.

Casting Volley of Souls, his signature attack, which sends out waves of spectral projectiles.

To survive this phase:

Position yourself between the projectiles or circle behind Draven to avoid damage.

Use armor-breaking skills or lightning/cold damage, as he has strong resistance to fire and physical attacks.

Keep pulling him across the arena so the Ghouls don't accumulate near him.

Phase Two (Below 66% Health)

Once Draven drops below two-thirds health, he changes tactics:

He summons Asinia, his Consort, who assists with ranged attacks and debuffs.

Draven also gains a shockwave attack, sending out a long, straight energy line that can cut through groups of players or minions.

Additional Ghouls begin spawning faster, making battlefield control more difficult.

If you're a melee class, pull Draven toward a corner or wall where you can easily stomp nearby Ghouls before they reach him. When he becomes empowered, retreat briefly to avoid his boosted melee swings and soul volleys.

If you're a ranged class, maintain distance and keep kiting him around the room. You can mostly ignore the Ghouls, as they move slowly, but watch for Asinia's attacks and Draven's shockwaves. When he's empowered, focus on dodging and counterattacking during openings.

Strategy Tips and Recommended Builds

Armor-Piercing or Damage-Over-Time Skills: Use Bleed, Poison, or Shock to bypass Draven's defenses.

Minion Builds: Summoner classes can distract Draven and Asinia, giving you breathing room to handle Ghouls.

Movement Abilities: Skills like Blink Arrow, Flame Dash, or Whirling Blades make dodging his Volley of Souls much easier.

Energy Shield Builds: These can absorb stray projectile damage, reducing risk when repositioning.

If you're undergeared, consider farming POE 2 Currency before facing Draven. Having extra orbs and crafting materials lets you improve your gear, socket the right gems, and potentially trade for higher-quality armor and weapons through the in-game economy. Even a few well-rolled pieces can dramatically shorten this fight.

Draven's Rewards and Loot Drops

Defeating Draven, the Eternal Praetor, is both challenging and rewarding. When he finally falls, his spectral form will crumble, and he'll drop:

Randomized rare and magic loot, often with higher-level modifiers for Act One.

The Memorial Key Piece, which you need to complete the Sorrow Among Stones quest.

A chance at unique item drops, especially those related to necromantic or elemental damage bonuses.

While his loot table isn't as lucrative as endgame bosses, farming Draven can still be profitable, particularly when you sell or trade items using POE 2 Currency. This can be an effective early-game method to build wealth and prepare for later acts.

Final Thoughts

Draven, the Eternal Praetor, is a skill check early in Path of Exile 2, a fight that punishes poor positioning but rewards patience, awareness, and good crowd control. His ghoul mechanics and empowerment phases encourage smart movement rather than brute force.

Whether you're a fresh exile or a seasoned veteran, mastering this encounter prepares you for many of the layered boss mechanics awaiting later in the campaign.

And remember: investing time into farming and trading POE 2 Currency can give you the edge you need, not just against Draven, but throughout all of Wraeclast.

MMOexp POE 2 Team