Path of Exile 2 continues to build on the dark, action-packed, and intricately designed world of Path of Exile, introducing new content, characters, and challenges. One of the most exciting additions to the game is the Krutog, Lord of Kin fight, which stands out as one of the most brutal and dynamic bosses that players will face. As a critical part of the story, Krutog's encounter requires players to not only bring their best gear but also to strategize effectively in order to conquer this new and terrifying foe.

In this guide, we'll break down everything you need to know about Krutog, Lord of Kin-from his lore to mechanics, strategies, and the best builds to tackle him with. Learn this article to help you more easily obtain POE 2 Currency and other rewards in the game.

Who is Krutog, Lord of Kin?

Krutog, Lord of Kin, is an ancient and formidable being introduced in Path of Exile 2. He is a powerful Overlord of the Kin, a race of beings known for their brutal strength, dark magic, and deep connection to the dark underworld of Wraeclast. Krutog's leadership over the Kin comes from his unique ability to manipulate both the physical and spiritual realms, making him not only a force to be reckoned with in battle but also a key figure in the story of Path of Exile 2.

While much of Krutog's backstory is still shrouded in mystery, it is clear that his influence over the Kin is vast. His power draws from a blend of necromantic forces and ancient, primal magic, which he uses to bend the laws of nature to his will. The Lord of Kin's ultimate goal is to extend his dominion over all of Wraeclast, and he sees the exile characters as key obstacles to his ascension.

The Krutog Fight: Understanding the Mechanics

The Krutog, Lord of Kin, encounter in Path of Exile 2 is a multi-phase battle that requires players to be prepared for both aggressive combat and intricate mechanics. It is not a simple hack-and-slash encounter, but a true test of player adaptability, positioning, and understanding of fight mechanics. Here's a breakdown of what to expect:

Phase 1: Kin of the Abyss

In the initial phase, Krutog doesn't engage the player directly. Instead, he summons Kin Minions-powerful creatures made from the very essence of his dark magic. These minions act as both damage dealers and shields, protecting Krutog as he prepares for the next stage of the fight.

Kin Minions: These creatures are capable of inflicting both physical and elemental damage. Some of them will have shields that need to be broken down before they can be damaged. The minions will regularly swarm the player, and it is crucial to clear them out to prevent overwhelming your character.

Abyssal Spells: Krutog will intermittently cast Abyssal Spells that cause significant area-of-effect (AoE) damage. These spells appear as dark, swirling voids that can quickly wipe out unprepared players. Keep an eye on the ground for visual cues to avoid these spells.

During this phase, Krutog himself remains in the background, occasionally casting AoE debuffs that lower your resistances or slow you down. While it may seem like a simple minion wave, the longer you take to clear them, the more overwhelming the fight will become.

Phase 2: The Awakening of Krutog

Once the Kin Minions are defeated, Krutog steps into the fray, revealing his true form. At this stage, he becomes the primary source of damage and employs both summoning abilities and necrotic magic to challenge the player. Krutog's physical attacks are devastating, and his shadow magic will create both dangerous zones and debuffs.

Necrotic Whirlwind: Krutog summons a swirling vortex of dark magic that deals heavy damage to anyone within its radius. The longer you stay within the area, the more damage you will take. Evading this ability requires quick thinking and positioning.

Shadowflame Burst: This attack sees Krutog launching an explosion of shadowy fire at the player. It has a large area of effect, and dodging it requires precise timing and positioning. Failure to avoid the explosion can cause significant damage or even result in death.

Summon Kin Soldiers: As Krutog's health decreases, he will start summoning additional Kin Soldiers to aid him in battle. These reinforcements act as adds that need to be dealt with quickly, or else they will overwhelm the player.

Krutog's health pool in this phase is substantial, and players need to focus on evading his damaging abilities while clearing his adds.

Phase 3: Krutog's Final Stand

When Krutog's health reaches around 30% remaining, he enters his Final Stand phase, where his attacks become even more aggressive. At this point, he gains access to a new set of abilities that can quickly turn the tide of battle if not handled properly.

