Path of Exile 2: How to Clear the Forgotten Catacombs Map

The Forgotten Catacombs in Path of Exile 2 is one of the more atmospheric and POE2 Currency punishing maps you’ll encounter. With its claustrophobic corridors, undead hordes, and unique boss encounter, it presents both a challenge and an opportunity for high-value loot. If you’re looking to farm maps, currency, or just push your build to its limits, learning how to efficiently clear the Forgotten Catacombs is key. This guide will cover everything you need to know: preparing your character, understanding the layout, handling the enemy types, and defeating the boss.

Preparing for the Forgotten Catacombs

Before you step into the Catacombs, make sure your character is geared for both survival and speed. This map is notorious for its tight corridors and large packs of mobs, which can quickly overwhelm an unprepared exile.

Recommended Resistances: Prioritize Fire and Chaos Resistance. Many enemies here deal fire damage through necromantic spells, and the toxic miasma effects from some mobs apply chaos damage over time.

Movement Skills: Dash, Flame Dash, or Leap Slam are invaluable. Mobility will save you from getting trapped in narrow hallways.

Clear Speed Tools: Wide-area clearing skills (like Lightning Tendrils, Rain of Arrows, or Fireball builds with good AoE scaling) are strong here. Tight spaces let AoE projectiles bounce and chain effectively.

Flasks: Carry an anti-bleed flask (essential against skeletal archers) and a chaos resistance flask. A quicksilver flask helps navigate the map more quickly.

Map Layout and Navigation

The Forgotten Catacombs is structured like a sprawling underground crypt. Expect long corridors branching into large, circular chambers. Dead-ends are common, so be prepared to backtrack if you don’t find the boss room immediately.

Corridors: Often packed with groups of skeleton warriors and archers. Choke points can lead to sudden deaths if you’re careless.

Chambers: These larger rooms contain elite monsters and often shrine-like structures that spawn waves when approached. Clear methodically before engaging shrines.

Secret Rooms: Occasionally, you’ll find destructible walls leading to hidden chambers with additional loot. Look for faint cracks on walls.

Tip: Use the minimap frequently. The Catacombs can be disorienting due to its similar-looking corridors, and the minimap helps you track cleared sections.

Enemy Types and Threats

Each enemy type in the Catacombs is designed to test your awareness and positioning. Here are the most dangerous ones to watch out for:

Skeletal Archers

Fire volleys of arrows that can apply bleed.

Best counter: Keep moving and use anti-bleed flasks.

Bone Mages

Cast fireballs and explosive ground effects.

Best counter: Prioritize killing them first. They deal heavy elemental damage in groups.

Plague Rats

Small, fast, and deal chaos DoT on hit.

Best counter: Use AoE to clear them before they surround you.

Necromancers

Revive fallen skeletons and boost minions.

Best counter: Focus them immediately; otherwise, you’ll be stuck in an endless loop of fighting respawned mobs.

Crypt Golems (Rare/Elite)

High health, slam attacks, and resistance to elemental damage.

Best counter: Kite and use physical penetration or damage over time builds to whittle them down safely.

Boss Encounter: The Bone Warden

At the heart of the Catacombs lies the Bone Warden, a terrifying skeletal construct that combines necromantic magic with brute force. This fight has two phases:

Phase 1 – Summoner’s Gauntlet

The Bone Warden summons waves of skeletal archers and mages while launching fire novas.

Focus on clearing adds quickly. If left unchecked, the room will fill with projectiles.

Dodge the fire novas by staying mobile and circling the arena.

Phase 2 – Berserk Warden

At 50% HP, the Bone Warden absorbs nearby skeletons and grows in size, gaining melee slam attacks and chaos-damage ground eruptions.

His slams have a short wind-up animation—move out immediately when you see it.

Keep circling the arena and whittle him down while avoiding chaos ground effects.

Best Strategy: Builds with strong sustain (life leech or regen) fare better. Summoners and ranged casters have an advantage, as melee characters must dodge constantly during phase 2.

Rewards and Loot Potential

The Forgotten Catacombs map is well worth farming, especially for mid- to late-game players.

Map Drops: The density of enemies makes this map excellent for farming additional maps.

Currency: Expect good chaos orb and alchemy orb drops thanks to the number of elites.

Unique Items: The Bone Warden has a chance to drop Warden’s Spine, a unique staff that boosts minion life and chaos resistance. Perfect for summoner builds.

Divination Cards: This map is known to drop cards like The Scholar (for scrolls of wisdom stacks) and Bonebinder’s Legacy (rare minion-related items).

Tips for Efficient Farming

Roll Map Mods Wisely: Avoid map mods that reduce your resistances or cause enemies to deal extra fire/chaos damage.

Party Play: If running in groups, coordinate clear speeds. Too many players rushing corridors can split aggro dangerously.

Use Strong AoE Skills: The density of mobs makes maps with high-clearing builds much faster.

Check Side Rooms: Hidden chambers often hold strongboxes and rare loot. Don’t rush straight to the boss.

Final Thoughts

Clearing the Forgotten Catacombs in Path of Exile 2 is both a challenge and buy POE2 Currency a rewarding experience. Its enemy density, dangerous boss, and loot potential make it one of the better farming maps if you can handle the chaos. Preparation is key: come with the right resistances, mobility, and clear speed tools. Once you learn the enemy patterns and the Bone Warden’s mechanics, this map becomes a reliable source of currency and gear progression.

Mastering this map will sharpen your skills for tougher content ahead and make you a stronger exile in the long run.