TL;DR
- Balbala is mandatory for Ascendancy despite being technically optional
- Her invisibility phase requires wall-hugging to locate and trigger her slam attack
- Yellow runes must be stepped on immediately to prevent enemy summons
- Shield blocking prevents poison from her dagger attacks completely
- Use auto-targeting or AoE skills to counter her extreme mobility
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While technically classified as an optional encounter, Balbala the Traitor serves as a critical progression gate in Act 2 of Path of Exile 2. Defeating her unlocks your character’s Ascendancy class, making this battle essential for advancing your build’s power. Many players mistakenly skip optional content, but this particular fight demands attention for meaningful character development.
You’ll locate Balbala within the Prison of Disgraced, accessible by progressing through Traitor’s Passage until you reach the initial checkpoint. The prison area features distinctive architectural elements that help distinguish it from surrounding zones. Navigation becomes significantly easier once you recognize the transition points leading to this specific arena.
Balbala employs a sophisticated invisibility mechanic that requires specific counterplay. When she vanishes from view, toxic gas immediately begins expanding outward from the arena’s center point. Your optimal response involves moving rapidly along the perimeter walls while scanning for her reappearance. She materializes briefly when approached closely, then executes a devastating ground slam that you must evade through dodge rolling or movement skills. Successfully triggering this attack sequence halts the poison spread completely.

Throughout the engagement, Balbala tosses coins that generate luminous yellow rune markers on the ground. These symbols activate after a brief delay, summoning additional combatants if left undisturbed. You must physically step on each rune to deactivate it before the summoning completes. Immediately disengage afterward since Balbala teleports directly to the deactivated rune’s location and unleashes an area-of-effect assault.
Neglecting the summoned minions creates overwhelming pressure quickly, though strategic players sometimes allow limited spawns to replenish flask charges or activate on-kill effects. This risk-reward calculation separates novice and experienced players significantly.
- Equipping a shield provides complete immunity to poison from Balbala’s dagger strikes when successfully blocked. This defensive approach dramatically reduces the encounter’s complexity for melee specialists.
- Utilize dash or blink skills to deactivate runes while minimizing exposure to subsequent area attacks. Movement abilities with short cooldowns excel in this specific engagement.
- Balbala’s exceptional mobility makes direct targeting challenging. Implement skills featuring automatic targeting or expansive area coverage to ensure consistent damage application throughout the fight.
Many players fail by chasing Balbala directly instead of using wall-hugging tactics during invisibility phases. Another frequent error involves remaining near deactivated runes too long, taking unnecessary teleportation damage. Optimized players complete this encounter in 3-5 minutes with proper execution, while struggling players may require multiple attempts. Understanding the precise timing between rune deactivation and her teleport arrival separates successful strategies from failed ones.
For advanced optimization, consider delaying certain rune deactivations to generate flask charges during critical moments. However, this advanced technique requires precise enemy management and should only be attempted by experienced players comfortable with the core mechanics.
Action Checklist
- Navigate to Prison of Disgraced through Traitor’s Passage checkpoint
- When Balbala vanishes, immediately move to walls and locate her
- Deactivate yellow runes with dash skills, then immediately retreat
- Use shield to block dagger attacks and prevent poisoning
- Employ auto-targeting or AoE skills to counter her mobility
No reproduction without permission:SeeYouSoon Game Club » How to beat Balbala in in Act 2 Path of Exile 2. Guide on how to defeat invisible boss Balbala in PoE 2 Master the invisible boss fight with advanced strategies, common pitfalls, and expert tips for PoE 2's Balbala encounter
