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Ekbab, Ancient Steed is one of the tougher encounters in Act 2 of Path of Exile 2. This massive skeletal beast fights alongside Iktab, the Deathlord, forcing you to deal with heavy physical attacks while watching for dangerous spells. Rushing into the fight usually ends badly, especially if both bosses catch you between their attacks. Before heading into the Blackrib Pit, make sure your gear, life, and resistances are in reasonable shape. Having a basic understanding of POE 2 Currency and crafting materials can also help you make better use of equipment upgrades during the campaign.
Where to Find Ekbab, Ancient Steed
You can find Ekbab and Iktab in the Blackrib Pit, located in The Bone Pits in Act 2. Travel through the Mastodon Badlands while progressing through the A Theft of Ivory quest.
The encounter is part of your effort to rebuild the Horn of the Vastiri after Jamanra's sandstorm disrupts your pursuit.
Before entering the arena, take a moment to prepare:
• Check your life and elemental resistances.
• Make sure your main damage skill is upgraded.
• Keep a reliable dodge route available.
• Avoid entering with an inventory full of gear you have not evaluated.
If your damage feels weak, consider whether a weapon or skill upgrade would make the fight easier. Players researching buy POE 2 Currency should remember that trading is separate from SSF progression, where upgrades must come from your own drops and crafting.
How to Avoid Ekbab's Main Attacks
Ekbab relies on powerful physical attacks, but its movements give you opportunities to react. The trick is to watch its body rather than focusing entirely on your damage numbers.
Watch out for these attacks:
1. Tusk Swings: Avoid standing beside Ekbab for too long. Its sweeping attacks can punish melee characters who commit to extended combos.
2. Forward Charge: When Ekbab lines up a charge, dodge sideways rather than retreating directly along its path.
3. Ground Slam: Move away from the attack's forward path and watch for the damaging shockwave that follows.
4. Overlapping Attacks: Keep track of Iktab while dodging Ekbab. Escaping one attack does not mean you are safe from the other boss.
Wait for Ekbab to finish a major attack before moving back in. Short damage windows are usually safer than trying to squeeze in one more hit.
Which Boss Should You Kill First?
For many players, Iktab is the better first target. Removing the spellcaster reduces the number of attacks you need to track, allowing you to focus on Ekbab's physical moves.
However, defeating Iktab does not make the remaining fight completely safe. Persistent lightning orbs can still create problems during Ekbab's phase.
Your priorities should be:
• Position yourself where you can see both bosses.
• Focus your damage on Iktab whenever you have a safe opening.
• Dodge Ekbab's charges and slams instead of trading hits.
• Once Iktab falls, watch for lightning orbs while attacking Ekbab between its moves.
Killing Ekbab first is another option, particularly for ranged builds that can maintain distance. However, you will have to deal with Iktab's more dangerous spell pressure afterward. Choose the order that best suits your character rather than assuming one strategy works for everyone.
Gear and Combat Tips for an Easier Fight
You do not need perfect equipment to defeat this duo, but poorly upgraded gear can make the encounter unnecessarily difficult.
• Upgrade your main weapon: Faster kills mean fewer opportunities for the bosses to overwhelm you.
• Improve your defenses: Life and appropriate resistances help cover mistakes.
• Use short attack sequences: Stop attacking when either boss begins a dangerous animation.
• Keep moving: Avoid getting trapped against the arena's edges, especially when lightning orbs are active.
If you are comparing cheap POE 2 Currency options for general gearing research, focus on understanding which upgrades actually benefit your build instead of chasing expensive items without a clear purpose.
Rewards for Defeating Ekbab and Iktab
Defeating the pair rewards you with Mastodon Tusks, the quest item needed to advance A Theft of Ivory. This makes the encounter an important step in your Act 2 campaign progression.
Ekbab becomes much easier once you recognize its charge and slam patterns and stop treating the encounter as a damage race. Prepare your character, eliminate the spellcaster if that suits your build, and punish Ekbab after its attacks. For players checking cheap POE 2 Orbs for sale listings outside SSF, gear prices may provide a useful reference, but good positioning and timing remain the keys to winning this fight.
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