i've written a guide on this boss in this forum. dont know sink till which page liao

solo-ed hell belial, 2-man party one person dead. no big deal

there is no safe spot for the explosions, but they're easily dodgeable. the only skill that is considered hard to dodge is the one that he pierces his pincer into the ground to hit you. the speed of attack animation and its aoe renders it to hit most of the time.