Path Of Exile 2: Ascent To Power Walkthrough

Path of Exile 2: A Comprehensive Guide to the Ascent to Power Quest

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 starting the quest, defeating Balbala the Traitor, completing the Trials of the Sekhemas, and maximizing Ascendancy points.

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, typically 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 Abilities and Counters:

• Slash Attack: Basic attack; block or dodge. May inflict Burning or Poison.
• Throwing Attack: Ranged attack; dodge or block. Each dagger inflicts Poison.
• Whirling Dash Attack: Fast lunge with explosive AoE; dodge. Voice cue: "Face Me!" or "Na'kai!"
• Teleport Dagger Attack: Teleports and throws daggers creating AoE; dodge. Voice cue: "Atul!"
• Summon Shadow Clone: Throws a Barya, creating a yellow AoE. Step over it to prevent clone summoning. Teleport and slam attack follows if stepped on.
• Teleport Slam: After clone summoning; 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. Voice cues upon discovery: "Sands of Wrath!" or "Darakatha!" AoE slam follows.
• Explosive Blade Rain: Conical pattern of explosive daggers; dodge in the opposite direction.
• Blade Storm: If the Shadow Clone isn't eliminated quickly; swirling blades. Prioritize clone elimination.

Defeating Balbala yields Balbala's Barya, which must be given to Zarka. She'll then reveal the Trials of the Sekhemas.

How to Complete the Trials of the Sekhemas

Travel to the Trials of the Sekhemas node from the Ardura Caravan. The first time, command the caravan to move from the Sekhemas map. Unlock the Waypoint and approach the altar where Balbala explains 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: Decreases with damage taken. Reaching 0 fails the trial.
• Sacred Water: Earned by killing enemies; used for boons, keys, and Honor recovery.
• Keys: Earned with remaining Sacred Water; open chests.

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

Each Trial section grants a boon and a curse. Examples of Trials:

• 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 beasts.
• Boss Trial: Rattlecage (Tier 1), Terracota Sentinels (Tier 2), Ashar (Tier 3), Zarokh (Tier 4).

Balancing boons and curses, preserving Honor, and defeating Rattlecage (focus on Fire Resistance) are crucial.

How to Complete Ascent to Power

Defeating Rattlecage unlocks the final altar where you choose your first Ascendancy. The choice is permanent.

Cruel Difficulty: The Cruel difficulty quest is currently bugged. To gain additional Ascendancy points:

1. Start the quest with Zarka.
2. Defeat Balbala in Cruel, obtaining a Barya indicating "Number of Trials 2."
3. Return to Normal difficulty and access the Trials using the Cruel Barya.
4. Complete two Trials consecutively to gain 2 additional Ascendancy points.

Only the first Normal and Cruel runs grant 2 Ascendancy points each. Complete the Trial of Chaos in Act 3 Normal and Cruel for the remaining 4 points (total 8). Reaching 0 Honor fails the trial, but the first attempt doesn't consume the Barya. Subsequent attempts do.

Remember to choose your Ascendancy path wisely, as it is a permanent decision. Good luck on your Ascent to Power!