Summon Dark Kin: Krutog calls forth Dark Kin, more powerful versions of his minions, which have enhanced damage output and resilience. These enemies are typically immune to elemental damage and require specific strategies or unique abilities to deal with.

Rage of the Lord: As Krutog's desperation grows, his attacks will become faster, and he will summon energy barriers that protect him from damage temporarily. Players must wait for these barriers to fade before they can resume dealing damage.

Final Phase Corruption: Throughout the final phase, Krutog's attacks will also corrupt the ground, leaving corruption zones that slow, debuff, and damage players standing in them. Staying mobile and using movement speed buffs will be crucial to avoid taking excessive damage.

Strategies to Defeat Krutog, Lord of Kin

Krutog is one of the toughest bosses in Path of Exile 2, but with the right preparation and tactics, you can overcome him. Here are a few key strategies to help you succeed in this battle:

1. Focus on Minion Management

In the first phase, Krutog relies heavily on his minions to do the heavy lifting. It's crucial to clear them out quickly, as they will constantly bombard you with attacks. Equip AoE damage spells or summon minions to help deal with these enemies swiftly. Avoid letting them linger, as they can overwhelm you if left unchecked.

2. Avoid Ground Effects

Krutog's AoE abilities, such as Abyssal Spells and Shadowflame Bursts, are deadly, so avoiding these effects should be your top priority. Watch for visual cues on the ground (such as swirling dark areas) and always be ready to dodge or reposition. Movement speed is key to evading these devastating attacks.

3. Use Crowd Control for Adds

When Krutog summons additional Kin Soldiers and Dark Kin in later phases, crowd control abilities become invaluable. Freezing, stunning, and petrifying adds can slow down the fight and allow you to focus on Krutog himself. Poison and bleed builds are especially effective in whittling down the health of adds without taking focus away from Krutog.

4. Optimize Gear for the Fight

Given the heavy necrotic and shadow damage in Krutog's attacks, having high elemental resistance, especially for chaos and fire damage, is critical. You may want to stack chaos resistance and life leech gear to recover from his brutal strikes. Additionally, using flasks that grant boosted movement speed or immune to debuffs can greatly increase your survivability.

5. Manage Your Positioning

Krutog's abilities demand precise positioning, as staying in the wrong place can mean death. In the Final Stand phase, make sure you're not caught in his corruption zones, and try to stay on the move. Having a movement skill, like Leap Slam or Flame Dash, can help you quickly avoid deadly attacks.

Best Builds for Krutog

Given the nature of Krutog's fight, there are several builds that perform well against him:

Summon Builds: These builds allow you to summon minions to help with the adds, while you focus on dodging Krutog's attacks. Necromancers and Summon Elementalists are ideal for this role, with their ability to overwhelm Krutog's minions while still dealing significant damage to the boss.

Ranged DPS Builds: Builds that focus on ranged attacks, like Archers or Elemental Archers, allow you to deal damage while keeping your distance from Krutog's deadly melee strikes. Fireball or Frostbolt builds can be especially effective for dealing AoE damage to both Krutog and his adds.

Tank Builds: If you're playing a tank build like Gladiator or Juggernaut, make sure you've stacked chaos resistance and defensive flasks to absorb Krutog's heavy hits. Having high life regeneration and damage mitigation will help you survive longer in this tough fight.

Conclusion

The Krutog, Lord of Kin encounter in Path of Exile 2 is a memorable and challenging fight that pushes players to utilize a blend of offensive and defensive tactics. Be prepared to buy POE 2 Orbs to help you quickly adapt to the game and conquer your enemies. With his deadly minions, powerful shadow magic, and ability to summon reinforcements, Krutog is not an easy boss to defeat. However, with the right strategies-clear minions, avoid AoE damage, manage positioning, and use the proper gear-you can conquer Krutog and emerge victorious in this intense battle. Keep practicing, and may your path lead to triumph over the Lord of Kin!