Mastering Path of Exile 2's Ascension System: A Comprehensive Guide
Path of Exile 2's intricate class system hinges on the Ascension system. Unlocking your first Ascendancy requires completing the "Ascent to Power" quest in Act 2. This guide details starting the quest, defeating Balbala the Traitor, and navigating the Trials of the Sekhemas.
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 is randomized within Traitor's Passage, usually near 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: 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 an AoE explosion after 1.5 seconds. Cannot be blocked, but can be dodged. Voice cue: "Face Me!" or "Na'kai!"
- Teleport Dagger Attack: Teleports and throws daggers creating an AoE. Dodge only. Voice cue: "Atul!"
- Summon Shadow Clone: Throws a Barya (coin), creating a yellow AoE. Step over it to prevent summoning a Balbala copy. A teleport and slam attack follows if you step on it.
- Teleport Slam: After summoning, Balbala teleports and yells "Tithe!", creating a fiery AoE. Dodge.
- Summon Poison Mist/Vanish: Vanishes, yelling "Visions of Jarah!" or "Mists of Sulamith!" A poisonous mist appears. Find and attack her to cancel the channeling. Counterclockwise circling from her last position helps. She'll yell "Sands of Wrath!" or "Darakatha!" before a slam attack.
- Explosive Blade Rain: Throws explosive daggers in a counterclockwise cone. Dodge in the opposite direction.
- Blade Storm: If the Shadow Clone isn't eliminated quickly, Balbala summons a destructive blade storm. Prioritize clone elimination.
Defeating Balbala yields Balbala's Barya, to be given to Zarka. She'll then reveal the Trials of the Sekhemas.
Completing the Trials of the Sekhemas
From the Ardura Caravan, travel to the Trials of the Sekhemas node. Initially, you'll need to command the caravan to move. Unlock the Waypoint and approach the altar where Balbala will explain the trial.
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 fails the Trial.
- Sacred Water: Earned by killing enemies; used to buy boons, keys, and recover Honor.
- Keys: Earned from remaining Sacred Water after completing a Trial section; used to open chests.
Energy Shield drain doesn't affect Honor. Energy Shield builds are advantageous.
Each Trial section offers 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).
Balancing boons and curses while preserving Honor is crucial. Rattlecage, the Earthbreaker, is a challenging boss; prioritize Fire Resistance.
Completing "Ascent to Power"
Defeating Rattlecage grants access to the final altar where you choose your first Ascendancy. The choice is permanent.
Cruel Difficulty: To gain two additional Ascendancy points in Act 2 Cruel Difficulty, follow these steps (due to a current bug):
- Talk to Zarka.
- Defeat Balbala (ensure the Barya indicates "Number of Trials 2").
- Return to Act 2 Normal Difficulty and enter the Trials.
- Use the Barya to access the Cruel difficulty Trials.
- Complete two Trial runs, defeating a boss in each.
- Gain two Ascendancy Points.
Remember, reaching 0 Honor fails the Trial. The first Normal and Cruel difficulty runs grant 2 Ascendancy Points each. The Trial of Chaos in Act 3 (Normal and Cruel) grants the remaining 4 points (total 8).
