How to unlock Ascendancy in Path of Exile 2
Ascendancies in Path of Exile 2 are unique class progressions that provide build-changing and meta-defining player power that are centered around specific playstyles. Players with Ascendancies or Ascension Classes can specialize in burning their foes, turning into a demoness, summoning ancestors to assist them in combat, and much more.
Some Ascension Classes have been carried from Path of Exile, but the method of obtaining these upgrades, the Eternal Labyrinth, didn't make it through. Instead, Path of Exile 2 players have to embark on two distinct trials to obtain Ascension, which we will discuss below.
All the possible ways to unlock Ascension Classes in Path of Exile 2
There are two main methods of unlocking Ascendancies in Path of Exile 2, and none of them are particularly easy. The first method of obtaining Ascendancy is through the Trial of the Sekhemas. This location is first discovered during the player's journey through the Vastiri Desert in Act 2.
Trial of the Sekhemas
During the main quest, you will end up inside the Traitor's Passage, where spiders and rock constructs await to violently greet them. After battling through all the creepy crawlies, find the Forgotten Prison of the Traitor, where Balbala, The Traitor rests.
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Defeating this boss will award players with the Balbala's Barya. Once picked up, Balbala's Barya will begin the Ascent to Power questline at the Ardura Caravan, where Zarka will instruct players to travel to the Trial of the Sekhemas directly.
The trial is a revamped rendition of Path of Exile's The Forgotten Sanctum League mechanic. Carefully navigate the labyrinthine chambers and defeat enemies. Enemies will not only inflict normal damage but also affect honour, a special health pool only available in the Trial of the Sekhemas.
Losing all honour will end the run, and there will be special encounters where honour can be restored. Balbala can also potentially appear in the Trial, offering unique rewards that affect the encounters inside the Trial. For the first trial, you need to complete only one floor, culminating in a boss fight against Rattlecage, the Earthbreaker.
Completing the Trial for the first time will unlock the Altar of Ascendancy. The Altar is where you can spend points on your preferred Ascension Class if this is your first Ascension Trial. You can respec these points at the Hooded One in town, but will cost four times the gold of a normal passive point. Furthermore, players cannot change Ascendancies in the Early Access.
Trials of Chaos
To unlock the second Trial, travel to the Chimera Wetlands in Act Three. This is where Xyclucian, the Chimera resides, who must be killed to obtain the Chimeral Inscribed Ultimatum. This item will unlock the Trial of Chaos questline, where you'll be directed to travel to the Temple of Choas.
Once at Temple of Chaos, talk to the Trialmaster and offer their Chimeral Inscribed Ultimatum to access the Trials. Clear four rounds of what is basically Path of Exile's Ultimatum league mechanic.
At the beginning of a round, you will be offered a reward and a choice of three tribulations (effectively debuffs). Once four rounds have been completed, you will be offered the Altars of Ascendancy and two more Ascension points. If this is a your first Trial, you'll also be offered the choice of Ascension Classes.
Can you do the Trials of Ascendancy in a party in Path of Exile 2?
As a matter of fact, yes, you can do the Trials of Ascendancy and even attain Ascension in a party. There are multiple restrictions toward any party, but the rules of the Trials stay the same.
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In the Trial of the Sekhemas, the highest damage taken aginst any one in the party affects the honour pool. The Trials of Chaos also affects parties as each member is offered separate rewards but has to vote on their tribulation choices. The tribulation with the most votes gets selected for each member.
How to Ascend beyond the first two trials in Path of Exile 2
Players looking to obtain powers beyond their first two Ascensions need to engage with both of the Trials again but through higher-level objectives. To keep up with the challenge, the entrance items also have to change accordingly.
The Trial of the Sekhemas is opened by the Djinn Barya, while an Inscribed Ultimatum grants access to the Trial of Chaos. For the Djinn Barya, the higher-tier ones will have you go through three floors of the Trial, instead of the one. As for the Inscribed Ultimatum, you take on seven rounds instead of the four on normal.
These upgraded Djinn Baryas and Inscribed Ultimatums can be traded with other players, and are particularly difficult to overcome.
The Trials are still a work in progress, just like a lot of features in Path of Exile 2 Early Access. Grinding Gear Games has already promised a third unannounced Trial to be made available in the full release, with full endgame support.
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