Path Of Exile 2: Ascent To Power Walkthrough

Path of Exile 2: Mastering the Ascent to Power

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 how to initiate and complete this quest, including strategies for challenging encounters.

Starting Ascent to Power

After unlocking the Ardura Caravan in Act 2, explore the available location nodes. Before the third node ("Traitor's Passage"), speak with Zarka. She'll direct you to Balbala, a trapped Djinn, to gain power.

Balbala's location within Traitor's Passage is randomized due to procedural generation, but she's generally found near the end. Locate the Ancient Seal Door leading to her prison. Defuse three seals to trigger the encounter.

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.

Balbala's Attacks and Counters:

• Slash Attack: A basic attack; easily blocked or dodged.
• Throwing Attack: Ranged attack; dodge or block. Each dagger causes Poison buildup.
• Whirling Dash Attack: A fast lunge with explosive AoE; cannot be blocked, but can be dodged. 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) summoning a clone. Step over the yellow AoE to prevent summoning. If stepped on, Balbala teleports and slams.
• Teleport Slam: After clone summoning, teleports and slams with fiery AoE. Voice cue: "Tithe!"
• Summon Poison Mist/Vanish: Vanishes, summoning poisonous mist. Voice cues: "Visions of Jarah!" or "Mists of Sulamith!" Find and attack her to cancel. She'll then 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 summons a destructive 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: The first time, you'll need to command the caravan's movement.) Unlock the Waypoint and approach the altar.

The Trials are procedurally generated. Each room presents a challenge: timed challenges, traps, or elite enemies. Before entering, use a Relic for a boon.

Key Mechanics:

• Honor: A resource bar depleted by damage. Reaching 0 Honor fails the Trial.
• Sacred Water: Currency obtained by killing enemies; used for boons, keys, and Honor recovery.
• Keys: Obtained with remaining Sacred Water; open chests for rewards.

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

Each Trial section offers boons and curses. Examples 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: Tiered bosses: Rattlecage, Terracota Sentinels, Ashar, Zarokh.

Rattlecage: Use Fire Resistance (charms, rings, boons) and stun him to defeat him.

After defeating Rattlecage, interact with the altar to choose your first Ascendancy. This choice is permanent.

Ascent to Power in Cruel Difficulty

To gain two additional Ascendancy points in Cruel difficulty:

1. Talk to Zarka.
2. Defeat Balbala in Cruel (ensure the Barya indicates "Number of Trials 2").
3. Return to Act 2 Normal and enter the Trials using the two-trial Barya.
4. Complete two Trials consecutively, defeating a boss in each.
5. You'll receive two additional Ascendancy Points. (Note: This is a workaround for a current bug.)

Remember, reaching 0 Honor fails the Trial. Only the first Normal and Cruel difficulty runs grant Ascendancy points. You'll need to complete the Trial of Chaos in Act 3 (Normal and Cruel) for the remaining 4 points.