The Ascent to Power quest in Path of Exile 2 isn’t obligatory to complete, yet it is very important. Completing it rewards you with your Ascendancy Class, which significantly impacts your character's playstyle for the rest of the game. This Path of Exile 2 Ascent to Power Quest guide provides all the information you need to finish the quest and Ascend in PoE2.
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Unlocking the Quest
Your first step towards the Trial of the Sekhemas is finding and defeating Balbala, the Traitor. You'll find her imprisoned in the Prison of the Disgraced, located within Traitor's Passage.
As you explore the passage, look for small paper seals hanging on the walls. Follow these paper notes; they'll lead you to a door almost entirely covered in them. Inside the room is Balbala. To release her, you'll need to remove each of her bindings. Once freed, you must defeat her in combat.
Defeating Balbala, the Traitor
Balbala is a tricky opponent with teleportation, poisonous gas that covers the area, and fast attacks with her dual daggers. Here's what to expect:
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Boomerang Knives: She throws glowing golden knives that fly out and then return to her, after which she throws them again before they disappear.
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Fiery Tornado Dive: Balbala flies into the air and crashes down in a spinning tornado of fire.
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Homing Knives: She throws a wave of golden knives that hover briefly before flying directly at you. These don't return.
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Knife Minefield: Balbala throws glowing knives that stick in the ground, creating a minefield that damages you if you step on them. These knives explode after a short time.
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Grim Reaper Minion: She can summon a Grim Reaper-like minion to help her in the fight.
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Fiery Runes: Balbala puts fire runes on the ground that burn you.
The fight is very fast and unpredictable, especially with her teleporting. Dodging is crucial, especially when you can't see her. The poison cloud will remain until you find Balbala, who is usually near the back of the arena. If you want to looking for more tips and tricks about Path of Exile 2, LootBar has you covered! Head on over now and access articles and top up your game with the best service around!
Completing the Ascent to Power Quest
After dealing with Balbala, go back to the Caravan with the coin and use the Desert Map to access the Trial of the Sekhemas. The Trial is accessed through the Desert Map. The enemies are level 22, so being around that level is recommended. While your character's level matters, the main challenge is protecting your Honour, not just your Life.
Honour is a special resource used in the trial; you start with 646. If you get hit, your Honour will go down, and you cannot recover Honour with any flasks. Reaching 0 Honour means failing the trial.
To begin, put the coin into the Relic Altar. Here you can also add relics which will give you different buffs through the trial.
When you're ready, go through the door on the back wall. The Trial has seven rooms and a boss you must clear without losing your Life or Honour. The first room is a random challenge, but you choose the rest. Here are some possible room types:
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Escape Trial: A big, twisty room with hidden Death Crystals. You must activate the next Death Crystal before the timer runs out.
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Gauntlet Trial: A room full of enemies. Fight the mobs and find the levers to unlock the next room.
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Ritual Trial: Defeat all the ritual casters and stop the ritual.
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Hourglass Trial: You must survive until a timer runs out.
You choose your next challenges on the Trial Map after the first room. Each challenge has a reward and a handicap, so choose wisely.
Some of the debuffs will stay for the entirety of the Trial. If your Life or Honour is low, choose safer options. Some risks might be worth it, especially if you want more Sacred Water to spend on Boons with Balbala.
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Rattlecage, the Earthbreaker
At the end of the Trial of the Sekhemas, you will face the final boss, Rattlecage, the Earthbreaker. Defeating him gives you access to the Altar of Ascendancies. Here are his attacks:
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Fiery Ground Punch: Rattlecage punches the ground with his large, fiery fists, creating a small explosion of lava and rock nearby.
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Lava Crack Punch: He punches the ground again, but this time it creates cracks that leak lava, burning you if you stand in them.
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Volcano Eruption: Small volcanoes can erupt at the end of these lava cracks, spewing more lava and restricting your movement.
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Lava Rain: When Rattlecage's health drops to about 50%, lava starts falling from the sky. This attack deals heavy damage, and there are no ground markers to show where it will land, so constant dodging is essential. The lava rain eventually stops.
Rattlecage is strong but slow, which you can use to your advantage. Try to keep your distance and use ranged attacks to avoid his attacks.
Conclusion
The Ascent to Power Quest in Path of Exile 2 is crucial for unlocking your Ascendancy Class, which significantly influences your character's gameplay. The quest involves defeating Balbala, navigating the Trial of Sekhemas, and overcoming the final boss, Rattlecage. Balbala is a challenging opponent with various attacks, requiring strategic dodging. The Trial of Sekhemas tests your Honour, a resource that depletes when hit. Completing the trial without losing all Honour allows you to face Rattlecage, whose defeat grants access to the Altar of Ascendancies, where you choose your Ascendancy Class.
If you defeat Rattlecage with any Honour remaining, you'll complete the Trial of Sekhemas. Proceed to the next room to claim your rewards and approach the Altar of Ascendancies to choose one of two Ascendancy Classes. If you are still struggling to defeat the Trial of the Sekhemas, come to LootBar to buy PoE 2 Currency and top up your game now, you will get a much better gaming experience.
