Path of Exile 2: Mastering the Ascent to Power

Path of Exile 2's intricate class system heavily relies on the Ascension system. Unlocking your first Ascendancy requires completing the Ascent to Power quest in Act 2. This guide details how to initiate and conquer this quest, including the Trials of the Sekhemas.

Starting Ascent to Power

Once you unlock the Ardura Caravan in Act 2, explore the two initial location nodes. Before visiting "Traitor's Passage," speak with Zarka. She'll direct you to Balbala, a trapped Djinn, to gain power.

Balbala's location is randomized due to PoE2's procedural generation, but she's typically found at Traitor's Passage's end. Locate the Ancient Seal Door leading to Balbala's prison. Defuse three seals to trigger the encounter.

Defeating Balbala the Traitor

Balbala resists Fire Damage and inflicts Physical, Chaos, and Fire damage, along with Poison and Ignition. Exploit her Cold Damage vulnerability.

Balbala's Attacks and Counters:

• Slash Attack: A basic attack; easily blocked or dodged.
• Throwing Attack: Ranged version of the slash attack; dodge or block. Each dagger causes Poison buildup.
• Whirling Dash Attack: A fast lunge with an AoE explosion after 1.5 seconds. Cannot be blocked, but dodgeable. Voice cue: "Face Me!" or "Na'kai!"
• Teleport Dagger Attack: Balbala teleports and throws daggers creating an AoE. Dodge only. Voice cue: "Atul!"
• Summon Shadow Clone: Balbala throws a Barya (coin), creating a yellow AoE. Step over it to prevent clone summoning. A teleport and slam attack follows if you step on it.
• Teleport Slam: After the summoning circle, Balbala teleports and yells "Tithe!" Dodge the fiery AoE.
• Summon Poison Mist/Vanish: Balbala vanishes (voice cues: "Visions of Jarah!" or "Mists of Sulamith!") and summons poison mist. Quickly find and attack her to cancel the channeling. She'll yell "Sands of Wrath!" or "Darakatha!" before a dodgeable AoE slam.
• Explosive Blade Rain: Throws explosive daggers in a counter-clockwise pattern. Dodge accordingly.
• Blade Storm: If the Shadow Clone isn't eliminated quickly, Balbala summons a damaging blade storm. Prioritize clone elimination.

Defeating Balbala yields Balbala's Barya, to be given to Zarka. She'll then reveal the Trials of the Sekhemas.

Completing the Trials of the Sekhemas

Travel from the Ardura Caravan to the Trials of the Sekhemas node. The first time, you'll need to command the caravan's movement. Unlock the Waypoint and approach the altar where Balbala explains the trial.

The map is a procedurally generated dungeon with various challenges: timed challenges, traps, and elite enemies. Before entering, use a Relic to receive a boon.

Key Mechanics:

• Honor: A resource bar depleted by damage. Reaching 0 Honor fails the Trial.
• Sacred Water: Earned by killing enemies; used to buy boons, keys, and recover Honor.
• Keys: Earned from remaining Sacred Water; open chests.

Energy Shield drain doesn't affect Honor. Energy Shield builds have an advantage.

Each Trial section offers a boon and a curse. Trial types include:

• Chalice Trial: Defeat two bosses.
• Escape Trial (timed): Defuse Death Crystals before time runs out.
• Gauntlet Trial: Avoid traps and find levers.
• Hourglass Trial (timed): Survive enemy waves until time runs out.
• Ritual Trial: Find and kill Summoners and their summoned beasts.
• Boss Trial: Rattlecage (Tier 1), Terracota Sentinels (Tier 2), Ashar (Tier 3), Zarokh (Tier 4).

Balancing boons and curses while preserving Honor is crucial. Rattlecage is particularly challenging; prioritize Fire Resistance.

Completing Ascent to Power

Defeating Rattlecage grants access to the final altar, where you choose your first Ascendancy. This choice is permanent.

Cruel Difficulty: To gain two additional Ascendancy points in Act 2 Cruel difficulty, complete the following (due to a current bug):

1. Talk to Zarka.
2. Defeat Balbala (ensure the Barya indicates "Number of Trials 2").
3. Return to Act 2 Normal Difficulty and access the Trials using the "Two Trials" Barya.
4. Complete two Trials consecutively, defeating a boss in each.
5. Gain two Ascendancy Points.

Remember, reaching 0 Honor fails the Trial. Only the first Normal and Cruel difficulty runs grant Ascendancy points (2 each). You also need to complete the Trial of Chaos in Act 3 Normal and Cruel for the remaining 4 points (totaling 8).