MMOEXP-Strategies to Conquer Ekbab and Iktab in Path of Exile 2

sheliepaley

Path of Exile 2 is filled with intense boss encounters that test every aspect of your build — from your skill rotations and flask timing to your positioning and understanding of boss mechanics. Among the more challenging dual fights players encounter in the campaign are Ekbab and Iktab, the twin guardians of the Desiccated Expanse. These two colossal beasts act as a major skill check midway through the story, demanding adaptability, precision,POE2 Currency and a strong sense of rhythm to overcome.

This guide breaks down everything you need to know to defeat Ekbab and Iktab — their attack patterns, elemental weaknesses, phase transitions, and the best strategies for melee, ranged, and spell-based characters alike. Whether you're playing a lightning-slinging Huntress, a brawling Barbarian, or a minion-focused Sorceress, this fight will push you to sharpen your reactions and think tactically.

Understanding the Twin Guardians

Ekbab and Iktab represent two halves of a deadly whole. They share a common health pool but alternate between phases, forcing players to manage both enemies simultaneously. The fight takes place in a circular arena surrounded by collapsing stone pillars and creeping sand currents — an environment that constantly shifts as the battle progresses.

Ekbab embodies earth and fire, attacking with magma bursts, shockwaves, and ground fissures that erupt after short delays. His hits are slower but devastating, capable of instantly deleting low-defense builds if not avoided.

Iktab channels wind and lightning, darting around the arena with rapid dashes, chain lightning attacks, and storm orbs that track the player's position. His aggression and speed make him the more unpredictable of the two.

While their elemental identities are distinct, the key challenge lies in their coordination: when one boss enters a damage phase, the other often supports with area denial or ranged harassment. Players who try to focus on only one target quickly find themselves surrounded or stunned.

Phase 1: Learning the Rhythm

At the start of the fight, both Ekbab and Iktab spawn at opposite ends of the arena. Only one is fully active — usually Ekbab — while the other launches supporting ranged attacks from the edge. This is the best time to learn their attack patterns before chaos unfolds.

Ekbab's Phase 1 Moveset:

Magma Fist: Slams the ground in front of him, creating a fissure that erupts after a short delay. Step back or sidestep when you see his arm raise.

Lava Burst: Fires several fireballs that land in a cone-shaped spread. Dodge diagonally — not straight back — to avoid multiple hits.

Seismic Shockwave: Sends out rippling waves across the arena floor. These are telegraphed by concentric circles; jump or dash between them.

Ekbab and Iktab epitomize what makes Path of Exile 2's boss design so thrilling: multi-phase coordination, shifting terrain, and lethal but learnable mechanics. It's a battle that forces you to respect positioning, movement, and resistances rather than relying solely on raw damage.

For newer Exiles, patience and observation will carry you further than brute force. For veterans, mastering the dance of flame and storm becomes a badge of honor — a testament to your build's balance between offense and agility.

So when the sands begin to churn and the storm crackles overhead, stand ready. Ekbab and Iktab are not just another pair of bosses — they are the embodiment of chaos Path of Exile 2 Orbs and harmony. Defeat them, and you don't just conquer the twins; you master the storm itself