Path of Exile 2: Mastering the Ascent to Power
Path of Exile 2's engaging class system hinges on the Ascension system. 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 navigating the Trials of the Sekhemas.
Initiating Ascent to Power
Once you unlock 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's generally found near the end of Traitor's Passage. Locate the Ancient Seal Door leading to Balbala's prison. To begin the encounter, disarm three seals and await the cutscene before engaging in battle.
Defeating Balbala the Traitor
Balbala resists Fire Damage and inflicts Physical, Chaos, and Fire damage, along with Poison and Ignition. Exploit her weakness: Cold Damage.
While not overly complex, Balbala's mechanics may require a few attempts to master. Here's a breakdown of her attacks and counter strategies:
- Slash Attack: A basic attack easily blocked or dodged. Save your Energy Shield for more dangerous attacks. May 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 explosive AoE detonation after 1.5 seconds. Dodge this unavoidable attack. The voice cue is "Face Me!" or "Na'kai!"
- Teleport Dagger Attack: Balbala teleports and throws daggers creating AoE. Dodge is the only counter. Voice cue: "Atul!"
- Summon Shadow Clone: Balbala throws a Barya (coin), creating a yellow AoE. Quickly step over it to prevent clone summoning. Stepping on it triggers a teleport and slam attack.
- Teleport Slam: After the summoning circle, Balbala teleports, yelling "Tithe!" Dodge the fiery AoE.
- 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 then yell "Sands of Wrath!" or "Darakatha!" before a dodging-required AoE slam.
- Explosive Blade Rain: (Late-game) Conical pattern of explosive daggers counterclockwise from Balbala. Dodge in the opposite direction.
- Blade Storm: (If Shadow Clone survives) A devastating blade storm; prioritize eliminating clones to prevent this.
Defeating Balbala yields Balbala's Barya, to be delivered to Zarka, revealing the Trials of the Sekhemas.
Completing the Trials of the Sekhemas
Travel from the Ardura Caravan 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 varied challenges in each room: timed challenges, traps, and elite enemies. Before each trial, use a Relic for a boon.
The Trials introduce "Honor" and "Sacred Water":
- Enemies drop Sacred Water, used to buy boons, keys, and recover Honor.
- Damage reduces Honor; reaching 0 fails the trial.
- Remaining Honor is traded for Sacred Water after the trial.
- Sacred Water buys chests (Bronze, Silver, Gold).
- Honor persists between trials (useful in Cruel difficulty).
Energy Shield drain doesn't affect Honor. Energy Shield builds are advantageous. 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 beasts.
- Boss Trial: Rattlecage (Tier 1), Terracota Sentinels (Tier 2), Ashar (Tier 3), Zarokh (Tier 4).
Successfully completing the Trials, especially defeating Rattlecage (best countered with Fire Resistance), unlocks the final altar where you choose your first Ascendancy. This choice is permanent.
Ascent to Power in Cruel Difficulty
To gain additional Ascendancy points in Cruel difficulty (currently bugged), follow these steps:
- Start the quest with Zarka.
- Defeat Balbala in Cruel, obtaining a Barya indicating "Number of Trials 2."
- Return to Normal difficulty Trials, using the "Two Trials" Barya.
- Complete two consecutive Cruel Trials, defeating a boss in each.
- This grants 2 additional Ascendancy Points.
Note: 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 (total 8). Reaching 0 Honor fails the trial, but the first attempt doesn't consume the Barya. Subsequent attempts do.
