PoE2DB, Path of Exile Wiki

# Map Boss

Now, you may have noticed while looking at the Atlas that some areas have these icons above them. The icon indicates the area contains some kind of special encounter.

This icon indicates the area has a powerful boss. Because only one in four maps contain a map boss,
we're able to make them much more powerful and much more rewarding than they were, in Path of Exile 1.

These bosses come from the campaign,
but have had the difficulty increased with changes to AI and some of their abilities.

It's worth noting that because you can see where the bosses are,
you can choose to take them on or avoid them.

If you do choose to hunt bosses, though, then you'll be rewarded
with special points for the boss hunting section of the Atlas skill tree.

The points here will allow you to specialize in boss killing,
giving you much greater rewards for defeating them.