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 boasts a deep and engaging class system heavily reliant on the Ascendancy 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 strategies for the Trials of the Sekhemas.

Starting the Ascent to Power Quest

In Act 2, after accessing the Ardura Caravan and exploring the first two location nodes, speak with Zarka before visiting Traitor's Passage. 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 the end of Traitor's Passage. Locate the Ancient Seal Door leading to her prison. Defuse three seals to trigger the encounter.

Conquering Balbala the Traitor

Balbala resists Fire Damage and inflicts Physical, Chaos, and Fire damage, alongside Poison and Ignition. Exploit her Cold Damage vulnerability for optimal results.

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. Can inflict Burning or Poison.
• Throwing Attack: Ranged version of the slash attack; dodge or block. Each dagger hit builds Poison.
• Whirling Dash Attack: A fast lunge with explosive AoE; undodgeable but dodgeable. Preceded by the voice cue "Face Me!" or "Na'kai!".
• Teleport Dagger Attack: Balbala teleports and throws daggers creating AoE; dodge only. Voice cue: "Atul!".
• Summon Shadow Clone: A Barya (coin) creates a yellow AoE. Quickly step over it to prevent a Balbala clone. Stepping on it triggers a teleport and slam attack.
• Teleport Slam: After the summoning circle, Balbala teleports, yells "Tithe!", and creates a fiery AoE; 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 yell "Sands of Wrath!" or "Darakatha!" upon discovery, 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 eliminated quickly, Balbala summons a devastating 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 to the Trials of the Sekhemas node (initially requiring caravan movement). Balbala will explain the trial's mechanics.

The procedurally generated dungeon features various challenges: timed challenges, traps, and elite enemies. Before each trial, use a Relic for a boon.

Key mechanics:

• Honor: A resource depleted by damage; reaching 0 results in failure.
• Sacred Water: Earned by killing enemies; used for boons, keys, and Honor recovery.
• Keys: Earned from remaining Sacred Water; open chests for rewards.

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

Trial types:

• 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: Kill summoners and their beasts to deactivate portals.
• 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 formidable opponent; prioritize Fire Resistance and stunning.

Finalizing the Ascent to Power Quest

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

Cruel Difficulty: To gain additional Ascendancy points, complete the quest in Cruel difficulty. Note that this may require a workaround due to potential bugs (repeat the Trials in Normal difficulty after completing them in Cruel). Only the first Normal and Cruel runs grant Ascendancy points (2 each). The Trial of Chaos in Act 3 (Normal and Cruel) grants the remaining 4 points (totaling 8). Remember, reaching 0 Honor results in failure, but the Djinn Barya isn't consumed on the first attempt. Subsequent attempts consume the Barya.