Path of Exile 2 introduces an exciting new system for character progression through the Ascendancy trials, and one of the first you'll encounter is the Seers' Trial in Act 2. Here, players face unique challenges that test their skills in combat and strategy, and ultimately unlock powerful Ascendancy classes that change the way the game is played. This guide aims to explore every aspect of the Seers' Trial, offering strategies, insights and tips to help you navigate this complex yet rewarding system.
In PoE2, Ascendancies are akin to sub-classes or prestige classes that offer specialised gameplay mechanics. Each class, whether it's a mercenary, monk or witch, has access to three Ascendancy classes, two of which are available at the start of the beta. These Ascendancies come with their own passive skill trees and offer unique nodes that can drastically change the way you approach the game.
The Trial of the Seers is not just a gauntlet of combat, but a strategic puzzle where every choice you make will affect your journey. Here's how it works:
Layout and progression: You start from the left side of the map and work your way to the right. Each room you enter has a theme - be it a trap gauntlet, a survival challenge or a timed puzzle.
Rewards and choices: At the end of each room, you'll be given a choice of rewards:
Keys for a treasure at the end of the trial.
Holy Water to purchase boons or relics.
Boons, which improve your abilities within the trial.
Honor Restoration to manage your honour resource.
Risk vs. reward: Some rooms offer better rewards, but come with afflictions that can make future rooms more challenging. Understanding your build's strengths and weaknesses is key.
Relics and Merchants: Relics can be upgraded or purchased from merchants with Holy Water, affecting future quests.
Honor System: Your honour, a combination of health and energy shield, is your lifeline in these trials. Losing all your honour will result in failure, but it's designed to be managed, not simply restored like health.
Navigating the Trial
First steps: When entering the Trial, secure some Holy Water early on to have currency for merchant interactions. This can be vital for purchasing beneficial boons or relics.
Room Strategy:
Trap gauntlets: Focus on dodging and speed. Mobility is your best friend here.
Chalice trials: Efficiently eliminate enemies to fill the chalice without taking excessive damage.
Escape Trials: Prioritise deactivating the most crystals while managing time and enemy distractions.
Boss Battles - Rattlecage, the Earth Breaker:
Tactics: Use crowd control such as stuns or freezes as Rattlecage is susceptible to these effects. Avoid the lava spewing from the mini-volcanoes by positioning yourself around the boss.
Challenges: Be prepared for an increase in difficulty as Rattlecage's health drops, especially with the magma rain from the ceiling.
Endgame and rewards:
Successful completion of the trial will give you access to your Ascendancy class and the first two passive points. Further points require progressing through higher difficulty levels of each trial.
Strategic considerations
Build synergy: Tailor your build to the requirements of the trial. Builds with high mobility or crowd control are advantageous.
Trial progression: Remember that you can choose different trials for different levels of difficulty, so you can pick the one that best suits your current character.
Learning from mistakes: The trial allows for retries, making it a learning experience. Use this to understand which rooms or challenges you need to avoid or better prepare for.
Endgame farming: The Seers' Trial, like other trials, can be a lucrative farming ground for jewels, especially the unique Time-Loss jewels that can change large parts of your passive tree.
Thanks for Reading
The Seers' Trial in Path of Exile 2 is more than just a test of combat skills; it's a test of strategy, patience and decision-making. Whether you're looking for the safest path to Ascension or want to maximise your loot, understanding the mechanics, the capabilities of your build, and the unique challenges of the trial will be crucial.
Buy PoE2 Currency
PoE2 Boosting