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 intricate Ascendancy system is pivotal to character progression. 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.

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. Locate the Ancient Seal Door leading to her prison. Defuse three seals to trigger 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 Attacks and Counters:

• Slash Attack: A basic attack; easily blocked or dodged.
• Throwing Attack: Ranged attack; dodge or block. Each dagger inflicts Poison.
• Whirling Dash: A fast lunge with AoE explosion (1.5-second delay). Dodge; voice cue: "Face Me!" or "Na'kai!"
• Teleport Dagger Attack: Teleports and throws daggers creating AoE. Dodge only; voice cue: "Atul!"
• Summon Shadow Clone: Throws a Barya (coin), creating a yellow AoE. Step over it to avoid summoning a Balbala clone. A teleport slam follows if you step on the AoE; voice cue: "Tithe!"
• Summon Poison Mist/Vanish: Vanishes (voice cues: "Visions of Jarah!" or "Mists of Sulamith!"), summoning poisonous mist. Find and attack her to cancel channeling. She'll then yell "Sands of Wrath!" or "Darakatha!" before a dodging AoE slam.
• Explosive Blade Rain: Throws explosive daggers in a counter-clockwise cone. Dodge accordingly.
• Blade Storm: If the Shadow Clone isn't eliminated quickly, Balbala summons a damaging blade storm. Prioritize clone elimination.

Defeating Balbala yields Balbala's Barya, which you must take 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 (initially requiring caravan movement). Balbala will explain the trial mechanics.

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 depleted by damage. Reaching 0 Honor fails the trial.
• Sacred Water: Currency dropped by enemies, used for boons, keys, and Honor recovery.
• Keys: Earned from remaining Sacred Water at the end, used to open chests.

Each trial section grants a boon and a curse. Examples of trials include:

• 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.
• Ritual Trial: Kill summoners and their summoned beasts.
• Boss Trial: Rattlecage (Tier 1), Terracota Sentinels (Tier 2), Ashar (Tier 3), Zarokh (Tier 4).

Successfully completing the Trials, including defeating Rattlecage, allows you to choose your first Ascendancy at the final altar.

Completing Ascent to Power in Cruel Difficulty

To gain two additional Ascendancy points in Cruel difficulty, follow these steps (due to a current bug):

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 "Two Trials" Barya.
4. Complete two consecutive Trials, defeating a boss in each.
5. This grants two additional Ascendancy points.

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