Path of Exile 2: New Guide Released for Ascent to Power

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

Path of Exile 2's intricate Ascendancy system is crucial for character progression. This guide details the Ascent to Power quest, starting in Act 2, which unlocks your first Ascendancy.

Starting Ascent to Power

After unlocking the Ardura Caravan in Act 2, explore the first two location nodes. Before the third, 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 (due to procedural generation), 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 Cold Damage vulnerability.

Balbala's Attacks & 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 causes Poison buildup.
• Whirling Dash Attack: A fast lunge with an AoE explosion after 1.5 seconds. Undodgeable, but dodgeable. 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 a Balbala clone. Stepping on it triggers a teleport and slam attack.
• Teleport Slam: After the summoning circle, Balbala teleports and yells "Tithe!", creating a fiery AoE. Dodge.
• Summon Poison Mist/Vanish: Balbala vanishes (voice cues: "Visions of Jarah!" or "Mists of Sulamith!") summoning poisonous mist. Find her quickly to interrupt. Counterclockwise circling from her last position helps. Discovery triggers an AoE slam ("Sands of Wrath!" or "Darakatha!").
• Explosive Blade Rain: (Late fight) Throws explosive daggers in a counterclockwise conical pattern. Dodge accordingly.
• Blade Storm: (If the Shadow Clone isn't dealt with promptly) A destructive blade storm makes dodging difficult. Prioritize eliminating the clone.

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

Completing the Trials of the Sekhemas

From the Ardura Caravan, navigate to the Trials of the Sekhemas node. (Note: First time, you'll need to command the caravan's movement). Unlock the Waypoint and approach the altar where Balbala provides instructions.

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 for boons, keys, and Honor recovery.
• Keys: Earned from remaining Sacred Water; open chests (Bronze, Silver, Gold).

Energy Shield drain doesn't affect Honor. Energy Shield builds are advantageous.

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

• Chalice Trial: Defeat two bosses along the blood path.
• Escape Trial (timed): Defuse Death Crystals before time runs out.
• Gauntlet Trial: Avoid traps and activate levers.
• Hourglass Trial (timed): Survive enemy waves until time runs out.
• Ritual Trial: Find and kill Summoners and their summoned beasts to deactivate portals.
• Boss Trial: Tiered bosses: Rattlecage, Terracota Sentinels, Ashar, Zarokh.

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

Cruel Difficulty: A bug currently requires a workaround to obtain additional Ascendancy points:

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

This is not the intended method. Only the first Normal and Cruel runs grant 2 Ascendancy Points each. You'll also need to complete the Trial of Chaos (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.