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Path of Exile 2 continues Grinding Gear Games' legacy of brutal boss encounters, challenging players to learn mechanics, react quickly, and adapt their builds to overcome towering foes. One of the most memorable early bosses you'll face in Act Four is Captain Hartlin, a tragic figure twisted into an undead monstrosity. This guide breaks down where to find him, what mechanics to expect, and the best strategies to bring him down.

Who Is Captain Hartlin?

Captain Hartlin is introduced during the Dark Mists questline in Act Four. Lore-wise, he's the long-lost son of Freya Hartlin, who tasks you with finding him in the fog-shrouded seas of Kedge Bay. Sadly, when you discover him in Journey's Edge, it's too late-Hartlin has been transformed into a grotesque undead, his body fused with nautical weaponry and cursed relics.

This fight is a turning point in Act Four, testing your ability to manage both single-target boss pressure and dangerous area mechanics.

Where to Find Captain Hartlin

·Quest: Dark Mists

·Location: Journey's Edge, Kedge Bay Island

·Act: Four

As you progress through the fog-filled paths of Kedge Bay, you'll eventually reach Journey's Edge, a weathered battlefield where Hartlin awaits. The environment is open, giving him room to unleash his wide-area abilities, so positioning is vital.

Captain Hartlin's Strengths and Weaknesses

·Armor: Heavy Armor - resists physical damage heavily

·Resistance: Light Frost Resistance

·Mobility: Slow-moving, deliberate

·Weakness: Magic damage, stuns, and armor-piercing skills

The biggest hurdle in this fight is Hartlin's physical resistance. Melee-focused builds will struggle unless they use armor-piercing skills or invest in powerful gear upgrades. Spellcasters, however, will find the fight more forgiving since Hartlin's resistance to elemental magic is weaker.

Investing Path of Exile 2 Currency to upgrade your gems and gear-or even choosing to buy POE2 Items to fine-tune your build-can make a dramatic difference in this encounter.

Captain Hartlin's Wheel Mechanic

The most unique feature of this fight is the captain's wheel strapped around Hartlin's neck. At any given moment, the top skull of the wheel glows one of three colors-Purple, Green, or Blue-which determines his next special attack. Hartlin will periodically spin the wheel during the fight to change the active color.

Here's a breakdown of his color-coded abilities:

·Purple (Summon Skeletons): Hartlin raises a dozen skeleton minions to harass you. While they aren't individually strong, their numbers can overwhelm, forcing you to balance crowd control with keeping pressure on the boss. AoE skills shine here.

·Green (Anchor Drop): Hartlin calls down a massive anchor from above, creating a large area-of-effect strike. If you're caught in the center, the damage is devastating. The good news is that Hartlin pauses briefly to cast this, giving melee players a chance to land safe heavy hits once the anchor lands.

·Blue (Spectral Orbs): Hartlin unleashes waves of spectral orbs that track loosely toward your position. Each deals moderate damage, and the danger lies in the numbers. Constant movement is required to weave between the orbs.

Additional Mechanics

Beyond his wheel-based specials, Captain Hartlin employs a mix of heavy-hitting nautical attacks:

·Anchor Swing: A wide melee swing with his oversized anchor. Slow but punishing if mistimed.

·Cannon Blast: A ranged shot from the small cannon mounted to his side. The projectile is quick but dodgeable if you stay alert.

·At 33% health, Hartlin transitions into his ultimate phase:

"Fire in the Hole!" - Hartlin summons a circle of ghostly cannons around the arena, which bombard the field with explosive shots. The best counterplay is to move into the center of the circle and run in a tight loop. Doing so causes the cannonballs to overshoot and miss you entirely.

This final phase creates chaos but also signals that the end is near. Surviving the cannon barrage lets you finish him off.

Strategy Tips for Defeating Captain Hartlin

1. Bring Magic Damage - Fire, lightning, or chaos spells melt through his armor faster than physical damage.

2. Manage Minions Quickly - Use AoE or crowd-control Path of Exile 2 Items to prevent skeleton swarms from overwhelming you.

3. Punish Anchor Drop - After Hartlin casts Green Anchor Drop, he's wide open. Use this downtime to unload your strongest cooldowns.

4. Stay Mobile - His slow speed belies the wide reach of his anchor swings and orb volleys. Constant strafing makes dodging easier.

5. Save Mobility Skills for Fire in the Hole - Use dashes or blink abilities to reposition during the cannon circle phase.

Rewards for Defeating Captain Hartlin

Upon victory, Captain Hartlin drops a pool of randomized loot typical of mid-act bosses. While no exclusive, unique item is tied to him, he always rewards:

·Verisium, a quest item required for progressing through Dark Mists.

·Rare gear with potential modifiers suited for upgrading your build.

·Currency items, offering a chance to restock before tackling the next zones of Act Four.

While his loot table isn't game-breaking, the guaranteed quest progression makes him an essential fight to clear.

Why Captain Hartlin Matters in Act Four

Beyond loot and quest progression, Hartlin is a mechanical teaching boss. His wheel mechanic introduces players to reading color-coded telegraphs, his skeleton summons force crowd-control awareness, and his final phase tests your ability to manage an arena-wide hazard.

By defeating Captain Hartlin, you'll not only move Freya's tragic storyline forward but also prove that your build is ready for the escalating challenges of Path of Exile 2's midgame.

Final Thoughts

Captain Hartlin may not be the most mechanically complex boss in Path of Exile 2, but he represents a turning point in Act Four. His heavy armor, unpredictable wheel mechanics, and cannonfire finale combine into a fight that keeps you on your toes. Players who adapt quickly and bring the right damage types will find victory rewarding narratively and mechanically.

If you're preparing for the tougher battles deeper into Act Four and beyond, mastering the fight against Captain Hartlin is a crucial step on your exile's journey.