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Path of Exile 2 boasts a deeply engaging class system, heavily reliant on the Ascension system. Unlocking your first Ascendancy requires completing the Ascent to Power quest in Act 2. This guide details how to begin and complete this quest, including strategies for 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 first two location nodes. Before visiting the third, Traitor's Passage, speak with Zarka. She'll direct you to seek Balbala, a trapped Djinn, to gain power.
Balbala's location is randomized due to procedural map generation, but she's generally found near the end of Traitor's Passage. Look for the Ancient Seal Door leading to her prison. Defuse three seals to trigger the encounter and the ensuing boss fight.
How To Beat Balbala The Traitor In Path Of Exile 2
Balbala resists Fire Damage and inflicts Physical, Chaos, and Fire damage, along with Poison 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 attacks and counters:
- Slash Attack: A basic attack easily blocked or dodged. Save your Energy Shield for more dangerous attacks. May 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 an explosive AoE that detonates after 1.5 seconds. Unblockable, but dodgeable. Preceded by the voice cue "Face Me!" or "Na'kai!"
- Teleport Dagger Attack: Balbala teleports and throws daggers creating an AoE. Dodging is crucial. Voice cue: "Atul!"
- Summon Shadow Clone: Balbala throws a Barya (coin), creating a yellowish AoE. Step over it quickly to prevent a Balbala clone from spawning. Stepping on it triggers a teleport and slam attack.
- Teleport Slam: After the summoning circle, Balbala teleports and yells "Tithe!", creating a fiery AoE that must be dodged.
- Summon Poison Mist/Vanish: Balbala vanishes (voice cues: "Visions of Jarah!" or "Mists of Sulamith!") summoning a poisonous mist. Find and attack her to cancel the channeling. Circle counterclockwise from her last position to locate her faster. Discovery triggers an AoE slam ("Sands of Wrath!" or "Darakatha!").
- Explosive Blade Rain: Throws explosive daggers in a counterclockwise conical pattern. Dodge in the opposite direction.
- Blade Storm: If the Shadow Clone isn't eliminated quickly, Balbala summons a devastating blade storm. Prioritize eliminating the clone to prevent this.
Defeating Balbala yields Balbala's Barya, which must be taken to Zarka to unlock the Trials of the Sekhemas.
How To Complete Trials Of The Sekhemas In Path Of Exile 2
From the Ardura Caravan, travel to the Trials of the Sekhemas node. Note that on your first attempt, you'll need to command the caravan to move from the Sekhemas' map located in front of the wagon. Unlock the Waypoint and approach the altar where Balbala will explain the trial.
This procedurally generated dungeon features various challenges per room: timed challenges, traps, and elite enemies. Before entering, use a Relic to receive a boon.
The Trials introduce "Honor" and "Sacred Water":
- Killing enemies drops Sacred Water, used to buy boons, keys, and recover Honor.
- Taking damage reduces Honor.
- Reaching 0 Honor fails the Trial.
- Remaining Honor is traded 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 reduce Honor, giving Energy Shield builds an advantage.
Each Trial section offers multiple paths. Clear a section to receive a boon and a curse.
Trial types:
- Chalice Trial: Defeat two boss monsters along a blood path.
- Escape Trial (timed): Defuse Death Crystals before time runs out.
- Gauntlet Trial: Avoid traps and find levers to escape.
- Hourglass Trial (timed): Activate the hourglass and survive enemy waves.
- Ritual Trial: Find and kill Summoners to deactivate portals.
- Boss Trial: Tier 1: Rattlecage; Tier 2: Terracota Sentinels; Tier 3: Ashar; Tier 4: Zarokh.
Balancing boons and curses while preserving Honor is key. Rattlecage, the Earthbreaker, is a particularly challenging boss. Maximize Fire Resistance through charms, rings, and boons, avoid lava cracks, and utilize stuns.
How To Complete Ascent To Power In Path Of Exile 2
Defeating Rattlecage unlocks the final stage: selecting your first Ascendancy at the altar. The choice is permanent.
For Cruel difficulty (currently bugged):
- Talk to Zarka.
- Defeat Balbala in Cruel difficulty (Barya should show "Number of Trials 2").
- Return to Act 2 Normal and enter the Trials using the "Two Trials" Barya.
- Complete two Trials to gain 2 additional Ascendancy Points.
This isn't the intended method, but it bypasses the bug. Reaching 0 Honor fails the trial, but the first attempt doesn't consume the Barya. Subsequent attempts and Cruel difficulty attempts consume the Barya. Only the first Normal and Cruel runs grant Ascendancy Points (2 each). Complete the Trial of Chaos in Act 3 (Normal and Cruel) for the remaining 4 points (total 8).
