Path of Exile 2: Mastering the Ascent to Power
Path of Exile 2's engaging 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 complete this quest, including strategies for the Trials of the Sekhemas.
Starting Ascent to Power
In Act 2, after accessing the Ardura Caravan and exploring two location nodes, speak to Zarka before reaching Traitor's Passage. She'll direct you to Balbala, a trapped Djinn, to gain power.
Balbala's location within Traitor's Passage is randomized due to procedural generation, but she's generally found near the end. Locate the Ancient Seal Door leading to her prison. Defuse three seals to initiate 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.
Here's a breakdown of her attacks and counter-strategies:
- Slash Attack: A basic attack easily blocked or dodged. Conserve Energy Shield for more dangerous attacks. May inflict Burning or Poison.
- Throwing Attack: Ranged version of the slash attack. Dodge or block. Each dagger hit builds Poison.
- Whirling Dash Attack: A fast lunge with an AoE explosion after 1.5 seconds. Dodging is crucial. Preceded by a voice cue ("Face Me!" or "Na'kai!").
- Teleport Dagger Attack: Balbala teleports and throws daggers creating an AoE. Dodge to avoid damage. Voice cue: "Atul!"
- Summon Shadow Clone: A Barya (coin) creates a yellow AoE. Step over it quickly to prevent a Balbala clone. A teleport and slam attack follows if you step on the AoE.
- Teleport Slam: After summoning, Balbala teleports and yells "Tithe!", creating a fiery AoE to dodge.
- Summon Poison Mist/Vanish: Balbala vanishes (voice cues: "Visions of Jarah!" or "Mists of Sulamith!") summoning poisonous mist. Find and attack her to cancel the channeling. She'll yell "Sands of Wrath!" or "Darakatha!" upon being found, performing a dodging AoE slam.
- Explosive Blade Rain: Throws explosive daggers in a counter-clockwise conical pattern. Dodge in the opposite direction.
- Blade Storm: If the Shadow Clone isn't eliminated quickly, Balbala summons a destructive blade storm. Prioritize clone elimination.
Defeating Balbala yields Balbala's Barya, to be given to Zarka, revealing the Trials of the Sekhemas.
Completing the Trials of the Sekhemas
From the Ardura Caravan, travel to the Trials of the Sekhemas node. The first time, you'll need to command the caravan to move. Unlock the Waypoint and approach the altar where Balbala explains the trial.
The Trials are procedurally generated. Each room presents challenges: timed events, traps, or elite enemies. Before entering, use a Relic for a boon.
The Trials utilize "Honor" and "Sacred Water":
- Killing enemies drops Sacred Water, used for boons, keys, and Honor recovery.
- Taking damage reduces Honor.
- Reaching 0 Honor fails the Trial.
- Remaining Honor is exchanged for Sacred Water at the end.
- Sacred Water buys chests (Bronze, Silver, Gold).
- Honor is preserved between trials (useful in Cruel difficulty).
Energy Shield drain doesn't affect Honor. Energy Shield builds are advantageous.
Each Trial section offers boons and curses. 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 beasts.
- Boss Trial: Rattlecage (Tier 1), Terracota Sentinels (Tier 2), Ashar (Tier 3), Zarokh (Tier 4).
Balancing Honor preservation and boon/curse choices is key. Rattlecage is particularly challenging; prioritize Fire Resistance.
Completing Ascent to Power
Defeating Rattlecage unlocks the final altar where you choose your first Ascendancy. This choice is permanent.
In Cruel difficulty, a bug requires a workaround to get additional Ascendancy points:
- Talk to Zarka.
- Defeat Balbala in Cruel (Barya should show "Number of Trials 2").
- Return to Normal difficulty and access the Trials using the "Two Trials" Barya.
- Complete two Trials consecutively to gain 2 additional Ascendancy points.
Only the first Normal and Cruel difficulty runs grant 2 Ascendancy points each. Complete the Trial of Chaos in Act 3 Normal and Cruel for the remaining 4 points (total 8). Reaching 0 Honor fails a trial, but the first attempt doesn't consume the Barya. Subsequent attempts consume it.
