Path of Exile 2: Ascent to Power Guide Released

Path of Exile 2: Mastering the Ascent to Power Quest – A Comprehensive Guide

Path of Exile 2's Ascendancy system adds significant depth to its already complex class system. 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 strategies for the Trials of the Sekhemas.

Starting the Ascent to Power Quest

After unlocking the Ardura Caravan in Act 2, explore the available location nodes. Before reaching "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'll generally be found near the end of Traitor's Passage. Locate the Ancient Seal Door leading to Balbala's prison. Disarm three seals to trigger the boss fight.

Defeating Balbala the Traitor

Balbala resists Fire Damage and inflicts Physical, Chaos, and Fire damage, along with Poison and Ignition ailments. Cold Damage is your best bet.

Here's a breakdown of Balbala's attacks and counter-strategies:

• Slash Attack: A basic attack easily blocked or dodged. Save your Energy Shield for more dangerous attacks. Can inflict Burning or Poison.
• Throwing Attack: Ranged version of the slash attack. Dodge or block. Each dagger causes Poison buildup.
• Whirling Dash Attack: A fast lunge with an explosive AoE that detonates after 1.5 seconds. Dodging is essential. Preceded by the 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: Balbala throws a Barya (coin), creating a yellow AoE. Step over it quickly to prevent a Balbala clone from spawning. Stepping on it triggers a teleport and slam attack.
• Teleport Slam: After the summoning circle, Balbala teleports, yells "Tithe!", and unleashes a fiery AoE. Dodge immediately.
• Summon Poison Mist/Vanish: Balbala vanishes (voice cues: "Visions of Jarah!" or "Mists of Sulamith!") and summons poisonous mist. Find her quickly to interrupt the channeling. She'll then yell "Sands of Wrath!" or "Darakatha!" before a slam attack.
• Explosive Blade Rain: A prolonged fight triggers a conical barrage of explosive daggers. Dodge in the opposite direction (clockwise).
• Blade Storm: Failing to quickly eliminate the Shadow Clone allows Balbala to summon a devastating blade storm. Prioritize clone elimination.

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

Completing the Trials of the Sekhemas

Travel to the Trials of the Sekhemas node from the Ardura Caravan. Note: Your first visit requires repositioning the caravan. Balbala will explain the trial's mechanics at the altar.

The Trials are procedurally generated dungeons with various challenges: timed challenges, traps, and elite enemies. Before entering, make an offering using a Relic to gain a boon.

Key mechanics:

• Honor: A resource depleted by damage. Reaching 0 Honor results in failure.
• Sacred Water: Earned by killing enemies, used to buy boons, keys, and restore Honor.
• Keys: Obtained from remaining Sacred Water at the end, used to open chests.

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

Trial types:

• Chalice Trial: Defeat two boss monsters along a blood path.
• 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: Kill summoners and the creatures they summon.
• Boss Trial: Tiered boss fights (Rattlecage, Terracota Sentinels, Ashar, Zarokh).

Successfully navigating the Trials requires balancing boons, curses, and Honor preservation. Rattlecage, the Earthbreaker, is a particularly challenging boss; 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 gain additional Ascendancy points, repeat the quest in Cruel difficulty. A known bug requires completing the Normal difficulty Trials after the Cruel difficulty Balbala fight to access the Cruel difficulty Trials. Two Cruel difficulty Trial completions grant 2 additional Ascendancy points. You'll need to complete the Trial of Chaos in Act 3 Normal and Cruel for the remaining 4 points (8 total). Remember, only the first run on Normal and Cruel difficulties awards Ascendancy points. Reaching 0 Honor results in failure, but your Djinn Barya is not consumed on your first attempt. Subsequent attempts will consume it.