Path of Exile 2 Guide: Defeating Count Geonor

As players traverse the dark and perilous landscape of Path of Exile II, a common refrain emerges amongst the NPCs: Count Geonor is not an easy foe to defeat. Players embarking on their journey in Ogham Manor will quickly discover the truth of this statement as they hear the Count’s chilling taunts echoing down through the depths of his lair.

The initial encounters with Count Geonor can be overwhelming, particularly after experiencing his transformation into a wolf, launching ice-cold attacks that can freeze and tear apart unprepared players. As the primary boss of Act 1, this fight is intentionally challenging to foster growth and mastery of the game mechanics.

With proper gear and an understanding of his attack patterns, you can emerge victorious against this icy antagonist. The following sections will guide you through effective preparation and strategies to conquer Count Geonor.

Preparation Phase

To survive this frost-centric battle, gear that provides cold resistance is essential. While clothing stats may be forgiving early in the game, focusing on your weapon stats and flasks will yield better results.

In my initial encounter as a Ranger equipped with a bow and a mere 70 DPS, I found my attacks scarcely scratched Geonor’s health. To overcome this feeling of helplessness during battle, follow these preparation tips:

Seek a rare weapon that offers physical damage bonuses.
If you struggle to find one, utilize a Regal Orb to craft a rare item, and enhance it using an Exalted Orb for additional boosts.
Apply runes to your weapon to maximize lightning or fire damage.
Consult a skill tree guide to optimize your character’s damage capabilities—you’re able to refund skill points with The Hooded One if needed.
Level up by revisiting the Manor several times. A level of 17 is advantageous when facing this boss.
Ensure you use a high-quality Healing Flask, such as a Grand Flask with 7-8 charges to maintain survivability during the fight.

After enhancing my skills to prioritize lightning damage, my bow’s DPS soared to a commendable 220, proving that strategic gear progression and understanding mechanics are pivotal for a successful encounter with PoE2’s bosses.

Count Geonor Phase 1 Mechanics – Human Form

Attack	Description & How to Avoid
Basic Attacks	Count Geonor launches standard sword strikes that typically consist of 1-4 swings. Maintain distance to avoid these melee attacks.
Ranged Ice Missile	After focusing for a moment, he launches a spear of ice at you from a distance. Dodging sideways should suffice to avoid this projectile.
Triangle Ice Wall	He constructs V-shaped ice walls followed by a downward slash. Quickly roll out of the way and take advantage of his vulnerability to unleash attacks.
Piece and Sweep	Geonor dashes across the arena to try and skewer you, ending with a frost-infused sweep. Evacuate from his charge and maintain distance to steer clear of the frost attack.

Once you’ve chipped away at approximately 25% of his health, the Count shifts into wolf form, unlocking a host of new and deadly attacks.

Count Geonor Phase 2 Mechanics – Wolf Form

Attack	Description & How to Avoid
Calling the Pack	He summons a swarm of werewolves to assist him. Quickly eliminate these minions using area-of-effect (AoE) attacks before returning your focus to Geonor.
Charge	In wolf form, he can perform a rapid leap followed by multiple bites.
Blood Orbs	Geonor creates blood orbs that explode upon contact. Keep a close watch to evade these visually striking attacks.
Ice Circle	An ice ring marks the center of battle, with his sword embedded. Ensure you don’t step into this hazardous area.
Meteor Teleport	This is Geonor’s most perilous move. He will momentarily turn red, creating a circle beneath you before crashing down to deal severe damage. Avoid this by rolling away from the center after recognizing the telltale signs.

Despite common belief, the dodge-roll does contain invulnerability frames, but they occur only at the start of the animation. Hence, it’s more effective to roll at the perimeter of the Meteor attack rather than at the initial onset.

As the fight progresses and following each transformation at 75% and 50% health, Geonor will have a brief argument with his wife, signaling the transition into the truly intense part of the battle. Notably, many attacks from the first phase, including the Meteor move, persist.

Geonor, The Putrid Wolf Phase 2 Mechanics

Attack	Description & How to Avoid
Frost Swipe	While wielding his sword, he performs a backslash. Although it’s hard to dodge, it inflicts moderate damage, so prioritize remaining at a distance.
Beams of Frost	White beams of ice bombard the battlefield from above. Evade these to prevent freezing and significant damage, especially as they grow more potent at 25% health remaining.
Stalagmites	Ice shards erupt from the ground. Retreat swiftly to dodge this attack.
Frost Breath	The Count unleashes a chilling gust. Roll behind him during this prolonged attack to strike back effectively.
Elegy of the Wolf	A freezing mist engulfs the arena while minions attack. Utilize AoE attacks to manage the minion population and keep your life flasks stocked, all while learning to predict Geonor’s movements during his scripted dialogue.

While memorizing these attacks is valuable, much of the fight hinges on your reaction speed. With practice, this encounter transitions from challenging to manageable, transforming muscle memory into your greatest asset. Ranged classes will likely find this boss slightly easier to tackle due to the ability to evade melee strikes more effectively.

By applying these strategies and maintaining your composure, you’ll soon see Count Geonor defeated, allowing you to shed your winter armor and progress into the deserts of Act 2.

Source & Images