Path Of Exile 2: Ascent To Power Walkthrough

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 starting the quest, defeating Balbala the Traitor, completing the Trials of the Sekhemas, and maximizing Ascendancy points.

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 within Traitor's Passage is randomized but generally found at the end. Locate the Ancient Seal Door leading to her prison. Defuse three seals to initiate the encounter.

How to Defeat Balbala the Traitor

Balbala resists Fire Damage and inflicts Physical, Chaos, and Fire damage, along with Poison and Ignition. Exploit her Cold Damage vulnerability.

Balbala's Attacks and Counters:

• Slash Attack: Basic attack; block or dodge. May cause Burning or Poisoning.
• Throwing Attack: Ranged attack; dodge or block. Each dagger inflicts Poison.
• Whirling Dash Attack: Fast lunge with AoE explosion (1.5-second delay). 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 you step on it.
• Teleport Slam: After clone summoning, teleports and slams with AoE. Dodge. Voice cue: "Tithe!"
• Summon Poison Mist/Vanish: Vanishes, summoning poisonous mist. Voice cues: "Visions of Jarah!" or "Mists of Sulamith!" Quickly find and attack her to cancel. She'll then yell "Sands of Wrath!" or "Darakatha!" before a dodging AoE slam.
• Explosive Blade Rain: Throws explosive daggers in a counter-clockwise cone. Dodge accordingly.
• Blade Storm: If the Shadow Clone isn't eliminated quickly, Balbala summons a damaging blade storm. Prioritize clone elimination.

Defeating Balbala yields Balbala's Barya, which must be given to Zarka. She'll then reveal the Trials of the Sekhemas.

How to Complete the Trials of the Sekhemas

From the Ardura Caravan, travel to the Trials of the Sekhemas node. You'll initially 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 various challenges: timed challenges, traps, and elite enemies. Before each Trial, use a Relic for a boon.

Key Mechanics:

• Honor: A resource bar; decreases with damage taken. Reaching 0 Honor fails the Trial.
• Sacred Water: Currency; obtained by killing enemies; used to buy boons, keys, and recover Honor.
• Keys: Earned with remaining Sacred Water; open chests (Bronze, Silver, Gold).

Energy Shield drain doesn't reduce Honor. Energy Shield builds are advantageous.

Each Trial section offers boons (positive effects) and curses (negative effects). 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).

Balance boon/curse choices 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 these steps (due to a current bug):

1. Talk to Zarka.
2. Defeat Balbala in Cruel difficulty (ensure the Barya shows "Number of Trials 2").
3. Return to Act 2 Normal Difficulty and enter the Trials.
4. Use the "Two Trials" Barya to access Cruel difficulty Trials.
5. Complete two Trial runs, defeating a boss in each.
6. You'll receive two additional Ascendancy points.

Note: Only the first Normal and Cruel difficulty runs grant Ascendancy points. Completing the Trial of Chaos in Act 3 Normal and Cruel yields the remaining four points (totaling eight). Reaching 0 Honor fails the Trial, but the first Djinn Barya is a quest item and won't be consumed. Subsequent attempts will consume the Barya.