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 starting and completing this quest, including conquering the Trials of the Sekhemas.

Starting Ascent to Power

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

Balbala's location is randomized within Traitor's Passage, typically near the end. Locate the Ancient Seal Door, leading to Balbala's 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 Poison and Ignition. Exploit her Cold Damage vulnerability.

Balbala's Attacks & Counters:

• Slash Attack: A basic attack; easily blocked or dodged.
• Throwing Attack: Ranged attack; dodge or block. Each dagger inflicts Poison.
• Whirling Dash: A fast lunge with explosive AoE; dodge only. Preceded by "Face Me!" or "Na'kai!"
• Teleport Dagger Attack: Balbala teleports and throws daggers creating 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 copy. A teleport slam follows if you step on the AoE.
• Teleport Slam: After summoning, Balbala teleports and yells "Tithe!", creating a fiery AoE; dodge.
• Summon Poison Mist/Vanish: Balbala vanishes ("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 discovery, unleashing a dodging AoE.
• Explosive Blade Rain: Throws explosive daggers in a counter-clockwise 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, to be given to Zarka, revealing the Trials of the Sekhemas.

Completing the Trials of the Sekhemas

From the Ardura Caravan, navigate 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 dungeons with various challenges: timed challenges, traps, and elite enemies. Before each Trial, use a Relic for 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 after completing a Trial; open chests.

Energy Shield drain doesn't affect Honor. Energy Shield builds have an advantage. Each Trial 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 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).

Successfully completing the Trials, including defeating Rattlecage, leads to the final altar where you select your first Ascendancy. The choice is permanent.

Ascent to Power in 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 Trials" Barya.
4. Complete two Trial runs, defeating a boss in each.

This is a workaround for a current bug. Only the first Normal and Cruel Difficulty runs grant Ascendancy points (2 each). You'll need to complete the Trial of Chaos in Act 3 Normal and Cruel for the remaining 4 points (total 8). Remember, reaching 0 Honor means failure. Only subsequent tries after the first consume the Djinn Barya.