Path Of Exile 2: Ascent To Power Walkthrough

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• How To Start Ascent To Power In Path Of Exile 2

• How To Beat Balbala the Traitor In Path Of Exile 2

• How To Complete Trials Of The Sekhemas In Path Of Exile 2

• How To Complete Ascent To Power In Path Of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2 boasts a deeply engaging class system, heavily reliant on the Ascension system. 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 strategies for the Trials of the Sekhemas.

How To Start Ascent To Power In Path Of Exile 2

After unlocking the Ardura Caravan in Act 2, explore the first two location nodes. Before visiting the third, 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 procedural map generation, but she's generally found near the end of Traitor's Passage. Locate the Ancient Seal Door leading to Balbala's prison. Defuse three seals to trigger the encounter and the ensuing boss fight.

How To Beat Balbala the Traitor In Path Of Exile 2

Balbala resists Fire Damage and deals Physical, Chaos, and Fire damage, inflicting Poison and Ignition. Exploit her weakness to Cold Damage for an advantage. While not overly complex, mastering her mechanics may take a few attempts.

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

• Slash Attack: A basic attack easily blocked or dodged. Energy Shield works, but save it for more dangerous attacks. May inflict Burning or Poison.
• Throwing Attack: Ranged version of the slash attack; dodge or block. Each dagger hit applies Poison.
• Whirling Dash Attack: A fast lunge with an explosive AoE detonating after 1.5 seconds. Unblockable, but dodgeable. Preceded by the voice cue "Face Me!" or "Na'kai!".
• Teleport Dagger Attack: Balbala teleports and throws daggers creating an AoE. Dodge to avoid damage. Voice cue: "Atul!".
• Summon Shadow Clone: Balbala throws a Barya (coin), creating a yellowish AoE. Step over it quickly to prevent clone summoning. Stepping on it triggers a teleport and slam attack.
• Teleport Slam: After the summoning circle, Balbala teleports, yells "Tithe!", and unleashes a fiery AoE. Dodge!
• Summon Poison Mist/Vanish: Balbala vanishes (voice cues: "Visions of Jarah!" or "Mists of Sulamith!") and summons poisonous mist. Quickly find and attack her to cancel the channeling. She'll then yell "Sands of Wrath!" or "Darakatha!" and perform a dodgeable AoE slam.
• Explosive Blade Rain: If the fight extends, Balbala throws explosive daggers in a counter-clockwise conical pattern. Dodge in the opposite direction.
• Blade Storm: Failing to quickly eliminate the Shadow Clone allows Balbala to summon a destructive blade storm. Prioritize clone elimination.

Defeating Balbala yields Balbala's Barya. Take it to Zarka to unlock the Trials of the Sekhemas.

How To Complete Trials Of The Sekhemas In Path Of Exile 2

From the Ardura Caravan, travel to the Trials of the Sekhemas node. Initially, you'll need to command the caravan to move from the Sekhemas map location at the front of the wagon. Unlock the Waypoint and approach the altar where Balbala will explain the trial.

This procedurally generated dungeon presents various room challenges: timed challenges, traps, and rare enemies. Before entering, use a Relic for a boon.

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

• Killing enemies drops Sacred Water, used to buy boons, keys, and recover Honor.
• Taking damage reduces Honor.
• Reaching 0 Honor fails the Trial.
• Remaining Honor is exchanged for Sacred Water after completion.
• Sacred Water buys chests (Bronze, Silver, Gold).
• Honor is preserved between trials (useful in Cruel difficulty).

Energy Shield drain doesn't affect Honor, giving Energy Shield builds an advantage.

Each Trial section offers a choice of paths, each leading to a backroom with boons, merchants, or Honor/Sacred Water recovery. Completing a 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).

Successfully navigating the Trials, balancing boons and curses, and defeating Rattlecage unlocks the final reward altar where you choose your first Ascendancy.

How To Complete Ascent To Power In Path Of Exile 2

After defeating Rattlecage, select your Ascendancy at the reward altar. The choice is permanent.

In Cruel difficulty, a bug requires a workaround to earn two additional Ascendancy points:

1. Talk to Zarka.
2. Defeat Balbala in Cruel (ensure the coin shows "Number of Trials 2").
3. Return to Act 2 Normal, enter the Trials using the "Two Trials" coin.
4. Complete two consecutive Trials, defeating a boss in each.
5. Gain two additional Ascendancy points.

This is a workaround; the intended method is currently bugged. Remember, reaching 0 Honor fails the Trial, but the first Djinn Barya is a quest item and won't be consumed. Subsequent attempts (including Cruel) consume the Barya. Only the first Normal and Cruel runs grant Ascendancy points. Complete the Trial of Chaos in Act 3 (Normal and Cruel) for the remaining 4 points (8 total).