Tavakai, Tukohama Chieftain is the climactic final boss of Act 4 in Path of Exile 2, and he is widely considered one of the toughest encounters players face in the early game. His transformation, fueled by the corrupted weapon you forge earlier in the act, pushes him into a violent frenzy, leading him to kidnap Makoru and flee to Ngakanu Island. This sets the stage for a dramatic and high-stakes showdown to conclude the act.

Whether you are progressing your character for the first time or optimizing early-league wealth, mastering the Tavakai fight is essential. Although he does not drop unique items, the abundance of rare and magic gear he can drop is extremely valuable in early Act Four. These pieces can be used directly as upgrades or converted into POE2 Currency through vendor recipes. More importantly, defeating him completes The Search, officially concluding Act Four and propelling you into the next chapter of your journey.

This guide breaks down Tavakai's full moveset, the mechanics of all three phases, and the best strategies to defeat him efficiently and consistently.

Understanding the Fight: The Corrupted Chieftain

Tavakai's encounter is designed to test everything you've learned up to this point in Path of Exile 2. His damage is high, his area coverage is huge, and each phase introduces dangerous new mechanics. Players who rely on standing still to deal damage often struggle, because Tavakai heavily rewards movement, spacing, and recognizing attack patterns.

If your build relies on melee skills or high-risk burst damage, you will need to play patiently. Ranged and spellcaster builds have an easier time positioning, but must still be prepared to dodge sweeping AoE patterns that can instantly delete low-life characters.

Phase One: Molten Slams and Fire Zones

The first phase introduces players to Tavakai's core mechanics. His most important abilities include:

Molten Slam

Tavakai jumps into the air and slams the ground, sending out a shockwave of fire. This deals heavy physical and fire damage. The telegraph is clear: he pauses briefly before leaping. You must dodge diagonally or directly away to avoid taking full impact.

Burning Ground Patches

Throughout the fight, Tavakai creates patches of burning ground. These zones deal stacking fire damage over time. Standing in them for even a second can chunk large portions of your health.

Swipe Attacks

These are quick melee attacks with fire damage. They punish you for getting too close without planning your movement.

Strategy for Phase One

The key here is to stay mobile. The arena is large enough to circle-kite him effectively. Melee players should strike after each Molten Slam recovery, while ranged players can continue firing while maintaining distance.

Avoid dragging Tavakai across the entire arena, because spreading Burning Ground too widely makes later phases harder. Keep him toward the center to preserve safe space.

Phase Two: Lava Geysers and Expanding Firewaves

Once you reduce Tavakai to roughly two-thirds health, he enrages and transitions into a deadlier phase. His attacks become faster and gain new fire AoE effects that cover enormous portions of the arena.

Key mechanics include:

Lava Geysers

These erupt from the ground in bursts. The telegraph appears as glowing circles. Move immediately once you see them; the damage is enough to kill unprepared players.

Expanding Firewaves

One of the most dangerous attacks Tavakai performs. He slams the ground and sends multiple rings of fire expanding outward. Getting hit by multiple waves can instantly kill you.

Chasing Charge

Tavakai charges in a straight line toward you, leaving behind a burning trail. This attack forces repositioning, and poor movement can corner you.

Strategy for Phase Two

This phase rewards players who can read telegraphs. The expanding firewaves look intimidating, but you can avoid them by slipping through the gaps between each ring or moving perpendicular to the wave direction.

Ranged builds should capitalize on every moment when Tavakai is recovering from his charge or slam animation. Melee builds must avoid greed. Get one clean combo in only after major abilities, then retreat.

If the arena is already littered with burning ground from Phase One, move the fight slightly to the side while being mindful of Tavakai's charges.

Phase Three: The Totem Awakening and Final Frenzy

Once Tavakai reaches approximately one-third life, he summons Tukohama totems. These totems greatly amplify his damage and can fire waves of flame or send projectiles across the arena. Ignoring them can quickly overwhelm you.

Totems of Tukohama

These totems must be destroyed. Each one provides Tavakai with additional fire effects. Focus on clearing them immediately while tuning into Tavakai's position to avoid surprise charges or slams.

Enraged Combos

In this final phase, Tavakai chains his abilities together more aggressively. He may perform a slam followed by a charge or firewaves followed by melee swipes.

Arena Coverage

By Phase Three, the arena is partially covered in burning ground and magma eruptions. Positioning becomes the most important skill.

Strategy for Phase Three

Destroy the totems as quickly as possible. Ranged builds can snipe them from afar, while melee players should lure Tavakai to one side, then sprint to eliminate the totems unpressured.

During this phase, patience wins the fight. Do not stay close to Tavakai for more than a few seconds. Wait until he finishes a major attack pattern before committing damage.

If your build has any defensive cool downs or mobility skills, this is the best time to use them. Flask management also matters significantly here.

Rewards, Drops, and Early-League Path of Exile 2 Currency

Tavakai does not drop uniques, but his loot pool contains rare and magic items that are extremely useful early in Act Four. Some of these pieces can be upgraded, crafted, or converted into currency using standard vendor recipes. Since this encounter concludes The Search questline and ends Act Four, it acts as a key milestone for both character progression and early wealth building.

Players farming Tavakai for experience or gear may also find value in selling high-tier rare bases or fractured drops, depending on league mechanics.

Final Thoughts

Tavakai, Tukohama Chieftain is an unforgettable boss fight and one of the strongest early-game challenges in Path of Exile 2. With heavy-hitting attacks, layered fire mechanics, and increasingly punishing arena hazards, the fight tests both your mechanical skill and knowledge of your build. By learning his patterns across all three phases and managing your positioning, you can defeat Tavakai reliably and push forward into the next stage of Wraeclast.

 Mastering this fight early makes your progression smoother, improves your efficiency, and opens the door to stronger gear and greater wealth as you move deeper into the game's campaign and endgame systems.