Path of Exile 2: Breach Boss Guide: Xesht, We Who Are One

Introduction

Xesht, We Who Are One, stands as the pinnacle boss of the Breach mechanic in Path of Exile 2. Facing Xesht is a high-stakes challenge requiring preparation, sharp reflexes, and a good understanding of his mechanics. This guide will walk you through how to find and start the encounter, strategies to survive and defeat Xesht, his attack patterns across phases, and finally, what valuable loot you can expect from this dangerous foe.

How to Find and Start the Xesht Encounter

Collecting Breach Splinters

To face Xesht, you need to collect 300 Breach splinters by running Breach encounters inside your maps. These splinters combine to create a Breachstone, the key item needed to summon Xesht.

Using the Breachstone

Once you have your Breachstone, head to the Realmgate, which is always located next to the Ziggurat Refuge on the Atlas map. You can quickly travel there by using the Home button on your Atlas UI.

When you interact with the Realmgate, you can insert the Breachstone just like a Waystone to start the encounter. This will transport you into Xesht's domain, called the Twisted Domain.

Running the Encounter

Upon entering the Twisted Domain, start the fight by touching the Breach Hand just inside the portal. This activates a timer counting down the lifespan of the breach.

Your goal is to kill Breach monsters quickly to keep the breach open. Each monster you kill adds time to the countdown and lets you progress deeper. It typically takes about two minutes of continuous combat to finally reach Xesht, giving you an intense survival challenge.

Loot Pooling

A unique feature here is loot pooling - all loot from monsters is collected in a pile at the end of the breach. This lets you focus on combat and survival without having to stop and pick up items along the way.

You'll also encounter Clasped Hands and Breachlord Clasped Hands during the fight. Walking over these adds their loot directly to your final pile.

Pre-Boss Loot

Before facing Xesht, you can loot the accumulated pile. This is your chance to pick up some high-value gear like skill gems, spirit gems, catalysts, currency, and even breach rings. Higher-tier Breachstones allow drops of item level 82+ gear, meaning some of the best Atlas loot can drop here.

Facing Xesht: Preparation and Key Tips

Essential Preparations

Freeze Charm: Xesht summons Tul, who fires icicles that freeze. Having a Freeze charm prevents you from being frozen and vulnerable.

Movement Speed: Aim for at least 25% movement speed on boots to dodge efficiently.

No Pausing: Pinnacle bosses like Xesht cannot be paused. If you need to log out, do so quickly or use Alt-F4, but be prepared to resume immediately.

Close Range Positioning: Stay close to Xesht to exploit the long animations in his attacks. Circling behind him often forces him to turn, giving you windows to dodge.

Phase 1: Learn and Survive the Attacks

Xesht's first phase introduces most of his attacks. Understanding and mitigating these will be key to surviving.

1. Sonic Wave Finger Gun

Xesht charges a powerful sonic energy blast.

Mitigation: Either circle behind him when he fires or dodge-roll sideways/perpendicular to the projectile's path.

2. Triple Blast

Telegraphed by two glowing lights on his hands.

Fires three rapid shots, spinning between shots.

Mitigation: Stay close, roll behind him repeatedly to force rotations, or dodge-roll sideways if you're farther away. Multiple well-timed rolls are needed.

3. Tul Icicles Summon

Tul is summoned via a large gray hand with puppet strings.

Shoots freezing icicles.

Mitigation: Use a Freeze charm; either dodge behind the hand or run down a hallway to side-step the icicles.

4. Esh Summon

A blue hand deals lightning damage and applies Shock.

Mitigation: Avoid the circular indicator on the ground by stepping out or dodge-rolling through it.

5. Chase Attack

Xesht drops and chases you with his hands, slamming if caught.

Mitigation: Run away or try to dodge, but timing can be tricky.

6. Xoph Fireball

Fireball drops from above, leaving a burning ground.

Mitigation: Dodge behind or step aside quickly, and avoid standing on the burning ground afterward.

7. Hand Slam (Most Dangerous Attack)

A large pink hand appears, channels, then slams down.

Dodge shadows appear above you; you must dodge away from fingertips, perpendicular to finger orientation.

Requires quick reactions - no forward rolls through fingers, only lateral dodges.

Phase 2: The Fight Intensifies

At one-third health, Xesht opens a portal overhead, pausing briefly - a good damage window.

After this, all Phase 1 attacks can occur simultaneously with new threats:

Falling Arms

Three to four arms erupt from the floor and slam down, dealing big damage and stunning.

Mitigation: Dodge laterally, never into or away from the arms, as either direction risks damage.

Dual Summon

Tul and Esh can appear at the same time.

Focus on avoiding Tul's freezing icicles first.

If near Esh's lightning zone, dodge through or escape to the hallways to block icicle angles.

Increasing Difficulty: Xesht 0 to 4

You start facing Xesht 0, with roughly 6 million HP.

Using Atlas points, you can increase difficulty up to Xesht +4, boosting his health and the challenge.

Xesht 1: ~10 million HP

Xesht 2: ~14 million HP

Xesht 3: ~21 million HP

Xesht 4: ~32 million HP

Defeating each tier rewards Atlas points and sometimes exclusive books. After +4, no further difficulty increases.

Xesht Loot Table

Xesht drops a mix of powerful, unique items and regular high-tier loot.

Unique Boss Drops:

Beyond Reach: A potent weapon for melee builds.

Hand of Wisdom and Action: A unique item that enhances skills and attributes.

Xoph's Blood: A valuable item with powerful stats.

Choir of the Storm: An item granting electric damage bonuses.

The Pandemonium: High-end gear with powerful affixes.

Skin of the Loyal: Available on +2 or higher difficulty.

Controlled Metamorphosis: Available only on +4 difficulty, affecting passive skills in a radius and allowing allocation without connection to your tree, with significant resist penalties.

Conclusion

Fighting Xesht is a true test of your map-running efficiency, survival skills, and boss mechanic knowledge in PoE 2. Preparation with Freeze charms, movement speed, and tactical positioning can mean the difference between victory and defeat.

Understanding each phase's attacks and how to mitigate them while managing adds will keep you alive. The escalating difficulty levels keep the challenge fresh, rewarding perseverance with some of the best loot the Breach mechanic has to offer.

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