Path Of Exile 2: Ascent To Power Walkthrough

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

Path of Exile 2's intricate Ascendancy system is key to character progression. Unlocking your first Ascendancy requires completing the Ascent to Power quest in Act 2. This guide details starting the quest, defeating Balbala the Traitor, and navigating the Trials of the Sekhemas.

Quick Links

• Starting Ascent to Power
• Defeating Balbala the Traitor
• Completing the Trials of the Sekhemas
• Completing Ascent to Power

Starting Ascent to Power

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 is randomized due to procedural map generation, but she's typically found near the end of 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. Cold Damage is highly effective. While not overly complex, mastering her mechanics may take a few attempts.

Here's a breakdown of Balbala's attacks and counter strategies:

• Slash Attack: A basic attack easily blocked or dodged. Save your Energy Shield for more dangerous attacks. Can 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 explosive AoE that detonates after 1.5 seconds. Unblockable, but dodgeable. The voice cue is "Face Me!" or "Na'kai!".
• Teleport Dagger Attack: Balbala teleports and throws daggers creating an AoE. Dodge to avoid damage. Voice cue: "Atul!".
• Summon Shadow Clone: Balbala throws a Barya, creating a yellow AoE. Quickly step over it to prevent clone summoning. 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 it.
• Summon Poison Mist/Vanish: Balbala vanishes (voice cues: "Visions of Jarah!" or "Mists of Sulamith!") summoning poisonous mist. Quickly find and attack her to cancel the channeling. She'll yell "Sands of Wrath!" or "Darakatha!" upon being found, initiating an AoE slam.
• Explosive Blade Rain: (Late-game) Throws explosive daggers in a counter-clockwise conical pattern. Dodge accordingly.
• Blade Storm: (If Shadow Clone isn't eliminated quickly) Balbala summons a swirling blade storm, making dodging difficult. Prioritize eliminating clones.

Defeating Balbala yields Balbala's Barya, which must be given to Zarka, revealing the Trials of the Sekhemas.

Completing the Trials of the Sekhemas

Travel from the Ardura Caravan to the Trials of the Sekhemas node. Note: the first time, you must direct the caravan. 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 to buy boons, keys, and recover Honor.
• Keys: Earned with remaining Sacred Water after completing a Trial section; used to open chests.

Energy Shield drain doesn't reduce Honor. Energy Shield builds have an advantage.

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 beasts to deactivate portals.
• Boss Trial: Tiered bosses: Rattlecage, Terracota Sentinels, Ashar, Zarokh.

Balance boons and curses to preserve Honor. Rattlecage 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: To gain additional Ascendancy points (currently bugged):

1. Talk to Zarka in Cruel.
2. Defeat Balbala (Barya should indicate "Number of Trials 2").
3. Return to Normal and enter the Trials using the "Two Trials" Barya.
4. Complete two Trial runs, defeating a boss in each, for 2 additional points.

Only the first Normal and Cruel 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). Reaching 0 Honor fails the Trial, but the first Normal attempt won't consume the Barya. Subsequent attempts will.