Path of Exile 2 Act Four Boss Guide:How to Beat Captain Hartlin
Path of Exile 2 carries on Grinding Gear Games tradition of crafting brutal, cinematic boss battles that reward quick thinking and adaptability. Among Act Four standout encounters is Captain Hartlin-a once-proud seafarer transformed into a grotesque undead war machine. His fight combines punishing melee swings, unpredictable ranged attacks, and a unique color-based mechanic that keeps players constantly on edge.
Captain Hartlin appears during the Dark Mists questline. His mother, Freya Hartlin, asks you to find her missing son, lost amid the cursed fogs of Kedge Bay. When you finally discover him at Journey Edge, the reunion turns tragic. The Dark Mists have warped Hartlin beyond recognition-his body now grafted with cannons, anchors, and cursed shipwreck remnants.
This boss encounter marks a key difficulty spike in Act Four, blending single-target pressure with deadly area mechanics that demand precise movement and timing.
Hartlin arena at Journey Edge is wide and open, perfectly suited to his sweeping attacks and cannon volleys. You'll need to maintain strong positioning at all times to avoid being cornered.
His high physical resistance makes the fight especially rough for melee builds. Consider using armor-piercing skills or damage-over-time effects to cut through his defenses. In contrast, spellcasters will have an easier time since Hartlin is much less resistant to elemental damage.
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The Wheel Mechanic
The centerpiece of Hartlin design is the captain wheel embedded around his neck. During combat, the wheel top skull glows one of three colors-Purple, Green, or Blue-each signaling a different special attack. Every so often, he spins the wheel to switch to a new color, altering his attack pattern on the fly.
Learning to recognize and react to these colors is essential for survival. Misreading one can mean taking a devastating hit.
Additional Abilities
Besides his color-based attacks, Hartlin uses several powerful physical moves that can quickly overwhelm unprepared players:
Anchor Swing:A wide, arcing melee strike that deals massive damage. It's slow but lethal if it connects.
Cannon Blast:Fires a fast-moving projectile from his shoulder-mounted cannon. Watch for the animation cue and dodge sideways to avoid it.
At 33% health, Hartlin enters his ultimate phase:
"Fire in the Hole!"-Ghostly cannons materialize in a ring around the arena, bombarding it with explosive cannonballs. The safest spot is near the center; move in tight circles to bait the shots outward. Stay mobile, and the cannonballs will overshoot you. Surviving this storm signals the fight's final stretch.
Strategy Tips
Prioritize Magic Damage:Elemental or chaos spells pierce through his armor far better than physical attacks.
Control Summons:Hartlin occasionally calls skeletal minions. Use AoE skills or crowd-control items to keep them contained.
Exploit the Green Anchor Drop:After performing his Green wheel attack, Hartlin is left open-the perfect time to unload your cooldowns.
Keep Moving:His anchor swings and cannon volleys cover wide areas; consistent strafing reduces your chances of getting hit.
Save Mobility Skills for the Final Phase:Use dashes or blinks to weave through the cannon barrage during Fire in the Hole.
Rewards and Progression
Defeating Captain Hartlin yields a typical mid-act loot pool-not game-breaking, but rewarding enough to prepare you for what's ahead. His guaranteed drops include:
Verisium, a key quest item for advancing the Dark Mists storyline.
Rare gear with strong modifiers to upgrade your build.
Currency items, useful for reforging or enhancing your equipment.Unleash your potential in Path of Exile 2. Get your buy POE2 Currency today at MMOexp!
While he doesn't have an exclusive unique item, the quest progression and solid loot make this fight a must-complete milestone in Act Four.
Hartlin isn't just another boss-he's a mechanical teaching encounter. His glowing wheel introduces color-coded telegraphs, his skeleton adds crowd-control pressure, and his final phase tests your arena awareness.
Defeating him not only advances Freya emotional storyline but also signals that your build is ready for the midgame harsher content.
Captain Hartlin stands as one of Path of Exile 2 defining mid-act encounters-a blend of tragedy, spectacle, and mechanical challenge. His armor may be thick and his wheel unpredictable, but smart positioning, proper damage types, and quick reactions will see you through.
Conquer the undead captain, and you'll emerge stronger, richer, and one step closer to unraveling the mysteries of the Dark Mists.