In Path of Exile, tackling multiple league mechanics simultaneously can be both challenging and rewarding. One such formidable task is to defeat a Blight Boss while under the influence of Delirium. This combination of encounters will test your strategic planning, combat skills, and ability to manage chaos. Here’s a guide to help you accomplish this feat.
Understanding Blight and Delirium
Blight: This league mechanic involves defending a pump from waves of monsters that travel along paths marked by fungal growths. Towers can be built to help defeat these monsters. The challenge culminates in a boss fight against a powerful Blight Boss.
Delirium: When a Mirror of Delirium is activated, a mist spreads across the area, increasing the difficulty of monsters and spawning additional ones. The further you move from the starting point, the more intense the mist becomes, increasing the rewards but also the danger.
Combining these mechanics means managing the tower defense strategy of Blight while dealing with the enhanced difficulty and additional spawns from Delirium.
Preparation
Gear Up: Ensure your gear is optimized for both survival and damage. High resistances, life, and damage mitigation are crucial. Chaos resistance is especially important for Delirium.
Flasks: Carry flasks that provide instant recovery, as well as immunities to ailments like bleeding, freeze, and curses. Consider flasks that grant extra movement speed and damage.
Skills: Use skills that offer area damage, crowd control, and mobility. AOE skills are essential for managing large groups of enemies, and mobility skills like Flame Dash or Whirling Blades will help you reposition quickly.
Setting Up the Encounter
Map Choice: Choose a map that is not overly complex in layout. Open areas are preferable as they allow better maneuverability.
Blight Scarabs: Use Blight Scarabs to ensure a Blight encounter in your map.
Activating Delirium: Before you start the Blight encounter, activate the Mirror of Delirium to begin the Delirium effect.
Strategy During the Encounter
Build Towers: As you start the Blight encounter, prioritize building towers that slow and damage enemies. Chilling, empowering, and seismic towers are particularly effective.
Activate Delirium: Once your towers are set, activate the Delirium Mirror. This will start the Delirium effect, making enemies tougher and spawning additional ones.
Manage Waves: Focus on clearing the waves of Blight monsters while keeping an eye on the additional Delirium spawns. Use your AOE skills to manage large groups and keep the monsters from reaching the pump.
Stay Mobile: Use your mobility skills to dodge attacks and reposition yourself. Avoid getting cornered or overwhelmed by the increased number of enemies.
Defeating the Blight Boss
As you progress through the waves, a Blight Boss will eventually spawn. This boss will have enhanced difficulty due to the Delirium effect.
Focus Fire: When the Blight Boss appears, focus your damage on it while continuing to manage the waves of smaller enemies. Use your highest damage skills and flasks to bring the boss down quickly.
Utilize Towers: Make sure your towers are positioned to support you in the boss fight. Empowering and seismic towers can provide significant damage and control against the boss.
Avoid Overwhelm: Keep clearing the smaller enemies to avoid being overwhelmed. The combination of Blight and Delirium can quickly become chaotic, so staying on top of the adds is crucial.
Completing the Challenge
After defeating the Blight Boss while under the Delirium effect, ensure you finish clearing the remaining enemies to maximize your loot. The combination of rewards from both encounters can be highly lucrative, providing a mix of Blight oils, Delirium rewards, and other valuable items.
Tips for Success
Build Synergy: Choose skills and gear that synergize well with dealing high area damage and sustaining in prolonged fights.
Practice: If you’re unfamiliar with managing multiple league mechanics simultaneously, practice in lower-tier maps before attempting higher tiers.
Team Up: If possible, team up with other players. This can make managing the chaos easier and more enjoyable.
By preparing adequately and employing smart tactics, you can successfully defeat a Blight Boss while Delirious, completing the "Cross Contamination" challenge and reaping the rewards. Good luck, Exile, and may your efforts be well rewarded!