Unlocking Your Ascendancy Class in Path of Exile 2: A Guide

Unlocking your Ascendancy subclass in Path of Exile 2 entails a different process compared to the original game. To fully realize your potential, you’ll need to complete a challenging trial during your campaign. Unlike the Labyrinth found in the first game, the trials in PoE2 are notably tougher and utilize mechanics from previous leagues, such as Sanctum and Ultimatum.

Successfully navigating a demanding dungeon will grant you access to a powerful subclass tree, which offers a variety of benefits, including new skills and significant damage bonuses. Let’s delve into how to unlock your Ascendancy class in Path of Exile 2 and briefly discuss the workings of Ascendancy Trials.

How to Ascend

You will gain access to your Ascendancy after finishing the “Ascent to Power” quest in Act 2. This quest unlocks shortly after you arrive at the central town. You’ll need to complete the Trial of the Sekhemas, which is a variation of PoE1’s Sanctum dungeon, designed for lower-level characters in PoE2. Head to the desert map in the hub town to reach the trial. Once you arrive, use the quest item you received to initiate the trial. Defeat the boss without dying to unlock your new Ascendancy class.

Trial of the Sekhemas

If you’re familiar with Path of Exile, this trial operates much like the Sanctum league; you only need to clear one floor.

Essentially, the Trial of the Sekhemas is a one-life roguelike dungeon. You must clear the gauntlet and defeat the final boss without dying or losing your Honor. This second condition is crucial, as it adds an extra layer of difficulty. In this roguelike dungeon, you’ll need to manage a new resource called Honor, which acts as a secondary health pool that you’ll track throughout your run. If your Honor reaches zero, your run ends immediately.

Fortunately, the Trial of the Sekhemas features specific mechanics to aid your success. One of the standout additions is Relics, similar to Charms from Diablo 2, but each has its own inventory space. These Relics provide valuable bonuses to enhance your next run. For your initial attempt, you’ll receive a starter Relic that reduces Honor loss. Be sure to equip it in your Relic Altar before you start the trial.

The Trial of the Sekhemas is organized into multiple floors, but you only need to defeat the boss at the end of one floor to ascend. To reach the boss, you’ll navigate a maze of nodes. Each room will have a main objective, which is indicated by the room’s name. For instance, in an Hourglass Trial, you must survive waves of enemies for a designated time, while the Chalice Trial requires you to eliminate all rare monsters in the area. Here’s a summary of what to expect in each encounter:

Clearing these rooms typically rewards you with bonuses, such as keys or Sacred Water fountains. Sacred Water is a form of currency you can spend to acquire boons during your Trial of the Sekhemas run. You can purchase these boons from a merchant located in any room marked with a vendor icon or directly from Balbala at the end of each floor. Since you only need to clear one floor to unlock your Ascendancy, prioritize finding a merchant.

After charting your course to the boss, it’s time to complete the run. Prepare to face a relatively tough final boss who inflicts significant Honor damage. Thankfully, these Trial bosses tend to be slow and have clearly indicated attacks. Take your time, engage from a distance when possible, and use the environment for cover against AoE attacks. With patience, you’ll defeat the boss and gain access to the reward chamber. Interact with the Ascendancy Altar inside to select your new subclass.