You know how it usually goes. You are just trying to navigate the confusing mess that is the Grim Tangle, probably looking for the main quest path to move the story along, and suddenly you are locked in a damp cave with Ervig, The Rotten Druid. It always seems to catch you off guard when you are just trying to get from point A to point B. While you can technically walk right past him since he is an optional boss, I rarely do. The loot drops are often too good to ignore, particularly if you are trying to build up your PoE 2 Currency reserves or snag a gear upgrade early on in the campaign. The frustrating bit is his spawn location; he moves around, which can be annoying if you are trying to farm him for specific drops. I usually stumble upon him in the deeper parts of the zone, inside those large cavernous offshoots that branch from the main tunnels. If the room opens up into a wide arena covered in mushrooms, get your buffs ready because he is likely waiting for you.

Dodging the Chaos

This fight is all about movement and keeping your eyes open. He might look like a weak mage you can crush in a few seconds, but his area-of-effect attacks are brutal if you get lazy. The biggest threat is his Scatter-Bomb Barrage. He shoots out a ring of explosives that will absolutely melt your health bar if you are standing too close to him. You have to react instantly with a dodge or movement skill to get out of the blast zone. On top of that, he throws toxic projectiles that leave poison pools on the ground, forcing you to constantly reposition so you do not stand in the fire. The only time you can really relax is during his Massive Stone Throw. He takes forever to wind up a giant rock, giving you plenty of time to sidestep. If that slow rock hits you, you really have no one to blame but yourself.

Patience is Key

The trick to winning is respecting his damage output and not rushing it. Don't try to trade hits with him face-to-face. I have lost count of how many times I died because I got greedy for one more attack when I should have been dodging. For melee players, wait for him to commit to an animation like the rock throw, dash in for a few hits, and then get out immediately. It is a hit-and-run strategy all the way. Ranged characters have a much easier time since you can just run in circles and shoot from a distance. Just keep strafing to avoid the poison arcs. Make sure your resistances are decent, too. If you are wearing paper-thin armor from the start of the game, he will feel like a raid boss. Bring a mana flask and something to cure poison just in case you get tagged.

The Loot Verdict

Is he worth the trouble? I definitely think so. The drops are random, of course, but snagging an Uncut Support Gem or some useful currency items this early is a massive help. It makes the leveling process much smoother when you have that extra power. I have had runs where he drops great armor pieces or a pile of gold that made the fight completely worth the time investment. It is not guaranteed to be amazing every time, but every advantage helps when you are starting out a new character. Stay on your toes, dodge the bombs, and you will take him down. If you are desperate for better gear and bad luck is holding you back, looking for the cheapest poe 2 currency is always an option, but Ervig offers a nice challenge with a solid reward for your effort.