Path of Exile 2: A Comprehensive Guide to the Ascent to Power Quest
Path of Exile 2's Ascendancy system significantly impacts character builds. 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 the Trials of the Sekhemas.
Starting Ascent to Power
In Act 2, after unlocking the Ardura Caravan and exploring two location nodes, speak with Zarka before visiting 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 typically 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. Cold Damage is highly effective.
Balbala's Attacks and Counters:
- Slash Attack: A basic attack; easily blocked or dodged.
- Throwing Attack: Ranged attack; dodge or block. Each dagger causes Poison buildup.
- Whirling Dash Attack: A fast lunge with explosive AoE; dodge only. Voice cue: "Face Me!" or "Na'kai!"
- Teleport Dagger Attack: Teleports and throws daggers creating AoE; dodge only. Voice cue: "Atul!"
- Summon Shadow Clone: Throws a Barya (coin) creating a yellow AoE. Step over it to prevent summoning a Balbala clone. A teleport slam follows if you step on the AoE. Voice cue: "Tithe!"
- Summon Poison Mist/Vanish: Balbala vanishes (voice cues: "Visions of Jarah!" or "Mists of Sulamith!") summoning poisonous mist. Quickly find and attack her to cancel the channeling. She'll then yell "Sands of Wrath!" or "Darakatha!" and perform 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 clone elimination.
Defeating Balbala yields Balbala's Barya, which must be given to Zarka, revealing the Trials of the Sekhemas.
Completing the Trials of the Sekhemas
Travel to the Trials of the Sekhemas node via the Ardura Caravan (note: the first time, you'll need to command the caravan to move to the Sekhemas map). Unlock the Waypoint and approach the altar where Balbala provides instructions.
The Trials are procedurally generated dungeons 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 with remaining Sacred Water at the end; open chests.
Energy Shield drain doesn't reduce Honor, providing an advantage to Energy Shield builds.
Each Trial section offers boons (positive effects) and curses (negative effects). Examples of Trials 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: Bosses vary by tier (Rattlecage, Terracota Sentinels, Ashar, Zarokh).
Successfully navigating the Trials requires balancing boons and curses to preserve Honor. Rattlecage, the Earthbreaker, is a challenging boss; high Fire Resistance is recommended.
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 Cruel difficulty, complete the following (due to a bug):
- Start the quest with Zarka.
- Defeat Balbala in Cruel difficulty (ensure the Barya indicates "Number of Trials 2").
- Return to Act 2 Normal difficulty and enter the Trials.
- Use the "Two Trials" Barya to access Cruel difficulty Trials.
- Complete two Trial runs, defeating a boss in each.
- You'll receive two additional Ascendancy points.
Remember, reaching 0 Honor fails the Trial. Only the first Normal and Cruel difficulty runs grant Ascendancy points. You'll need to complete the Trial of Chaos in Act 3 (Normal and Cruel) for the remaining four points.
