Path of Exile 2 Boss Guide: Strategies to Defeat Zarokh The Temporal

The climactic confrontation in the Trial of the Sekhemas in Path of Exile 2 is against Zarokh, the Temporal—a formidable foe that wields the power of time to eliminate any possibility of your victory. This encounter is designed exclusively for players with top-tier character builds, positioning Zarokh as a true test of skill and preparation in the endgame. Those who manage to defeat this challenging adversary will not only secure remarkable rewards but also significantly enhance their character’s power.

As one of the Pinnacle bosses from the endgame challenges, Zarokh stands out as one of the most formidable opponents in the game. While you can access the fight without using the Realmgate found in Path of Exile 2, approaching this battle as a critical endgame challenge is advisable. It is essential to accumulate powerful permanent buffs while steering clear of debilitating effects to optimize your character’s potential before stepping into the arena.

Initiating the Zarokh Boss Fight

Prerequisites for Summoning Zarokh

Path of Exile 2 Trial of Sekhema fourth floor with Trial Map and portal to Zarokh boss fight

The battle against Zarokh, the Temporal, can only commence after you have successfully navigated through the four floors of the Trial of the Sekhema. These Trials consist of a sequence of challenges that yield Ascendancy points, fostering your character’s evolution. Progress through the Trials is contingent upon defeating Balbala, the Traitor, located at Traitor’s Pass.

Each floor of the Trials introduces challenges that impose various debuffs, increasing the difficulty as you advance. To reach the climactic fourth floor, players must possess a Djinn Barya that is at least Area Level 75. These Djinn Barya are collectibles found within the Trials, acting as keys to access the boss arena. Once you place a suitable Djinn Barya on the fourth-floor altar, the path to face Zarokh will be revealed.

Fortunately, there is no specific Honor requirement to engage Zarokh. Honor functions as an additional life source during the Trials; be mindful that losing all your Honor will lead to immediate failure when facing this boss. Therefore, ensure you come well-prepared with adequate Honor to sustain yourself throughout the encounter.

Strategies for Defeating Zarokh

Navigating the Flow of Time

Zarokh, the Temporal, possesses an enormous health pool, surpassing that of any other non-Pinnacle boss in the game. This battle evolves into a test of endurance. Despite not scaling with your character’s level, many of Zarokh’s attacks are lethal, presenting continuous danger.

Understanding Zarokh’s attack patterns is crucial for survival. Below is a strategic guide to countering each of Zarokh’s assaults:

Attack	Description	How to Counter
Orb Barrage	Zarokh summons multiple slow-moving orb projectiles in a wide arc for a few seconds.	Maintain distance and navigate through the gaps between the orbs to evade damage.
Portal Traps	Zarokh transports to the center, generating eight portals that release time orbs.	Utilize minions, totems, or walls to absorb orb damage and maneuver through the projectiles.
Time Bomb	A slow-moving orb projectile creates an AoE explosion upon contact.	Either avoid the orb until its disintegration or utilize minions to absorb the blast.
Temporal Tendrils	Zarokh spins, casting tendrils that deal multiple hits.	Dodge into the center of the tendrils’ motion to minimize damage.
Time Mines	Small AoE blasts emerge during attacks, causing damage to anyone within their vicinity.	Evade the glowing areas where mines will emerge while coordinating movement with other attacks.

If defeated, it is advisable to reopen the event menu to restart the Trial, which allows you to bypass the entire run back to Zarokh.

Attack	Description	How to Counter
Spinning Clock	An AOE circle with a spinning clock hand approaches detonation.	Dash out of the AOE site immediately as it hits 12 to avoid a damaging explosion.
Timeline Pillars	Harmful projectiles launched at random angles.	Be vigilant and dodge away from their trajectory as they approach.
Out Of Time	Zarokh vanishes as players must gather hourglasses to survive the attack.	Strategically plan the route to collect the hourglasses before the time runs out.

A noteworthy aspect of Zarokh’s fight is the potential for simultaneous attacks, particularly with Temporal Tendrils and Time Bombs. The Out of Time ability poses a serious risk, as failing to gather hourglasses leads to an instant defeat. Characters with permanent movement speed debuffs will face substantial challenges during this segment.

As Zarokh’s health diminishes, the fight takes on a chaotic, bullet hell appearance with increasing projectile density. Maintain constant movement and keep track of Dash charges until you can deal successive blows to diminish Zarokh’s health. With adequate potions and persistence, you can successfully counteract each of Zarokh’s formidable attacks.

Upon vanquishing Zarokh, expect a Unique Relic as a reward, enabling special runs within the Trials of Sekhema. Given the high stakes associated with this encounter, engaging Zarokh multiple times for enhanced rewards in Path of Exile 2 is a wise strategy.

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