Akthi and Anundr are one of the first memorable dual-boss encounters you'll face in Path of Exile 2. Found during the Vastiri Interlude, this fight tests your positioning, movement, and ability to deal with overlapping attacks rather than simply surviving heavy damage POE 2 Orbs.
If you're having trouble with the encounter, here's how to find the bosses, understand their mechanics, and defeat them efficiently.
Where to Find Akthi and Anundr
You'll encounter Akthi and Anundr in Khari Crossing during the Vastiri Interlude.
The fight is part of the Clearing the Way side quest, which begins after speaking with Risu in Khari Bazaar.
To reach the arena:
• Accept the Clearing the Way quest from Risu.
• Travel into Khari Crossing.
• Follow the main path through the area.
• Continue toward the eastern side of the map until you reach a large gate-like entrance.
• Enter the arena to begin the boss fight.
Since map layouts are randomly generated, the exact route may vary slightly, but the boss arena consistently appears near the eastern section of the zone.
Boss Mechanics
Although the bosses share the arena, each has a different fighting style.
1. Anundr, the Sandworm
Anundr focuses on controlling space with large attacks.
Watch out for:
• Burrowing attacks.
• Long sweeping body slams.
• Projectile attacks.
• Tail attacks during the later stages of the fight.
Its large body can block movement, making it difficult to dodge other incoming attacks.
2. Akthi, the Final Sting
Akthi is faster and more aggressive.
Its attacks include:
• Quick melee strikes.
• Poison-inflicting attacks.
• Fast movement around the arena.
• Wide sweeping attacks.
Compared to Anundr, Akthi is easier to read, but its mobility makes it dangerous if you're already dealing with the Sandworm.
Prepare for Poison Damage
Poison is the biggest threat during this encounter.
Unlike many other damage types, poison can quickly drain your Life if multiple stacks build up.
Before entering the arena, consider:
• Increasing poison resistance.
• Bringing Life Flasks with strong recovery.
• Using equipment that helps reduce or prevent poison damage.
• Equipping movement skills to escape dangerous areas quickly.
Characters with limited mobility often struggle much more in this fight.
Best Strategy
A little positioning makes this encounter much easier.
Option 1: Defeat Anundr First
• Many players choose to eliminate Anundr first because:
• Its massive body limits movement.
• Tail attacks become more dangerous later in the fight.
• The arena becomes much easier to navigate once it's defeated.
Keep moving around the edge of the arena while focusing your damage on the Sandworm.
Option 2: Eliminate Akthi First
If your build has trouble dealing with fast melee enemies, defeating Akthi first can also work.
This strategy reduces incoming poison attacks and leaves you free to focus on avoiding Anundr's larger attacks afterward.
Choose the approach that best matches your build and damage output.
Positioning Tips
During the fight:
• Avoid standing between both bosses.
• Never let yourself get trapped against walls.
• Keep an escape route open at all times.
• Continue moving instead of attacking for long periods.
• Wait for attack animations to finish before committing to damage.
Good positioning is often more important than raw damage.
Rewards
After defeating both bosses, return to Risu to complete Clearing the Way.
The quest reward is:
• Book of Specialisation
• Grants +2 Weapon Set Passive Skill Points
These passive points are permanent and allow you to further customize your weapon set passive trees.
In addition to the quest reward, the bosses can also drop useful equipment and other loot, making the encounter worthwhile even beyond campaign progression.
Final Thoughts
Akthi and Anundr are one of the more challenging campaign encounters in Path of Exile 2, but they're also one of the most rewarding. By preparing for poison damage, maintaining good positioning, and focusing on one boss at a time, you can consistently clear the fight without unnecessary deaths.
Be sure to complete the Clearing the Way quest afterward to claim your Book of Specialisation and the permanent +2 Weapon Set Passive Skill Points, as they're valuable upgrades that will benefit your character throughout the rest of the game buy POE 2 Orbs.