Path Of Exile 2: Ascent To Power Walkthrough

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• How To Start Ascent To Power In Path Of Exile 2

• How To Beat Balbala The Traitor In Path Of Exile 2

• How To Complete Trials Of The Sekhemas In Path Of Exile 2

• How To Complete Ascent To Power In Path Of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2 boasts a remarkably complex and engaging class system within the ARPG genre, heavily reliant on the Ascension system. Unlocking your first Ascendancy requires completing the Ascent to Power quest during Act 2. This guide details how to initiate this mission and provides crucial advice for conquering the Trials of the Sekhemas.

How To Start Ascent To Power In Path Of Exile 2

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

Due to PoE2's procedurally generated maps, Balbala's location is randomized, generally appearing near the end of Traitor's Passage. Locate the Ancient Seal Door leading to Balbala the Traitor's prison. Defuse three seals to trigger the cutscene and initiate the boss fight.

How To Beat Balbala The Traitor In Path Of Exile 2

Balbala resists Fire Damage and inflicts Physical, Chaos, and Fire damage, also causing Poisoning and Ignition. Exploit her weakness: Cold Damage.

While not overly complex, Balbala might require a few attempts to master her mechanics. Here's a breakdown of her abilities and counter strategies:

• Slash attack: A basic attack easily blocked or dodged. Energy Shield provides protection, but conserve it for more damaging attacks. This attack can also inflict Burning or Poisoning.
• 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 detonating after 1.5 seconds. Unblockable, but dodgeable. The voice cue is "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 yellowish AoE. Quickly 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 that must be dodged.
• Summon Poison Mist/Vanish: Balbala vanishes, yelling "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 being found, unleashing a dodgeable AoE slam.
• Explosive Blade Rain: If the fight extends, Balbala throws explosive daggers in a counter-clockwise conical pattern. Dodge in the opposite direction.
• Blade Storm: Failing to quickly eliminate the Shadow Clone allows Balbala to summon a devastating blade storm. Prioritize clone elimination to prevent this.

Defeating Balbala yields Balbala's Barya, which must be given to Zarka, revealing the location of the Trials of the Sekhemas.

How To Complete Trials Of The Sekhemas In Path Of Exile 2

With the Djinn Barya, travel from the Ardura Caravan to the Trials of the Sekhemas node. Initially, you'll need to command the caravan to move from the Sekhemas' map.

Unlock the Waypoint and approach the altar where Balbala explains the trial. This procedurally generated dungeon presents various challenges in each room: timed challenges, traps, and rare enemies. Before entering, use a Relic to receive a boon.

The Trials introduce "Honor" and "Sacred Water":

• Killing enemies drops Sacred Water, used to purchase boons, keys, and recover Honor.
• Taking damage reduces Honor.
• Reaching 0 Honor fails the Trial.
• Remaining Honor is exchanged for Sacred Water at the end.
• Sacred Water buys keys to open chests.
• Honor is preserved between trials (useful in Cruel difficulty).

Energy Shield drain doesn't affect Honor. Energy Shield builds have an advantage.

Each trial section offers pathways, culminating in a backroom with boons, merchants, or Honor/Sacred Water recovery. Completing a section grants a boon and a curse.

Trial types include:

• Chalice Trial: Defeat two bosses along the blood path.
• Escape Trial (timed): Defuse Death Crystals before time runs out.
• Gauntlet Trial: Avoid traps and find levers to escape.
• Hourglass Trial (timed): Survive enemy waves until time runs out.
• Ritual Trial: Kill summoners and their summoned beasts to deactivate portals.
• Boss Trial: Tier 1 - Rattlecage, Tier 2 - Terracota Sentinels, Tier 3 - Ashar, Tier 4 - Zarokh.

Balancing boons and curses, and prioritizing Honor preservation, is crucial. Rattlecage, the Earthbreaker, is a particularly challenging boss. Maximize Fire Resistance and utilize stunning to defeat him.

How To Complete Ascent To Power In Path Of Exile 2

Defeating Rattlecage unlocks the final stage: choosing your first Ascendancy at the altar. This choice is permanent.

For Cruel difficulty, a workaround exists due to a bug:

1. Talk to Zarka.
2. Defeat Balbala in Cruel difficulty (ensure the coin shows "Number of Trials 2").
3. Return to Act 2 Normal difficulty and access the Trials using the coin.
4. Complete two Trials consecutively, defeating a boss in each.
5. Gain 2 additional Ascendancy Points.

This isn't the intended method. Only the first Normal and Cruel difficulty runs grant Ascendancy Points (2 each). The Trial of Chaos in Act 3 Normal and Cruel yields the remaining 4 points (total 8). Reaching 0 Honor fails the Trial but doesn't consume the Djinn Barya on the first attempt. Subsequent attempts consume it.