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

Path of Exile 2's intricate class system heavily relies 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 challenging quest, including the Trials of the Sekhemas.

Starting the Ascent to Power Quest

Once you unlock the Ardura Caravan in Act 2, explore the available location nodes. Before reaching the third location, 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. 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 weakness to Cold Damage for optimal results. 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. Conserve Energy Shield 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 that detonates 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 yellow AoE. 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!", 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 locate and attack her to cancel the channeling. She'll then yell "Sands of Wrath!" or "Darakatha!", performing an AoE slam.
• Explosive Blade Rain: Throws explosive daggers in a counter-clockwise conical 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, which must be given to Zarka to reveal 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 direct the caravan to the Sekhemas map. Unlock the Waypoint and approach the altar where Balbala provides instructions.

The Trials are procedurally generated, with each room presenting unique challenges: timed challenges, traps, and elite 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 results in failure.
• Remaining Honor is traded for Sacred Water at the end.
• Sacred Water buys keys for chests.

Energy Shield drain doesn't affect Honor, giving Energy Shield builds an advantage. Each Trial section grants a boon and a curse.

Trial types include:

• Chalice Trial: Defeat two boss monsters.
• 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 their beasts to deactivate portals.
• Boss Trial: Rattlecage (Tier 1), Terracota Sentinels (Tier 2), Ashar (Tier 3), Zarokh (Tier 4).

Balancing boons and curses, and preserving Honor, is crucial. Rattlecage, the Earthbreaker, is a particularly challenging boss; high Fire Resistance is recommended.

Completing Ascent to Power

Defeating Rattlecage unlocks the final altar where you choose your first Ascendancy. This choice is permanent.

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

1. Talk to Zarka, defeat Balbala (Barya should show "Number of Trials 2").
2. Return to Act 2 Normal, enter the Trials using the "Two Trials" Barya.
3. Complete two Trial runs consecutively, defeating a boss in each, to gain 2 more Ascendancy points.

Note: Only the first Normal and Cruel difficulty runs grant Ascendancy points. The Trial of Chaos in Act 3 Normal and Cruel provides the remaining 4 points (for a total of 8). Reaching 0 Honor fails the Trial, but the first attempt doesn't consume the Barya. Subsequent attempts do.