As you near the end of Act 1 in Path of Exile 2, the bosses get tougher, starting with The Executioner in “The Trail of Corruption” quest.
How to Beat The Executioner in Path of Exile 2
First off, The Executioner doesn’t heal during the fight, and there’s just one health bar to tackle. Sounds simple, right? Well, not quite…
This boss sends a swarm of minions after you. They keep coming no matter how many you defeat. Focus on those that are a real nuisance, especially the ones chasing you non-stop. There are also archers firing flaming arrows, but if you keep moving, they’re easy to dodge.
Concentrate on The Executioner, though. If you can use area attacks that hit both the boss and the minions, that’s even better.
Always keep an eye on The Executioner. If they go off-screen, they might hit you with a surprise attack that could deplete your health bar.
The Executioner’s Moves
Let’s talk about what The Executioner throws at you. There are two main attacks to watch for, each powerful enough to wipe out some characters, including my Sorceress.
Axe Stomp
The Executioner winds up to slam their axe on the ground, causing a fiery explosion in the area. This move is easy to spot as the boss glows red while preparing. The trick is to dodge just as the axe comes down, preferably multiple times because the blast area is wide. Don’t let healing or fighting the little enemies distract you.
Guillotine
This is The Executioner’s killer move. The Guillotine can take down most characters with one hit, even if they have full health. The boss swings a huge axe from above, creating a damaging area on the ground. You can see it coming when The Executioner makes a throat-slitting gesture.
The direction of the Guillotine is unpredictable. The boss faces you before the axe hits, so watch closely for this move. Missing it might mean game over.
Axe Swings
Then there are smaller attacks where The Executioner swings their axe. These are easier to dodge, but sometimes get mixed with bigger moves. After these swings, the boss is vulnerable for a bit, so strike then. Stay just far enough away to avoid being hit.
Those are the main tricks The Executioner uses. Not too many, but they can still be tricky.
Winning Against The Executioner
In the end, beating The Executioner is about making few mistakes. If you lose track of the boss, you might get hit by the Guillotine. If you focus too much on the smaller enemies, you could get caught in the Axe Stomp.
The strategy is to stay a little distance away to avoid axe swings, attack after their combo, then back off. Keep dodging big attacks and repeat this pattern. Don’t forget about the minions, and keep moving to avoid getting hit too much.
