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 start and complete this quest, including tackling the Trials of the Sekhemas.
How to Start Ascent to Power
In Act 2, after unlocking the Ardura Caravan and exploring two location nodes, speak to Zarka before visiting Traitor's Passage. She'll direct you to Balbala, a trapped Djinn, to gain power.
Balbala's location is randomized within Traitor's Passage. Locate the Ancient Seal Door leading to her prison. Defuse three seals to initiate the encounter.
How to Beat 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 her 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 clone summoning. Teleport and slam attack follows if stepped on.
- Teleport Slam: After clone summoning, teleports and slams with fiery AoE; dodge. Voice cue: "Tithe!"
- Summon Poison Mist/Vanish: Vanishes, summoning poisonous mist. Voice cues: "Visions of Jarah!" or "Mists of Sulamith!" Find and attack her to cancel. She'll yell "Sands of Wrath!" or "Darakatha!" before a slam attack.
- Explosive Blade Rain: Throws explosive daggers in a counter-clockwise pattern; dodge accordingly.
- Blade Storm: If the Shadow Clone isn't eliminated quickly, she summons a destructive blade storm. Prioritize clone elimination.
Defeating Balbala yields Balbala's Barya, which you take to Zarka. She'll reveal the Trials of the Sekhemas.
How to Complete the Trials of the Sekhemas
Travel to the Trials of the Sekhemas node via the Ardura Caravan. Balbala will explain the trial mechanics.
The Trials are procedurally generated dungeons. Each room presents a challenge: timed challenges, traps, or elite enemies. Before entering, 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; open chests.
Energy Shield drain doesn't reduce Honor. Energy Shield builds are advantageous.
Each Trial section offers boons and curses. 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: Kill summoners and summoned beasts to deactivate portals.
- Boss Trial: Rattlecage (Tier 1), Terracota Sentinels (Tier 2), Ashar (Tier 3), Zarokh (Tier 4).
Balance boons and curses to preserve Honor. Rattlecage, the Earthbreaker, is a challenging boss; prioritize Fire Resistance.
How to Complete 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 current bug):
- Talk to Zarka.
- Defeat Balbala in Cruel difficulty (ensure the Barya indicates "Number of Trials 2").
- Return to Act 2 Normal Difficulty and enter the Trials using the Barya.
- Complete two Trial runs consecutively, defeating a boss in each.
- Gain two additional Ascendancy Points.
Note: Only the first Normal and Cruel difficulty runs grant Ascendancy Points. Subsequent runs consume the Barya. Complete the Trial of Chaos in Act 3 Normal and Cruel for the remaining four Ascendancy Points (total of 8). Reaching 0 Honor fails the Trial, but the first attempt doesn't consume the Barya.
This comprehensive guide should help you navigate the Ascent to Power quest and unlock your Ascendancy in Path of Exile 2. Remember to adapt your strategies based on your chosen class and build.
