Path Of Exile 2: Ascent To Power Walkthrough

Path of Exile 2: Mastering the Ascent to Power Quest – A Comprehensive Guide

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 challenging quest, including the Trials of the Sekhemas.

Initiating the Ascent to Power Quest

Once you reach 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 typically found near Traitor's Passage's end. Locate the Ancient Seal Door leading to Balbala's prison. Disarm three seals to trigger the boss fight.

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 for an advantage.

Here's a breakdown of Balbala's attacks and counter-strategies:

• Slash Attack: A basic attack easily blocked or dodged. Save your Energy Shield for more potent attacks.
• 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; the voice cue ("Face Me!" or "Na'kai!") precedes this attack.
• Teleport Dagger Attack: Balbala teleports and throws daggers creating AoE. Dodge only. Voice cue: "Atul!"
• Summon Shadow Clone: Balbala throws a Barya (coin) creating a yellow AoE. Step over it to prevent clone summoning. A teleport and slam attack follows if you step on the AoE.
• Teleport Slam: After the summoning circle, Balbala teleports and yells "Tithe!", creating a fiery AoE to dodge.
• 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 yell "Sands of Wrath!" or "Darakatha!" before a slam attack.
• 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 unleashes a devastating blade storm. Prioritize clone elimination.

After defeating Balbala, take Balbala's Barya to Zarka. She'll reveal the location of the Trials of the Sekhemas.

Completing the Trials of the Sekhemas

Travel to the Trials of the Sekhemas node from the Ardura Caravan (note: you may need to reposition the caravan). Balbala will explain the trial's mechanics.

The Trials are procedurally generated. Each room presents unique challenges: timed challenges, traps, and elite enemies. Before each trial, offer a Relic for a boon.

The Trials introduce "Honor" and "Sacred Water":

• Killing enemies yields Sacred Water, used for boons, keys, and Honor recovery.
• Taking damage reduces Honor.
• Reaching 0 Honor results in failure.
• Remaining Honor is exchanged for Sacred Water.
• Sacred Water buys chests (Bronze, Silver, Gold).
• Honor is preserved between trials (crucial for Cruel difficulty).

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

Balancing boons and curses while preserving Honor is key. Rattlecage is particularly challenging; prioritize Fire Resistance.

Finalizing the Ascent to Power Quest

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:

1. Talk to Zarka, defeat Balbala (ensure the Barya indicates "Number of Trials 2").
2. Return to Normal difficulty and access the Trials using the two-trial Barya.
3. Complete two trials consecutively to gain two additional Ascendancy Points.

Remember, reaching 0 Honor fails the trial, but the first attempt doesn't consume the Barya. Subsequent attempts and Cruel difficulty attempts consume the Barya. Only the first Normal and Cruel runs grant Ascendancy Points (2 each). Complete the Trial of Chaos in Act 3 Normal and Cruel for the remaining 4 points (total 8).