Path of Exile 2 is much more difficult in the early game than its predecessor. In Path of Exile, the difficulty mainly came down to the build used by the player, which is still the case in PoE 2. However, with the introduction of dodge mechanics, many early-game bosses are also quite violent and require a certain level of mobility from players to avoid damage.
One such early game boss is Draven, the Eternal Praetor, who is part of the main questline boss in Act 1. Many players are reportedly stuck on this boss. Are you one of them? Keep reading as we tell you about how to beat Draven the Eternal Praetor in Path of Exile 2.
Where to Find Draven, the Eternal Praetor in Path of Exile 2
Draven, the Eternal Praetor is located inside the Mausoleum of Praetor found in Cemetery of the Eternals. This boss must be defeated to progress the Sorrow Among Stones quest, which eventually progresses to the Mysterious Shade questline, one of the main quests of Act 1.
After you have entered the Mausoleum of Praetor, look for the largest chamber, which is named the Heart of the Mausoleum. After entering this area, Draven, the Eternal Praetor, will rise from his grave to fight you.
Draven, the Eternal Praetor Moveset
Draven, the Eternal Praetor is a fairly difficult fight early on in the game, especially if you have not familiarized yourself with the movement mechanics yet. The fight is about your positioning, dodging his most damage-heavy attacks, and punishing him. Ranged characters will have an easier time handling this boss than melee characters.
Here are all the mechanics of Draven, the Eternal Praetor:
- Grasping Souls: Draven summons spirits who are drawn to him. After Draven absorbs the spirits, he becomes empowered.
- Summoning Asina: He asks Asina for aid, who appears as an invulnerable summon. She creates four magic circles on the ground, following the player’s movements, and deals a ton of damage after a couple of seconds.
- Parting Flames Slash: Draven creates a flaming path with flame walls on both sides as he charges his sword to deliver a flame strike. The flame walls then spread out on either side for a short distance, dealing damage.
- Spirit Projectiles: Draven swings his sword, shooting multiple spirit projectiles at the player. When empowered, he shoots the projectiles twice in succession.
- Sword Swing: He charges at the plate,r swinging his sword wildly.
- Resistances: Draven is resistant to Fire damage and has heavy armor.
How to Defeat Draven, the Eternal Praetor
With his moves learned, here’s how to defeat Draven, the Eternal Praetor, in Path of Exile 2:
- Correct Positioning Dodges most of his attacks: Positioning is the biggest challenge in this fight. For ranged characters, stay as far away as possible from Draven and deal continuous damage. For melee characters, stay behind Draven whenever he performs any of his skills. You can dodge-roll behind him, keeping you safe from most of his attacks.
- Use Cold Skills: Draven appears to be slightly prone to freezing. Using continuous freeze skills that deal with cold damage can make this fight much easier for you.
- Don’t try to rush: Many of Draven’s attacks can one shot, especially at close range. This is why you shouldn’t rush your attacks and wait until you have a clear window. Avoiding his attacks is more worthwhile than trying to punish him every time.
Draven, the Eternal Praetor Boss Fight Rewards in Path of Exile 2
After defeating Draven, the Eternal Praetor, he will drop the Memorial Key Piece, which is an essential item for finishing the Sorrow Among Stones quest. Furthermore, he drops random loot with a good chance of dropping an uncut Skill gem, which can be used to unlock or upgrade Skills in Path of Exile 2.
So, that’s it. This guide should help you defeat Drave the Eternal Praetor in Path of Exile 2. Tell us in the comments if you are still having trouble, and we will try to help you further.
