Ascending in Path of Exile 2 unlocks powerful subclasses, enhancing your character's abilities and granting access to unique skills and passives. Each base class in the game can ascend to a specialized subclass, significantly improving its potential.
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This guide covers:
How to ascend and unlock your subclass.
Key trials and challenges, including the Sanctum and Ultimatum.
Tips for earning all ascendancy points efficiently.
By the end, you'll clearly understand how to tackle ascension, no matter your build or experience level.
What is Ascending?
Ascending is Path of Exile 2's way of introducing subclasses for each base class. Each character starts with a general archetype (e.g., Witch, Ranger) and can ascend to one of three subclasses over time.
Subclass Options
For example:
Witch: Blood Mage or Infernalist.
Mercenary: Railgunner or Grenadier.
Ascension also grants Ascendancy Points, which are allocated to specialized nodes within your chosen subclass. These nodes provide substantial power boosts, such as enhanced damage, survivability, or utility.
1. First Ascendancy (Act 2)
Your journey toward ascension begins in Act 2:
Defeat Bal Bala, the Traitor:
This boss fight takes place in the Trader's Passage.
Mechanics: Bal Bala hides in one of three possible directions (north, southeast, southwest). Listen for directional audio cues to locate her during the poison phase.
Tip: Overlevel your character to make the fight easier, especially if you're struggling with her slam attack or poison mechanics.
Obtain the Jin Baria:
After defeating Bal Bala, you'll receive this key item.
Interact with it to begin your journey to the Trial of the Sima, the next step in unlocking your ascendancy.
2. Trial of the Sima (Floor 1–4)
The Trial of the Sima introduces a new mechanic called Honor, a secondary health bar:
Honor Mechanics:
Monsters and traps reduce your Honor.
When Honor is depleted, you're removed from the instance.
Recover Honor through refresh points or by spending Sacred Water (a Sanctum-specific currency).
Room Types in the Trial of the Sima
Each room offers unique challenges. Examples include:
Trap Trials: Avoid environmental hazards like spikes or fire traps.
Survival Rooms: Kill rare enemies while dodging traps.
Escape Rooms: Disable crystals before a timer runs out.
The Sima Boss Fight
The boss is a stationary rock-like entity that gradually fills the arena with magma.
As the fight progresses, falling objects create additional hazards.
Tip: Build a high-damage setup to finish the boss quickly, as prolonged fights become increasingly dangerous.
Reward: Completing the Trial grants you your first ascendancy and subclass choice.
Second Ascendancy (Cruel Difficulty)
You'll need another Jin Baria key with the modifier "Number of Trials: 2". to unlock your second ascendancy points These keys can drop later in Act 2 or during maps.
Complete a new Trial of the Sima, where the challenges and enemies scale to your character's level.
Third and Fourth Ascendancy Points (Endgame)
Third Ascendancy
Unlock Requirements:
Maps: Jin Baria keys with “Number of Trials: 3” drop in maps.
Level: Area level 61 or higher.
The Ultimatum:
The third ascendancy introduces Temple of Chaos challenges, also called the Ultimatum.
Mechanics:
There's no Honor bar. Instead, you'll face pure combat and survival scenarios.
Challenges include escort missions, timed objectives, or defeating tough enemies.
Boss Encounters:
Randomly assigned. One boss, dubbed the Bad Bird, is especially difficult due to high mobility and overwhelming damage output.
Tip: Avoid "Bad Bird" if possible. Some builds will struggle to defeat it.
Fourth Ascendancy
Unlock Requirements:
“Number of Trials: 4” Jin Baria keys or area level 75.
Defeat the Trial Master, a challenging endgame boss with intricate mechanics.
Important Notes:
Difficulty Spike: The fourth ascendancy is significantly harder than earlier trials. Many players fail on their first attempts.
Consider overleveling or upgrading your gear before attempting.
Tips for Completing Ascension Challenges
Overlevel Before Attempting Difficult Trials
If you're struggling, return later with better gear and a higher level.
This strategy saves time and reduces frustration.
Honor Management in the Trial of the Sima
Always keep an eye on your Honor bar.
Save Sacred Water for critical moments when Honor is dangerously low.
Directional Audio for Bal Bala Fight
Use headphones to pinpoint her location during the poison phase.
This significantly speeds up the fight.
Choose Your Ultimatum Debuffs Wisely
Debuffs like Enraged Boss or Turrets can make encounters much harder.
Prioritize manageable penalties that don't disrupt your build.
Maximize Your Damage Output
Long fights increase the chances of failure, especially in the Sima and Ultimatum boss battles.
FAQs About Ascendancy in Path of Exile 2
1. Can I Respec My Ascendancy Choice?
No, once you select a subclass, it's permanent. However, you can reallocate ascendancy points within your subclass tree.
2. How Do I Get More Jin Baria Keys?
These keys drop in specific areas:
First Key: From Bal Bala in Act 2.
Additional Keys: Found in maps with modifiers like “Number of Trials: X.”
3. Is the Ultimatum Better for Certain Builds?
Yes, melee builds often perform better in Ultimatum due to close-quarters combat. Ranged builds may struggle with certain debuffs.
4. What Happens If I Fail a Trial?
You can retry an infinite number of times (in softcore) until you succeed, as long as you have the Jin Baria key.
5. Should I Skip the Bad Bird Boss?
Yes, if possible. The Bad Bird has high mobility and devastating attacks that make it difficult for many builds.
6. What Are Sacred Relics?
Relics are items that enhance your performance in the Trial of the Sima. You'll receive your first relic after defeating Bal Bala.
Ascending in Path of Exile 2 is a rewarding yet challenging process that unlocks the full potential of your character. By understanding the mechanics of the Sima, Ultimatum, and endgame trials, you can successfully earn all ascendancy points and dominate your subclass. With these tips and strategies, you're ready to ascend and conquer!
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