Path of Exile 2 – Act Four Guide to Beating Captain Hartlin
Path of Exile 2 continues Grinding Gear Games tradition of designing bosses that hit hard, look incredible, and demand constant awareness. One of the standout encounters in Act Four is Captain Hartlin, a former sailor who has been twisted into a nightmarish fusion of corpse, shipwreck, and artillery. His encounter blends heavy melee pressure, unpredictable projectiles, and a color-coded mechanic that forces players to react instantly.
You meet Hartlin during the Dark Mists storyline. His mother, Freya Hartlin, sends you searching through the fog-choked waters of Kedge Bay to find her missing son. When you discover him at Journey's Edge, it becomes clear that the dark fog has claimed him—his body reforged with anchors, cannons, and shattered wooden beams. The fight that follows marks a turning point in Act Four's difficulty.
The Arena and What to Expect
Hartlin's arena is a broad, open shoreline designed to highlight his long-reaching attacks and explosive cannon fire. The space gives him room to pressure you from multiple angles, and poor positioning can quickly get you pinned down.
Melee characters will feel the brunt of his physical resistance. Consider penetration nodes, damage-over-time effects, or weapon upgrades to push through his armor.
Spellcasters will naturally fare better thanks to Hartlin's weaker resistance to elemental damage.
If the fight feels overwhelming, upgrading your gems, reforging gear, or spending POE 2 Currency to strengthen weak links in your build can make a huge difference.
The Wheel Mechanic
Hartlin's defining feature is the captain's wheel fused to his neck. Throughout the fight, the skull at the top glows a distinct color, each representing a different attack pattern. As the battle progresses, the wheel shifts colors, forcing you to adapt constantly.
Learning what each color means is crucial—misreading one can easily end the fight.
Purple – Undead Crew
Hartlin summons skeletal sailors. They aren't dangerous on their own, but their numbers can get out of hand quickly. Bring AoE or crowd-clearing tools to manage them.
Green – Anchor Drop
A massive anchor plummets into the battlefield, dealing heavy area damage. While deadly, this attack leaves Hartlin open for several seconds—an ideal time to unload your strongest skills.
Blue – Spectral Orbs
Dozens of slow-moving, tracking orbs fill the arena. They deal low damage individually but force constant movement to avoid getting hemmed in.
Additional Attacks
Hartlin supplements his wheel-based abilities with several physical attacks:
Anchor Swing:A huge, telegraphed melee arc that can delete you if it connects.
Cannon Blast:A quick projectile fired from his built-in cannon—sidestep as soon as you see the wind-up animation.
Once he drops to roughly 33% health, he triggers his final phase.
Ultimate Phase – “Fire in the Hole!”
Ghostly cannons appear in a ring around the arena and bombard the area with explosive shots.
Stay near the center of the arena.
Move in controlled circles to draw fire away from yourself.
Keep mobility skills ready—panic dashing is the easiest way to get hit.
If you survive this barrage, the fight is nearly over.
Combat Tips
Use Elemental or Chaos Damage:These damage types break through Hartlin's defenses much faster than physical attacks.
Clear Adds Quickly:Skeleton minions can overwhelm you if ignored.
Capitalize on Green Anchor Drop:This is your biggest burst window—take advantage of it.
Keep Moving:His swings and projectiles cover large portions of the arena; constant strafing helps avoid them.
Reserve Movement Skills:Blink, dash, or leap abilities should be saved for the cannon storm in the final phase.
Rewards
Defeating Hartlin grants:
Verisium, which is required to progress the Dark Mists questline.
A selection of high-quality rare cheap Path of Exile 2 Currency, often helpful for Act Four gearing.
Currency drops to refine or upgrade your equipment.
(No unique item is exclusive to this boss.)
Even without unique rewards, the guaranteed quest progression and solid loot pool make the fight worth completing.
Why This Fight Matters
More than a simple roadblock, Captain Hartlin acts as a mechanical tutorial for challenges ahead:
He teaches players to read color telegraphs.
He reinforces the importance of handling add waves.
He forces you to navigate full-arena hazards under pressure.
His battle also adds emotional weight to Freya Hartlin storyline, making his defeat both narratively and mechanically meaningful.
Captain Hartlin stands as one of Act Four most memorable encounters—a tragic figure wrapped in shipwreck debris and driven by corrupted magic. His wheel mechanic keeps you alert, his attacks test your awareness, and his final bombardment phase pushes your movement skills to the limit.
With smart positioning, the right damage types, and a solid grasp of his attack patterns, you'll bring down the undead captain and push deeper into the mysteries of the Dark Mists.
