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
Once you unlock the Ardura Caravan in Act 2, explore the available location nodes. Before visiting 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. Look for an Ancient Seal Door leading to her prison. Defuse three seals to initiate the encounter.
How to Beat Balbala the Traitor
Balbala resists Fire Damage and inflicts Physical, Chaos, and Fire damage, plus 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 causes Poison buildup.
- Whirling Dash Attack: A fast lunge with explosive AoE; dodge only. 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 prevent summoning a Balbala clone. A teleport and slam attack follows if you step on the AoE.
- Teleport Slam: After summoning, Balbala teleports and slams, creating a fiery AoE; dodge. Voice cue: "Tithe!"
- Summon Poison Mist/Vanish: Balbala vanishes (Voice cues: "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 blade storm. Prioritize clone elimination.
Defeating Balbala yields Balbala's Barya, to be given to Zarka. She'll then reveal the Trials of the Sekhemas.
How to Complete the Trials of the Sekhemas
From the Ardura Caravan, travel to the Trials of the Sekhemas node. Initially, you'll command the caravan to move to the Sekhemas map. 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; depletes with damage taken. Reaching 0 Honor fails the Trial.
- Sacred Water: Currency; obtained by killing enemies; used to buy boons, keys, and recover Honor.
- Keys: Obtained with remaining Sacred Water; open chests.
Energy Shield drain doesn't reduce Honor. Energy Shield builds are advantageous.
Each Trial section offers boons and curses. 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 until time runs out.
- Ritual Trial: Kill summoners and summoned beasts.
- Boss Trial: Tier 1: Rattlecage; Tier 2: Terracota Sentinels; Tier 3: Ashar; Tier 4: Zarokh.
Balancing boons and curses is crucial for preserving Honor. Rattlecage, the Earthbreaker, is a challenging boss; prioritize Fire Resistance. Stunning him is effective.
How to Complete Ascent to Power
Defeating Rattlecage unlocks the final altar where you choose your first Ascendancy. The choice is permanent.
Cruel Difficulty:
To gain two additional Ascendancy points in Cruel difficulty, follow these steps (due to a current bug):
- Talk to Zarka.
- Defeat Balbala in Cruel (Barya should indicate "Number of Trials 2").
- Return to Normal difficulty and enter the Trials using the two-trial Barya.
- Complete two Trials consecutively, defeating a boss in each.
- Gain two additional Ascendancy points.
Only the first Normal and Cruel difficulty runs grant Ascendancy points. Completing the Trial of Chaos in Act 3 (Normal and Cruel) yields the remaining four points (total of eight). Reaching 0 Honor fails the Trial, but the first Djinn Barya isn't consumed. Subsequent tries consume the Barya.
Remember to choose your Ascendancy wisely, as your choice is permanent. Good luck!
