PoE 2: Ascent to Power Guide Unveiled

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 how to initiate and complete this quest, including strategies for defeating Balbala the Traitor and navigating the Trials of the Sekhemas.

Starting the Ascent to Power Quest

Once you unlock the Ardura Caravan in Act 2, explore the available location nodes. Before reaching "Traitor's Passage," speak with Zarka. She'll direct you to Balbala, a trapped Djinn, to gain power.

Balbala's location within Traitor's Passage is randomized due to procedural generation, but she's generally found near the end. Locate the Ancient Seal Door leading to her prison. Defuse three seals to trigger 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.

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.
• Throwing Attack (Ranged): Dodge or block these daggers, which inflict Poison.
• Whirling Dash Attack: A fast lunge with an AoE explosion 1.5 seconds later. Dodge; the voice cue ("Face Me!" or "Na'kai!") precedes the attack.
• Teleport Dagger Attack: Balbala teleports and throws daggers creating an AoE. Dodge only counter. Voice cue: "Atul!"
• Summon Shadow Clone: A yellow AoE appears after Balbala throws a Barya. Step over it to prevent a Balbala clone from spawning. A teleport slam follows if you step on it. Voice cue: "Tithe!"
• Summon Poison Mist/Vanish: Balbala vanishes (voice cues: "Visions of Jarah!" or "Mists of Sulamith!") summoning poisonous mist. Find her quickly (counter-clockwise from her last position) and attack to cancel the channeling. She'll then use a slam attack ("Sands of Wrath!" or "Darakatha!").
• Explosive Blade Rain: Throws explosive daggers in a counter-clockwise cone. Dodge in the opposite direction.
• Blade Storm: If the Shadow Clone isn't eliminated quickly, Balbala summons a devastating 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 (note: you may need to command the caravan to move to the Sekhemas map initially). Unlock the Waypoint and approach the altar where Balbala will provide instructions.

The Trials are procedurally generated. Each room presents unique challenges: timed challenges, traps, or elite enemies. Before entering, use a Relic for a boon.

Key Mechanics:

• Honor: A resource bar depleting with damage taken. Reaching 0 Honor fails the Trial.
• Sacred Water: Earned by killing enemies; used to buy boons, keys, and recover Honor.
• Keys: Earned from remaining Sacred Water; used to open chests.

Trial Types:

• Chalice Trial: Defeat two bosses 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): Survive enemy waves until time runs out.
• Ritual Trial: Find and kill Summoners and the beasts they summon.
• Boss Trial: Rattlecage (Tier 1), Terracota Sentinels (Tier 2), Ashar (Tier 3), Zarokh (Tier 4).

Balance boon selection and curse avoidance to preserve Honor. For Rattlecage, prioritize Fire Resistance. Stun him and avoid lava cracks.

Completing Ascent to Power

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

Cruel Difficulty: To obtain two additional Ascendancy points in Act 2 Cruel difficulty (due to a current bug):

1. Talk to Zarka, defeat Balbala (ensure the Barya indicates "Number of Trials 2").
2. Return to Act 2 Normal, enter the Trials using the two-trial Barya, completing two runs to earn the points.

Only the first Normal and Cruel difficulty runs grant Ascendancy points (2 each). You'll need to complete the Trial of Chaos in Act 3 Normal and Cruel for the remaining 4 points (total 8). Remember, reaching 0 Honor fails the Trial, but the first attempt doesn't consume the Djinn Barya. Subsequent attempts do.