U4GM How to Beat Balbala in PoE 2 Guide and Tips
You can walk into Balbala thinking you’ve got Act 2 figured out, then five seconds later you’re scrambling for space you don’t have, wishing you’d prepped better. If you’ve been hoarding upgrades or skipping trades, even a small bump like PoE 2 Currency can be the difference between “nearly” and “done,” because this fight isn’t a DPS check so much as a composure check in a cramped box.
The Room Is the Real Enemy
That arena’s tiny. There’s a big pit in the middle that ruins your pathing, breaks line of sight, and turns simple dodges into awkward stutter-steps. You can’t just run a neat lap like other bosses. You’ll try, then get body-blocked by the geometry and eat a hit you swear you dodged. The best rhythm I’ve found is to keep moving along the outer ring, not hugging one corner for “safety.” Corners are traps. You get pinned, then you’re reacting late, then you’re out of flasks.
Poison Fog: Don’t Panic-Run
The green gas phase is where most runs fall apart. She disappears, the room goes nasty, and your life starts ticking down like a timer you can’t see. The instinct is to sprint around and “find her,” but that usually just drags you through more damage and messes up your spacing. Stay on the edges, keep your camera discipline, and look for her shape in the fog. When you spot her, close the gap fast to end it, then immediately expect the follow-up blast. If your poison res is negative, it’s going to feel unfair. It isn’t. It’s your gear telling you you’re underdressed.
Coins and Shades: Use Them, Don’t Fear Them
Those coin tosses and shade copies look like extra chaos, but they’re actually a resource. You’re not getting comfy downtime in this room, so you need flask charges wherever you can steal them. Step on a coin when you’ve got space, pop the shade quickly, and treat it like a refill station. Just don’t get greedy. Triggering three shades back-to-back because you “might as well” is how you end up chain-hit while you’re trying to drink. One at a time, clean kill, back to watching Balbala.
Prep That Actually Matters
Before you pull again, do the boring stuff: swap a ring for poison res, roll your flasks so they do real work, and make sure your movement skill isn’t clunky. If you’re a glass cannon, you don’t need to become a tank, but you do need one layer of “I won’t instantly fold.” That’s the whole vibe of this boss. Survive the mess, then cash in the reward—Trials open up, your character starts to feel like it’s coming online, and the next stretch is a lot more fun when you’re not tempted to rage-quit and go poe2 gold buy out of frustration.

