Path of Exile 2 changed the way you unlock and level up your Ascendancies, starting with the slightly complicated Path of the Sekhemas. PoE 2 changed many aspects of its predecessor to keep the game fresh while maintaining the core feel. This was handled in many positive ways, while also making the game more difficult in all the right ways. A good example is the new Dodge Roll mobility that has made PoE2 feel like a soul.
Ascension Trials are how you unlock your starting Ascension classes and gain more passive points. Each class will have three to choose from, each incorporating their own style of play. However, as the game is planned to be in early access for at least six months, the six classes available are some great classes for solo players, Not everyone has their Ancestry complete. Regardless, those available have shown how powerful new impulses can be.
How to start the trial of the Sekhemas
Boss for progress
You must first defeat the boss Balbala the Traitor in the Traitors Pass to unlock the trial. This isn't a very difficult boss, as most of his telegraphed attacks are quick, but give you plenty of time to avoid them. The hardest part of this battle is when she turns invisible and starts flooding the arena with poisonous gas. The only way to stop this gas is to find her, so quickly circle the room or spam big skills in open spaces.
When defeated, she will drop the Balbala's Barya item. Taking this to the Trials of Sekhemas node and placing it on the altar will awaken the now friendly NPC Balbala. She will then guide you through the test and on the path to unlocking your Ascendancy.
How to Complete Trial of the Sekhemas
A rewarding challenge
The Sekhemas Trials can be complicated at first, but become easier with more understanding. The first thing to know is the Honor system. When trials begin, you will receive a certain amount of Honor which will be depleted each time you are hit. Dying completely or losing all Honor will end the trial and force a restart. Honor can only be replenished at the end of certain rooms by trading the Holy Water trial currency, rewarded for room completion and killing specific enemies.
Once the trials begin, you will have to fight through at least six rooms to reach the final boss. Each room will be part of a set test and will reward something different. Rewards can be keys to open chests, Holy Water, bonus benefits or structures to restore Honor. After completing a room, you can see which rooms you can go to next and what they offer. Each room will also inflict a debuff on you during the test. The rooms you will face will be selected from this list:
|
Judgment |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Cup |
Defeat all rare monsters that appear in the room. |
|
Escape |
Run around the room, deactivating all the death crystals before time runs out. |
|
Ritual |
Defeat the casters as they continually summon new enemies. |
|
Gauntlet |
Find the exit by opening doors with different levers while avoiding traps and enemies. |
|
Hourglass |
Survive a room full of enemies that appear constantly until time runs out. |
All of this leads to the boss room, which, in the first test, will be Rattlecage, the Earthbreaker. This boss isn't too complicated, but it can be unforgiving since you have two resources to protect. Three of Rattlecage's attacks are variants of Slams, with a long-range one that summons mini-volcanoes that will persist for a while as one to avoid. Its biggest attack is an explosive blast that will happen three times, getting bigger each time. This all happens as rocks fall from the ceiling after Rattlecage drops below 33% health.
How to Get More Ancestry Skill Points
A limited view of power
Right now, it looks like you can only get eight Ascension points. This can be done in two ways. The first is to take the Judgment of the Sekhemas at all four levels of Ascension. The key to these higher levels will drop from the 45+, 60+ and 75+ level areas respectively.
The second option is from the Trial of Chaos, which is available in Act 3. However, the keys to attempt these trials, apart from the first one dropped by the Chimera boss, are all more difficult to obtain as they appear at 60+/75+ areas only. These tests can also be mixed to earn points, but each level will only reward points once.
Overall, these trials are a challenging and rewarding method for earning rewards and upgrading Ascendancies. These Ascendancies are worth having for class builds, like the best Witch build in PoE2. Trials can be a little unforgiving at times, but the challenge makes the outcome enjoyable. Regardless, this is how you beat the Trial of the Sekhemas and gain character Ascensions in Path of Exile 2.