As players embark on their journey through Path of Exile 2, they will meet Draven, the Eternal Praetor, a formidable mini-boss encountered during the quest Sorrow Among Stones in Act 1. Overcoming Draven is essential for progressing in the game and unlocking Lachlann of Endless Lament at the graveyard’s conclusion.
For many newcomers, Draven represents one of the first significant challenges in the game. His fight showcases the new mechanics introduced by GGG, transforming PoE into an action role-playing game that incorporates elements reminiscent of Soulslike combat, emphasizing strategic positioning, the importance of understanding enemy attacks, and maintaining patience.
Strategies to Defeat Draven in PoE 2
The battle against Draven can be quite challenging due to his ability to fill the arena with debilitating effects. Although the area is expansive, his abilities are designed to restrict player movement. Ranged characters generally have the edge in this fight, but success still hinges on understanding Draven’s attack patterns.
It is advisable to upgrade your weapons and armor adequately prior to engaging in this confrontation.
Understanding Draven’s Attack Patterns
| Attack Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Basic Sword Combo | Draven performs a four-hit combo with his sword. |
| Necrotic Bolts | Draven swings his sword in a wide arc, launching bolts of necrotic energy in a cone. |
| Double Necrotic Bolts | Two quick sword swings generate two waves of necrotic bolts in a broad cone area. |
| Necrotic Sword Wave | Draven creates waves of necrotic energy by stomping down before slashing, emitting damage in two lines. |
| Summon Minions | Draven calls forth ghostly figures. Stepping into these causes an Eternal Knight to spawn. |
| Summon Asinia | Upon invoking ‘Asinia!’, Draven creates necrotic runic circles that explode after a delay, dealing damage. |
Effective Strategies for Defeating Draven
The central strategy for defeating Draven revolves around patience and careful positioning. Many of his attacks can be evaded with appropriate movement. For instance, both Necrotic Bolts and Double Necrotic Bolts can be circumvented by repositioning behind Draven as he readies these attacks or by creating distance to simply weave between the individual bolts more easily.
The Necrotic Sword Wave attack spans nearly the entire arena, making the best spot to avoid it right beside Draven. In Path of Exile 2, there’s no iframe mechanic, which means damage cannot be avoided if you’re in the attack radius; hence, the only safe options are to evade or block.
If you find yourself struggling, consider teaming up with a friend to tackle Draven; you can quickly teleport to the fight for assistance.
Avoiding the Summon Minions attack is straightforward. Simply refrain from stepping into the green figures scattered around the arena. However, there may be situations where you might want to trigger this summon, like when collecting Power Charges for a powerful attack.
Of all Draven’s abilities, Summon Asinia presents the greatest threat during combat. The runic circles created can be challenging to dodge when the action heats up. The effective tactic here is to keep moving through them rather than dodging; your character’s walking speed will likely outpace the delay before the circles detonate. Avoid the temptation to spam your dodge button.
Collectively, while each attack is manageable, their combination can create a daunting challenge. However, with perseverance and experience, players will quickly learn to recognize and effectively counter Draven’s attack sequences.
Rewards from Defeating Draven
Upon successfully vanquishing Draven, players will receive the Draven’s Memorial Key Piece, in addition to other standard loot. This key piece is critical for advancing further in the Sorrow Among Stones quest line, with the second required piece held by Asinia, Draven’s spectral consort, found in a different tomb within the same map.
Leave a Reply