Path of Exile 2: Mastering the Ascent to Power
Path of Exile 2's intricate Ascendancy system significantly impacts gameplay. Unlocking your first Ascendancy requires completing the Ascent to Power quest in Act 2. This guide details how to initiate and conquer this quest, including the Trials of the Sekhemas.
Starting Ascent to Power
Once you unlock the Ardura Caravan in Act 2, explore the available location nodes. Before visiting 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's generally found at Traitor's Passage's end. Locate the Ancient Seal Door leading to Balbala's 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.
Here's a breakdown of Balbala's attacks and counter strategies:
- Slash Attack: A basic attack; easily blocked or dodged.
- Throwing Attack: Ranged version of the slash attack; dodge or block. Each dagger inflicts Poison.
- Whirling Dash Attack: A fast lunge with explosive AoE; dodge only. Preceded by "Face Me!" or "Na'kai!".
- Teleport Dagger Attack: Teleports and throws daggers creating AoE; dodge only. Preceded by "Atul!".
- Summon Shadow Clone: Throws a Barya (coin) summoning a clone. Quickly avoid the yellow AoE to prevent the clone's appearance. A teleport slam follows if you're hit.
- Teleport Slam: After summoning the clone, Balbala teleports and slams, creating a fiery AoE; dodge. Preceded by "Tithe!".
- Summon Poison Mist/Vanish: Balbala vanishes ("Visions of Jarah!" or "Mists of Sulamith!") summoning poisonous mist. Find and attack her to interrupt. She'll yell "Sands of Wrath!" or "Darakatha!" upon being found, followed by an AoE slam.
- Explosive Blade Rain: Throws explosive daggers in a counterclockwise pattern; dodge accordingly.
- Blade Storm: If the Shadow Clone isn't quickly eliminated, Balbala summons a destructive blade storm. Prioritize clone elimination.
Defeating Balbala yields Balbala's Barya, which you take to Zarka. She'll then reveal the Trials of the Sekhemas.
Completing the Trials of the Sekhemas
From the Ardura Caravan, travel to the Trials of the Sekhemas node. Initially, you'll need to command the caravan's movement. Unlock the Waypoint and approach the altar where Balbala provides instructions.
The Trials are procedurally generated. Each room presents unique challenges: timed events, traps, or elite enemies. Before entering, make an offering using a Relic for a boon.
You'll manage 'Honor' and 'Sacred Water'. Honor decreases with damage taken; reaching zero fails the trial. Excess Honor converts to Sacred Water after completion. Sacred Water buys boons, keys, and Honor recovery. Keys open chests. Energy Shield drain doesn't affect Honor.
Each Trial section grants 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 your choices to maintain Honor and mitigate curses. 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.
For Cruel difficulty, a workaround is needed due to a bug:
- Talk to Zarka, defeat Balbala (ensure the coin shows "Number of Trials 2").
- Return to Normal Act 2 and enter the Trials using the coin.
- Complete two Trials consecutively, defeating a boss in each. This grants 2 additional Ascendancy Points.
This isn't the intended method. Only the first Normal and Cruel runs grant Ascendancy Points (2 each). The Trial of Chaos in Act 3 (Normal and Cruel) grants the remaining 4 points (8 total). Remember, reaching zero Honor fails the Trial, but the first attempt doesn't consume the Barya. Subsequent attempts do.
