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 reaching "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. 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.
Balbala's Attacks & Counters:
- Slash Attack: A basic attack; easily blocked or dodged.
- Throwing Attack: Ranged attack; dodge or block. Causes Poison buildup.
- Whirling Dash: A fast lunge with AoE explosion (1.5-second delay). Cannot be blocked, only dodged. 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 clone summoning. Teleport and slam attack follows if stepped on.
- Teleport Slam: After clone summoning, teleports and slams with AoE. Voice cue: "Tithe!"
- Summon Poison Mist/Vanish: Vanishes, summoning poisonous mist. Voice cues: "Visions of Jarah!" or "Mists of Sulamith!" Find and attack Balbala to cancel. She'll then yell "Sands of Wrath!" or "Darakatha!" before a dodging AoE slam.
- Explosive Blade Rain: Throws explosive daggers in a counter-clockwise pattern. Dodge accordingly.
- Blade Storm: If the Shadow Clone isn't quickly eliminated, Balbala summons a destructive blade storm. Prioritize clone elimination.
Defeating Balbala yields Balbala's Barya, which must be given to Zarka. She'll then reveal the Trials of the Sekhemas.
Completing the Trials of the Sekhemas
Travel to the Trials of the Sekhemas node from the Ardura Caravan. Note: The first time, you'll need to command the caravan's movement.
Balbala will explain the trial's mechanics. The map is procedurally generated, with each room presenting unique challenges (timed challenges, traps, elite enemies). Before entering, use a Relic for a boon.
Key Mechanics:
- Honor: A resource bar depleted by damage. 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; open chests (Bronze, Silver, Gold).
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 their summoned beasts.
- Boss Trial: Rattlecage (Tier 1), Terracota Sentinels (Tier 2), Ashar (Tier 3), Zarokh (Tier 4).
Balancing boons and curses, and preserving Honor, is crucial. Rattlecage, the Earthbreaker, is a particularly challenging boss. Prioritize Fire Resistance to counter him.
Completing Ascent to Power
Defeating Rattlecage unlocks the final stage: selecting your first Ascendancy at the altar. This choice is permanent.
Cruel Difficulty:
To gain additional Ascendancy points in Cruel difficulty (currently bugged), follow these steps:
- Talk to Zarka.
- Defeat Balbala (ensure the Barya indicates "Number of Trials 2").
- Return to Act 2 Normal Difficulty and enter the Trials.
- Use the "Two Trials" Barya to access Cruel difficulty Trials.
- Complete two runs, defeating a boss in each, to gain 2 additional Ascendancy points.
Only the first Normal and Cruel difficulty runs grant Ascendancy points (2 each). The Trial of Chaos in Act 3 Normal and Cruel grants the remaining 4 points (total 8). Reaching 0 Honor fails the trial, but the first attempt doesn't consume the Barya. Subsequent attempts do.
Remember to choose your Ascendancy wisely, as the choice is permanent. Good luck!
