Path of Exile 2: Mastering the Ascent to Power

Path of Exile 2's intricate Ascendancy system is key to character progression. Unlocking your first Ascendancy requires completing the "Ascent to Power" quest in Act 2. This guide details how to initiate and conquer this challenging quest, including the Trials of the Sekhemas.

Starting the Ascent to Power Quest

In Act 2, after accessing the Ardura Caravan and exploring two location nodes, speak with Zarka before reaching "Traitor's Passage." 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 usually found near the end of Traitor's Passage. Locate the Ancient Seal Door leading to her 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 for an advantage. While not overly complex, mastering her mechanics may require a few attempts.

Balbala's Attacks and Counters:

• Slash Attack: A basic attack; easily blocked or dodged.
• Throwing Attack: Ranged attack; dodge or block. Each hit applies Poison.
• Whirling Dash: A fast lunge with an explosive AoE after 1.5 seconds. Cannot be blocked, but dodgeable. 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, creating a yellow AoE. Step over it to prevent a Balbala clone. Stepping on it triggers a teleport and slam.
• Teleport Slam: After the summoning circle, she teleports, yells "Tithe!", and unleashes a fiery AoE. Dodge.
• Summon Poison Mist/Vanish: Vanishes ("Visions of Jarah!" or "Mists of Sulamith!"), summoning poisonous mist. Find and attack her to cancel this. She'll yell "Sands of Wrath!" or "Darakatha!" before an AoE slam.
• Explosive Blade Rain: Throws explosive daggers in a counter-clockwise pattern. Dodge accordingly.
• Blade Storm: If the clone isn't quickly eliminated, she summons a swirling blade storm. Prioritize clone removal.

Defeating Balbala yields Balbala's Barya, to be given to Zarka, unlocking the Trials of the Sekhemas.

Completing the Trials of the Sekhemas

From the Ardura Caravan, navigate to the Trials of the Sekhemas node. Note: your first entry requires moving the caravan. Balbala will explain the trial's mechanics at the altar.

The Trials are procedurally generated. Each room presents a challenge: timed events, traps, or elite enemies. Before entering, use a Relic to gain a boon.

Key Mechanics:

• Honor: A resource bar depleted by damage. Reaching 0 fails the trial.
• Sacred Water: Earned by killing enemies, used for boons, keys, and Honor recovery.
• Keys: Earned with remaining Sacred Water, used to open chests.

Energy Shield drain doesn't affect Honor, providing an advantage to Energy Shield builds. Each completed section grants a boon and a curse.

Trial Types:

• Chalice Trial: Defeat two bosses.
• Escape Trial (timed): Defuse Death Crystals before time runs out.
• Gauntlet Trial: Avoid traps and activate levers.
• Hourglass Trial (timed): Survive enemy waves until time runs out.
• Ritual Trial: 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, and prioritizing Honor preservation, is crucial. Rattlecage is particularly challenging; prioritize Fire Resistance.

Finishing Ascent to Power

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

Cruel Difficulty: To obtain additional Ascendancy points in Cruel difficulty (currently bugged), follow these steps:

1. Talk to Zarka.
2. Defeat Balbala (ensure the Barya shows "Number of Trials 2").
3. Return to Act 2 Normal, then access the Cruel Trials using the Barya.
4. Complete two runs, defeating a boss in each, for 2 additional points.

Remember, reaching 0 Honor means failure. Only the first Normal and Cruel runs grant Ascendancy points. You'll need to complete the Trial of Chaos in Act 3 (Normal and Cruel) for the remaining 4 points (totaling 8).