By the time you roll into the Sun-Bleached Dunes in Act 2, it's easy to think you're cruising. Then the Venom Pit reminds you the game's still got teeth, and if you've been stocking up on PoE 2 Currency for upgrades, this is the moment you'll feel why. Kabala, the Constrictor Queen doesn't reward bravado. She rewards discipline. The center of that arena is basically a trap, and the outer ledges are where you're meant to do your work.
Read The Arena First.
When she erupts from the sand, don't rush forward like it's a normal rare. Step out to the rim and pick a lane. Those narrow, crumbling paths look awkward, but they're actually your safest tool because they control space. Kabala loves when you stand in the open. That's when her kit lines up cleanly and you end up eating damage you didn't need to take. Stay near the edges, keep a little room behind you, and you'll have somewhere to bail when the floor turns ugly.
Deal With The Cobras Early.
She'll pop skeleton cobras out of the broken pottery, and they're sneaky-dangerous. Not because they hit hard, but because they clog your movement and turn a simple dodge into a face-plant. A lot of players try to ignore them and "just burn boss." That's how you get boxed in. As soon as they spawn, drag them into a corridor on the outskirts. Let the path do the work. 1) Back up until they funnel in. 2) Drop your AoE or a quick sweep skill. 3) Reset your position before Kabala re-engages. It's boring, but it keeps the fight under control.
Respect The Burrow And The Burst.
Her burrow is the big tempo shift. The second she dives, stop swinging and start moving. She's about to come up with a heavy AoE and those bone walls that wreck your angles. If you're mid-commit in the center, you're gambling. Play it clean: retreat to the entrance-side paths, wait for the eruption, then scan for a gap in the walls before you step back in. And watch for Bone Shrapnel Burst. There's a brief channel tell, then a radial blast that punishes anyone hovering in melee. Don't bargain with it. If you see the wind-up, you run, even if she's at 5%.
Prep For Survival, Not Style.
This fight feels way better when your setup is practical. Roll your flasks so they actually save you, not "kinda help," and consider swapping a piece or two for more armor or evasion if you've been playing greedy. The goal is living through spikes, not topping the damage chart. Once she drops, that Book of Specialization is a real payoff—+2 Weapon Set Passive Skill Points is a chunky early boost—and if you want to keep that momentum going with u4gm poe2 in mind, treat Kabala like a spacing puzzle, not a slugfest.