Path Of Exile 2: Ascent To Power Walkthrough

Path of Exile 2: Mastering the Ascent to Power

Path of Exile 2's intricate class system hinges 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 conquering the Trials of the Sekhemas.

Starting Ascent to Power

In Act 2, after unlocking the Ardura Caravan and exploring two location nodes, speak to Zarka before visiting Traitor's Passage. She'll direct you to Balbala, a trapped Djinn, to gain power.

Balbala's location is randomized within Traitor's Passage. 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, also causing Poisoning 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.
• Throwing Attack (Ranged): Similar to the slash attack; dodge or block. Each dagger inflicts Poison.
• Whirling Dash Attack: A fast lunge with an explosive AoE; dodge only. Preceded by "Face Me!" or "Na'kai!".
• Teleport Dagger Attack: Teleports and throws daggers creating an AoE; dodge only. Preceded by "Atul!".
• Summon Shadow Clone: Throws a Barya (coin), creating a yellow AoE. Step over it to avoid summoning a Balbala clone. A teleport and slam attack follows if you step on the AoE.
• Teleport Slam: After summoning, Balbala teleports, yells "Tithe!", and creates a fiery AoE; dodge.
• Summon Poison Mist/Vanish: Vanishes, yells "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 an AoE slam.
• Explosive Blade Rain: Throws explosive daggers in a counter-clockwise conical pattern; dodge accordingly.
• Blade Storm: If the Shadow Clone isn't eliminated quickly, Balbala summons a destructive blade storm. Prioritize eliminating the clone.

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. Note: you may need to command the caravan to move to the Sekhemas map. Unlock the Waypoint and approach the altar where Balbala will explain the trial.

The Trials are procedurally generated. Each room presents unique challenges: timed challenges, traps, or elite enemies. Before each trial, make an offering using a Relic for a boon.

Key Mechanics:

• Honor: A resource bar; depleted by damage. Reaching 0 Honor fails the trial.
• Sacred Water: Currency obtained by killing enemies; used to purchase boons, keys, and recover Honor.
• Keys: Earned with remaining Sacred Water at the end of the trial; open chests.

Energy Shield drain doesn't reduce Honor. Energy Shield builds are advantageous.

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).

Balance boon/curse choices to preserve Honor. Rattlecage, the Earthbreaker, is a challenging boss; prioritize Fire Resistance. Stunning him is effective.

Completing Ascent to Power

Defeating Rattlecage unlocks 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:

1. Talk to Zarka.
2. Defeat Balbala (Barya should indicate "Number of Trials 2").
3. Return to Act 2 Normal Difficulty and access the Trials using the two-trial Barya.
4. Complete two Trials, defeating a boss in each.
5. You'll gain two additional Ascendancy Points.

Note: This is a workaround for a bug. Only the first Normal and Cruel difficulty runs grant Ascendancy Points. The Trial of Chaos in Act 3 (Normal and Cruel) grants the remaining four points (for a total of eight). Reaching 0 Honor fails the trial, but the first attempt won't consume the Barya. Subsequent attempts will.