Path of Exile 2 Boss Guide: Defeating Arbiter of Ash

Confronting the Arbiter of Ash represents one of the most formidable challenges in Path of Exile 2. This pinnacle boss, situated on the Atlas of Worlds, might be regarded as the ultimate test at the game’s endgame stage. For countless players, besting the Arbiter is the final hurdle, demanding not only a well-optimized build but also skill and extensive preparation.

The journey to reaching the Arbiter of Ash is neither short nor easy; many trials await you. However, most of these trials pale in comparison to the encounter itself. Prepare for significant costs and time investment with each attempt, as you will need to gather various rare endgame materials before facing this powerful foe who wields a fast and unpredictable attack pattern.

Starting the Arbiter of Ash Boss Fight

Locating the Burning Monolith

The Burning Monolith on Path of Exile 2's map.

Upon entering the endgame of Path of Exile 2, you’ll navigate an interactive map known as the Atlas of Worlds. This area is pivotal for unlocking new map nodes using a variety of resources and defeating bosses to advance through its many paths. Among these paths lies the Burning Monolith, where the Arbiter of Ash resides. While its glowing red tower is visible from the start, accessing it requires considerable progress in the Atlas.

It is advisable to take your time exploring the Atlas of Worlds before challenging the Burning Monolith. Use this period to refine your character build (consider consulting our PoE 2 endgame build guides) and gather better gear. Only when adequately prepared and possessing the necessary materials should you embark on your first encounter with the Arbiter of Ash.

Unlocking the Burning Monolith

To gain access to the Burning Monolith, you will need to collect three Crisis Fragments, which are rare items dropped by various bosses scattered throughout the Atlas of Worlds. Each fragment is tied to a specific boss found within designated Citadel dungeons. The details of the required fragments and their corresponding bosses are outlined in the table below.

Fragment	Boss	Citadel
Weathered Crisis Fragment	Doryani, Royal Thaumaturge	Stone Citadel
Ancient Crisis Fragment	Count Geonor	Iron Citadel
Faded Crisis Fragment	Jamanra the Abomination	Copper Citadel

Selecting Citadels becomes easier if you look for colored beams of light piercing the sky on the Atlas map: Stone Citadels are marked by red beams, Iron Citadels by blue, and Copper Citadels by orange.

Notably, each of these bosses will drop a Crisis Fragment upon defeat within their respective Citadel, and sometimes they may yield multiple fragments. However, as Citadel appearances are random, gathering all the required fragments may necessitate several attempts before you have what you need to confront the Arbiter of Ash.

Strategies for Defeating the Arbiter of Ash

Phase One: Initial Encounter

The Arbiter of Ash prays to an altar in the intro to his boss fight.

As you initiate the fight, be aware that the Arbiter of Ash has an extensive introduction scene. Use this interval to activate any buffs you possess. The battle opens consistently: when the arena erupts in flames, the Arbiter will extend a narrow beam of fire across the area. Evade this attack and take the opportunity to position yourself behind him to initiate your damage rotation; you should be able to inflict a significant amount of damage during this phase.

Phase one is somewhat manageable. The Arbiter may summon fireballs that float throughout the arena, shooting tiny bolts in predictable patterns. While it’s best to maintain your distance from the Arbiter for ample dodging time, a hit from these projectiles will not deal severe damage.

Your main focus should be on the substantial explosions that the Arbiter calls down intermittently. These are signaled by a fiery circle on the ground; upon noticing it, swiftly move to the center to avoid being hit by the impending burst.

As the fight progresses and his health declines, the Arbiter will unleash streaks of fiery energy surrounding the battlefield. This move is a potential instant kill, so look for the blue section of the pattern and remain within it to survive the impending doom of the battlefield explosion. For the remainder of this phase, continue to evade the Arbiter’s attacks and exploit the lengthy pauses between them to dish out damage. When he reaches approximately half health, he will transition into phase two.

Phase Two: The Final Assault

A circle of fire on the ground during the Arbiter of Ash boss fight.

The Arbiter of Ash's lane move in action.

The Arbiter of Ash casts his fire beam attack.

Phase two commences when the Arbiter draws his blade and creates two orbs: one blue and one purple. You will soon notice an increase in his speed, with various area-of-effect attacks being cast in quick succession. The fire beam widens and becomes deadlier, providing an opportunity for free hits if you can avoid his attacks.

During this phase, the Arbiter unlocks a new melee combo, which is fairly easy to dodge. Keep in mind that this combo consists of two to three hits, necessitating multiple maneuvers to avoid damage.

At some point, the Arbiter will activate the blue orb, encasing the arena in ice that slows and inflicts damage on you. Make your way to the purple orb to dispel the ice and move freely again. He’ll also perform additional attacks, such as a slam or cutting a path across the arena with his sword; these attacks are generally well-telegraphed.

The greatest challenge in phase two arises from the Arbiter’s heightened speed and the overlapping nature of his AoE attacks. He may launch two circular blasts simultaneously or extend a beam that impacts a large portion of the safe zone from another attack. Mastering the timing of his telegraphs and responding promptly is crucial, or alternatively, securing enough defense to withstand his blows is essential.

Thus, prioritizing stats like movement speed and armor becomes particularly beneficial. Learning the Arbiter’s movement patterns and evasion techniques may require several attempts, making this Path of Exile 2 boss battle an ongoing exercise in skill development.

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