Path of Exile 2: Scourge of the Skies Boss Guide

Scourge of the Skies is one of the early but challenging bosses players will face in Path of Exile 2. This massive corpse-spewing bird lurks on Shrike Island, waiting to test your ability to dodge, adapt, and outlast. If you've fought Diamora, Song of the Deep, you already know Grinding Gear Games loves designing frustrating bird bosses-and Scourge of the Skies lives up to that reputation.

You'll encounter this creature during the first main story mission, The Search, where you must scour multiple islands to collect fragments of a weapon. Unfortunately, one of those fragments lies in the claws of the Scourge of the Skies. Even with a level advantage, this fight is dangerous thanks to its bleed effects, corpse projectiles, and summoned adds.

If you're struggling to bring down this winged terror, here's a complete guide on where to find it, what attacks to expect, and how to defeat it efficiently.

Where to Find Scourge of the Skies in Path of Exile 2

Scourge of the Skies is the main boss of Shrike Island, which you can reach by boat from Kingsmarch. Once you arrive, you'll have to make your way through a maze of canals, bridges, and twisting island paths. This exploration triggers the Shrike Island quest, which eventually leads you to the boss.

Because Path of Exile 2 maps are randomized each session, the exact layout and location vary. However, you'll know you're close when you encounter the Corrupted Nests checkpoint. From there, look for a massive nest area surrounded by trees and jagged rocks with a single entry point. This ominous arena is the home of Scourge of the Skies.

Scourge of the Skies' Attacks in Path of Exile 2

Scourge of the Skies doesn't have dozens of abilities, but the few it does possess are extremely punishing. Here are its main attacks and mechanics:

·Corpse Belch Line: Vomits a line of bird corpses across the ground, dealing heavy physical damage in a path.

·Feather Trap: Conjures a half-circle of feathers that erupt after a delay, dealing damage, applying bleed, and inflicting a 30% slow.

·Corpse Fire Lines: Spits out three fiery red lines that streak across the arena, forcing you to reposition quickly.

·Peck Attack: A melee-range peck that hits surprisingly hard if you get too close.

·Corpse Flood: Splashes half the battlefield with corpses, creating dangerous zones to avoid.

·Corpse Line Chase: Belches a continual stream of corpses in a straight line that tracks your movement briefly.

·Plagueling Summon (50% HP): At half health, Scourge of the Skies summons a Plagueling mini-boss with its own health bar, effectively turning the fight into a two-phase battle.

While some of these attacks are straightforward, the feather ability is the deadliest by far. The combination of damage, slow, and bleed makes it incredibly easy to die if you mistime your dodge.

How to Defeat Scourge of the Skies in Path of Exile 2

Defeating this boss requires a mix of mobility, careful positioning, and bleed management. Here's a breakdown of strategies that can help:

1. Stay Mobile at All Times

Like many PoE 2 bosses, Scourge of the Skies punishes stationary players. The corpse floods and feather arcs are designed to trap you, so constant movement is the key to survival. Don't burn movement skills unnecessarily, but keep shifting your position to avoid being boxed in.

2. Manage Bleed Effects Immediately

The feather attack applies one of the most dangerous bleeds in the early game. If you're not prepared with flasks or defensive tools, this damage-over-time can quickly drain your health globe. Always bring bleed removal or mitigation, and if you get clipped, disengage briefly until the effect wears off.

3. Bait the Feather Traps

Feathers always erupt in a curved formation after a short delay. You can bait the boss into dropping them in less dangerous spots by staying near the arena edge and quickly moving away before they activate. This keeps the center of the arena clearer for when you need space later in the fight.

4. Handle Plagiarism Quickly

At 50% HP, the Scourge of the Skies summons a Plagueling, which fights alongside it. If you've encountered Chetza, the Feathered Plague, you'll recognize the mechanics-this add is tough and distracting. Focus on eliminating the plaguing first so you don't get overwhelmed by constant dual pressure.

5. Use Minions or Ranged Builds for Safety

Minion builds Excel here because they keep the bird focused on them rather than you, making it easier to dodge. Ranged builds also have an easier time, since most of the birds' attacks are melee-focused or predictable straight-line projectiles. Melee builds can win too, but they'll need excellent timing to avoid the peck and feather combos.

Rewards for Defeating Scourge of the Skies

Once you've taken down the Scourge of the Skies, you'll receive one of the Weapon Fragments required to advance The Search questline. This is a mandatory progression boss, so you can't skip it. The fight also drops additional loot, with chances at rare gear, currency, and crafting bases.

Beyond the tangible rewards, defeating Scourge of the Skies feels like a major milestone in Path of Exile 2's campaign. It's one of the first bosses that pushes players to respect mechanics, manage debuffs, and think about positioning.

Final Thoughts

The Scourge of the Skies is a brutal early-game test in Path of Exile 2, demanding that you master mobility, react quickly to delayed-area attacks, and deal with debilitating bleed effects. While it doesn't move around as much as you'd expect from a "sky scourge," the sheer amount of corpse projectiles and the dangerous feather traps make this one of the nastiest bosses on Shrike Island.

Come prepared with bleed removal, mobility tools, and a plan for the Plagueling, and you'll not only secure your weapon fragment but also valuable loot drops. Whether you choose to grind for more Path of Exile 2 Items or streamline your journey and buy POE2 Items directly, conquering the Scourge of the Skies marks a key milestone in your campaign through Wraeclast.