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
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, plus Poison and Ignition. Cold Damage is highly effective.
Balbala's Attacks and Counters:
- Slash Attack: A basic attack; block or dodge. May inflict Burning or Poison.
- Throwing Attack: Ranged version of the slash attack; dodge or block. Multiple daggers inflict Poison.
- Whirling Dash: A fast lunge with AoE explosions; dodge. Voice cue: "Face Me!" or "Na'kai!"
- Teleport Dagger Attack: Teleports and throws daggers creating AoE; dodge. Voice cue: "Atul!"
- Summon Shadow Clone: Throws a Barya, creating a yellow AoE. Step over it to prevent clone summoning. Teleport Slam follows if you step on it. Voice cue: "Tithe!"
- Teleport Slam: Follows the Shadow Clone summon; dodge the fiery AoE.
- Summon Poison Mist/Vanish: Vanishes (voice cues: "Visions of Jarah!" or "Mists of Sulamith!") and summons poisonous mist. Find and attack her to interrupt. She'll then yell "Sands of Wrath!" or "Darakatha!" and perform an AoE slam.
- Explosive Blade Rain: Throws explosive daggers in a counter-clockwise cone; dodge accordingly.
- Blade Storm: If the Shadow Clone survives, Balbala summons a blade storm; prioritize clone elimination.
Defeating Balbala yields Balbala's Barya, which you give to Zarka to unlock the Trials of the Sekhemas.
How to Complete the Trials of the Sekhemas
Travel to the Trials of the Sekhemas node via the Ardura Caravan. Balbala will explain the trial mechanics.
The Trials are procedurally generated. You'll use 'Honor' and 'Sacred Water':
- Killing enemies drops Sacred Water, used for boons, keys, and Honor recovery.
- Taking damage reduces Honor.
- 0 Honor means failure.
- Remaining Honor converts to Sacred Water at the end.
- Sacred Water buys keys for chests.
Energy Shield drain doesn't reduce Honor, giving Energy Shield builds an advantage.
Each Trial section offers boons and curses. Trial types 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: Rattlecage (Tier 1), Terracota Sentinels (Tier 2), Ashar (Tier 3), Zarokh (Tier 4).
Completing the Trials, especially defeating Rattlecage (use Fire Resistance), unlocks the final altar where you choose your first Ascendancy. The choice is permanent.
Completing Ascent to Power in 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 (ensure the Barya indicates "Number of Trials 2").
- Return to Normal difficulty and access the Trials using the two-trial Barya.
- Complete two Trials consecutively, defeating a boss in each.
- You'll receive two additional Ascendancy points.
Note: Only the first Normal and Cruel difficulty runs grant Ascendancy points. You'll also need to complete the Trial of Chaos in Act 3 (Normal and Cruel) for the remaining four points (total of 8). Reaching 0 Honor fails the Trial, but the first Barya is a quest item and won't be consumed. Subsequent tries will consume the Barya.
