PoE 2 King of the Mists: Ultimate Guide to the Expansion

Path of Exile 2's King in the Mists expansion ushers in a fog-shrouded era of chaos and ritualistic combat, expanding the endgame with new pinnacle challenges and loot pinnacles. This ultimate guide breaks down access, mechanics, strategies, and rewards, helping players conquer the enigmatic King and his misty domain. Dive into high-tier mapping to unlock layers of progression that redefine ARPG depth.

Accessing the King

Reach the King in the Mists via the Crux of Nothingness, a realmgate portal activated by the rare An Audience with the King fragment. Farm this from Ritual encounters in tier 14+ maps or purchase via Currency Exchange for efficiency. Enter solo or grouped, preparing for multi-phase gauntlets blending map rituals with boss arenas—expect 20-30 minutes per full clear in optimized setups.

Boss Mechanics

The fight unfolds in escalating phases amid swirling mists. Phase one spawns adds and mist clouds that obscure vision and stack Portent Vapors debuff, ramping damage taken—clear clouds with AoE and climb ramps to shed stacks. Ritual of Dance imprisons stationary players upon the King's "Rith!" call, demanding constant movement skills like Flame Dash.

Phase two intensifies with chaos projectiles tripling in number, blood pools, and purple hazards; prioritize add clears to prevent overwhelms. Transformation enacts a second health bar, slowing the King but accelerating attacks—dodge "The end of meaning is nigh" for massive purple orbs. Phase three unleashes chaotic ritual sites: activate wisps, evade projectiles, and navigate collapsing platforms without Mystic Fetish crutches.

Strategies and Builds

Mobility reigns supreme—stack movement speed, phase run, and chaos resistance above 75%. AoE clears like Firestorm shred adds; single-target burst for the King's bars. Flask management proves critical: conserve for phase transitions, using anti-chaos and life leech. Groups rotate add control while DPS focuses the boss; solo players kite endlessly, whittling health between telegraphs.

Tormented variants in expansion content amplify mist density and add waves—gear for 90%+ resistances and 5k+ life. Practice in lower rituals to master tells like "Keep Running!" for debuff cues.

Rewards and Loot

Victories shower Exalted and Divine Orbs for crafting supremacy, alongside high-tier map fragments, Essences, and Vials fueling gear pipelines. Pinnacle drops include unique chaos weapons and amulets boosting ritual scaling, with chase Mythics like mist-infused jewels enabling ladder-pushing builds. Farm loops yield 60+ runs for mirror-tier hauls, cementing the King as endgame royalty.