In Path of Exile 2, unlocking the first Ascendancy is a crucial part of the game, and it’s tied to the Ascent to Power quest in Act 2. This guide will help players navigate this complex quest, from starting it to completing the Trials of the Sekhemas, and ultimately achieving Ascendancy.

Starting the Ascent to Power Quest

To begin the Ascent to Power quest, players need to unlock the Ardura Caravan in Act 2. This opens up several locations to explore. Before proceeding to the third area, Traitor's Passage, talk to NPC Zarka, who will direct you to find Balbala, a trapped Djinn. Balbala is key to gaining more power and progressing in the quest. As Path of Exile 2 has procedurally generated maps, the boss’s location will vary, but it is typically found at the end of Traitor's Passage, behind the Ancient Seal Door. Alright, in this game, you've got to knock out three seals to get the boss battle started.

Defeating Balbala the Traitor

Balbala resists Fire Damage but is vulnerable to Cold Damage. Her attack types include Physical, Chaos, and Fire Damage, with added Poison and Ignition effects.

Balbala’s main abilities include:

1. Slash Attack: A regular close-range attack that can be blocked or dodged. It causes burning and poisoning.

2. Throwing Attack: Ranged daggers that cause Poison buildup. These can be dodged or blocked.

3. Whirling Dash: A fast dash that causes damage and an explosive AoE. This attack can’t be blocked but can be dodged after the voice cue, "Face Me!" or "Na'kai!"

4. Teleport Dagger Attack: After teleporting, she throws daggers that create AoE damage. This attack can be avoided by dodging.

5. Summon Shadow Clone: Balbala will summon a clone by throwing a Barya coin. Players must step on the yellow AoE to prevent the clone's appearance and avoid the subsequent slam attack.

6.Poison Mist and Vanish: Mid-fight, Balbala will disappear, creating a poisonous mist. Players must find her quickly and attack to stop this ability.

7.Explosive Blade Rain: In prolonged fights, Balbala will launch explosive daggers in a specific direction. Players must dodge accordingly.

Upon defeating Balbala, she drops Balbala's Barya, which must be returned to Zarka, who will then guide players to the next step: the Trials of the Sekhemas.

Completing the Trials of the Sekhemas

Once the Djinn Barya is in hand, travel to the Trials of the Sekhemas. Here, players will be introduced to a procedurally generated dungeon filled with challenges. The key mechanics are Honor and Sacred Water. you start with an Honor bar with the help of powerful Path of Exile 2 Items, which deplete as they take damage. If Honor reaches zero, the trial fails. Enemies drop Sacred Water, which can be used for various benefits like purchasing boons, and keys, and recovering Honor.

Each room of the trial presents different challenges such as:

Timed Challenges: Completing tasks like defusing Death Crystals before time runs out.

Trap Rooms: Where players must avoid deadly traps.

Elite Enemies: Rare enemies that need to be defeated to proceed.

Before entering each trial, players can use a Relic to perform an offering, granting boons that provide benefits during the trial. Each room rewards players with either boons (positive effects) or curses (negative effects).

Key trial types include:

Chalice Trial: Defeat two boss monsters after following a blood path to find them.

Escape Trial: A timed challenge where players must deactivate Death Crystals while avoiding monsters.

Gauntlet Trial: Avoid traps and find levers to escape.

Hourglass Trial: Survive waves of enemies within a time limit, with monsters dropping Sacred Water.

Ritual Trial: Players need to kill those summoners and shut down the portals they open, so as to prevent the summoned beasts from appearing.

Boss Trial: On each floor, players are required to defeat a boss at the end. Notable bosses include Rattlecage, the Earthbreaker, and Ashar, the Sand Mother.

Each trial demands strategy, as players must balance their Honor (by minimizing damage taken) while using Sacred Water to purchase keys and boons. Energy Shield builds have an advantage in these trials, as energy shield damage does not count against Honor.

Defeating Rattlecage, the Earthbreaker

In the Boss Trial, the most challenging encounter is with Rattlecage, the Earthbreaker. He deals Fire Damage, so players should use Fire Resistance charms, rings, or boons to survive. Avoid the lava cracks he summons, and stun him to make the battle more manageable.

Completing Ascent to Power

After defeating Rattlecage, players can interact with an altar to select their first Ascendancy. There are two Ascendancy paths per class, and players must choose carefully since the decision is permanent.

For players attempting Cruel Difficulty, there’s a bug in the quest that requires two runs through the Trials of the Sekhemas for additional Ascendancy points. 

First, defeat Balbala in Cruel Difficulty, obtain the Djinn Barya with "Number of Trials 2", then proceed to Normal Difficulty to complete the Trials again. This grants players an additional 2 Ascendancy points.

Conclusion

The Ascent to Power quest in Path of Exile 2 is a key milestone in unlocking the full potential of your character. Through overcoming challenges like Balbala, the Trials of the Sekhemas, and Rattlecage, players will gain valuable Ascendancy points to enhance their build. By using the Path of Exile 2 Game Service to understand the mechanics, managing resources like Honor and Elixir, and choosing the right Ascension path, you can easily pave the way for your character's success in the future of Path of Exile 2!