Path Of Exile 2: Ascent To Power Walkthrough

Path of Exile 2: Mastering 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 how to initiate and complete this quest, including strategies for challenging encounters.

Starting Ascent to Power

After unlocking the Ardura Caravan in Act 2, explore the available location nodes. Before the third node, "Traitor's Passage," speak with Zarka. 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.

Defeating Balbala the Traitor

Balbala resists Fire Damage and inflicts Physical, Chaos, and Fire damage, along with Poison and Ignition. Exploit her weakness to Cold Damage for optimal results.

Here's a breakdown of Balbala's attacks and counter-strategies:

• Slash Attack: A basic attack; easily blocked or dodged.
• Throwing Attack (Ranged): Similar to the slash attack, but ranged; dodge or block. Each dagger inflicts Poison.
• Whirling Dash Attack: A fast lunge with AoE explosions; dodge only. Preceded by the voice cue "Face Me!" or "Na'kai!".
• Teleport Dagger Attack: Balbala teleports and throws daggers creating AoE; dodge only. Preceded by "Atul!".
• Summon Shadow Clone: Balbala throws a Barya (coin), creating a yellow AoE. Step over it quickly to prevent clone summoning. A teleport slam follows if you step on the AoE.
• Teleport Slam: After summoning, Balbala teleports and slams, creating a fiery AoE; dodge. Preceded by "Tithe!".
• Summon Poison Mist/Vanish: Balbala vanishes ("Visions of Jarah!" or "Mists of Sulamith!"), summoning poisonous mist. Find and attack her to cancel the channeling. She'll then yell "Sands of Wrath!" or "Darakatha!" before a slam AoE.
• Explosive Blade Rain: Throws explosive daggers in a counter-clockwise pattern; dodge accordingly.
• Blade Storm: If the Shadow Clone isn't eliminated quickly, Balbala summons a destructive blade storm. Prioritize clone elimination.

After defeating Balbala, take Balbala's Barya to Zarka. She'll reveal the location of the Trials of the Sekhemas.

Completing the Trials of the Sekhemas

Travel to the Trials of the Sekhemas node from the Ardura Caravan. You'll initially need to command the caravan to move to the Sekhemas map. Unlock the Waypoint and approach the altar.

The Trials are procedurally generated dungeons with various challenges: timed challenges, traps, and elite enemies. Before entering, use a Relic to receive a boon.

Key Mechanics:

• Honor: A resource bar depleting with damage taken. Reaching 0 Honor fails the Trial.
• Sacred Water: Currency obtained by killing enemies; used for boons, keys, and Honor recovery.
• Keys: Obtained with remaining Sacred Water after completing a Trial; used to open chests.

Trial Types:

• Chalice Trial: Defeat two boss monsters.
• 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).

Balance boon selection and curse avoidance to preserve Honor. Rattlecage, the Earthbreaker, is a particularly challenging boss. Prioritize Fire Resistance to counter his attacks.

Finishing Ascent to Power

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

Cruel Difficulty: To obtain additional Ascendancy points in Cruel difficulty, complete the following (due to a current bug):

1. Talk to Zarka and defeat Balbala in Cruel difficulty (ensure the Barya indicates "Number of Trials 2").
2. Return to Normal difficulty and access the Trials using the two-trial Barya.
3. Complete two Trials in Cruel difficulty to gain 2 additional Ascendancy points.

Remember, reaching 0 Honor means failing the Trial. The first Normal and Cruel difficulty runs grant 2 Ascendancy points each. You'll also need to complete the Trial of Chaos in Act 3 (Normal and Cruel) for the remaining 4 points (total 8).