PoE 2: How To Get Ascendancy Points

Path of Exile 2 Ascendancy points unlocks powerful sub-classes, giving your character game-changing passives that shape your build. These perks go beyond regular skill tree nodes, making them essential for maxing out your potential.

To get all Ascendancy points, you’ll need to complete either Trial of Seamus (Sanctum) or Trial of Chaos (Ultimatum). Both have different mechanics, rewards, and difficulty levels. This guide covers the best ways to unlock them fast, along with key tips to breeze through trials and boost your power.

Ascendancy in Path of Exile 2

In Path of Exile 2, Ascendancy allows players to go beyond their base class archetypes, unlocking powerful Ascendancy passives that shape how you play.

Each class in the game has two distinct Ascendancy paths that further specialize your character's abilities, allowing for greater customization and synergy with support gems and skill gems system path.

Requirements:
To begin your Ascendancy journey, you’ll first need to complete the Trial of the Sekhemas in Act 2 after progressing through the main scenario.
Defeating the boss "Balabala the Traitor" and completing the trial unlocks the first set of Ascendancy points, allowing you to choose between two Ascendancy paths and specialize your character further.

How to Unlock Ascendancy in PoE 2

In Path of Exile 2, Ascendancy points unlock game-changing class upgrades, making your build stronger and more specialized. To earn these points, players must complete Ascendancy Trials located throughout the game. Here how to unlock them:

Trial of the Sekhemas (Act 2) – First Ascendancy Unlock

The first trial, the Trial of the Sekhemas, is located in Act 2. Players will face multiple rooms filled with dangerous bosses and monsters. The final room contains the pinnacle boss, and upon defeating it, you’ll earn:

• Two Ascendancy Points
• Access to an Ascendancy Class

To access this trial, you must acquire Balbala's Barya, a key item dropped by Balabala after defeat. This item is reusable until the trial is completed, making it vital for unlocking Ascendancy points.

Trial Mechanics:

• Honor Resistance System: Keep track of your Honor Damage during the trial. If the damage reaches a critical threshold, the trial will fail.
• Recommended Level: The trial is designed for players at level 22+. A higher level will make it easier to deal with the trial's challenges.

Trial of Chaos (Act 3) – Unlock More Ascendancy Points

After completing the Trial of the Sekhemas, the next trial is the Trial of Chaos in Act 3. This trial introduces new challenges, including shocking turrets, tough bosses, and treasure chests with unique rewards. Completing the trial grants two additional Ascendancy points, bringing your total to four.

To participate, you’ll need an Inscribed Ultimatum, which can be farmed from encounters or found in the world.

Unlocking Final Ascendancy Points

After finishing Act 3, you’ll need to progress through Cruel difficulty to earn more Ascendancy points. This involves replaying both Trials of Ascendancy (Sekhemas and Chaos) on Cruel difficulty, granting four additional points, bringing the total to eight.

• Revisit Act 1 to Act 3 on Cruel difficulty.
• You’ll need Djinn Barya (for Sekhemas) and Chimeral Inscribed Ultimatum (for Chaos) to access the trials.
• Completing trials on the same difficulty won’t provide extra points, but they will reward loot, so they are still valuable for farming.

By completing these trials and advancing through the difficulties, you’ll be able to unlock all Ascendancy points and enhance your character’s potential.

All Ascendancy Classes in Path of Exile 2

After completing the Trial of the Sekhemas, you can pick from two Ascendancy paths per character class:

Ascendancy	Description	Unique Abilities
Sorceress Ascendancies
Stormweaver	A master of elemental magic, specializing in storm-based attacks with freezing, shocking, and AoE damage.	Constant Gale, Heart of the Storm, Scouring Winds, Tempest Caller, Strike Twice
Chronomancer	Uses time manipulation to rewind health, mana, and skill cooldowns, making them highly adaptive in combat.	Apex of the Moment, The Rapid River, Footprints in the Sand, Quicksand Hourglass
Warrior Ascendancies
Titan	Focuses on high-impact melee attacks, damage reduction, and massive strength scaling.	Earthbreaker, Hulking Form, Colossal Capacity, Stone Skin, Surprising Strength
Warbringer	Calls upon ancestral spirits to enhance strength, absorb damage, and trigger explosive corpse mechanics.	Answered Call, Greatwolf's Howl, Warcaller's Bellow, Imploding Impacts
Mercenary Ascendancies
Gemling Legionnaire	Imbues their body with skill gems, allowing for enhanced resistances, extra skills, and improved effects.	Gem Studded, Thaumatological Infusion, Adaptive Capability, Implanted Gems
Witchhunter	Uses wards and evasion to counter elemental damage, while ritual-based abilities enhance critical hits.	Obsessive Rituals, No Mercy, Weapon Master, Pitiless Killer
Ranger Ascendancies
Deadeye	A ranged critical strike expert, specializing in extra projectiles and movement speed bonuses.	Avidity, Endless Munitions, Wind Ward, Projectile Proximity Specialization
Pathfinder	Masters flask-based mechanics, throwing explosive bottles that cause poison, bleed, and elemental damage.	Brew Concoction, Connected Chemistry, Relentless Pursuit, Overwhelming Toxicity
Witch Ascendancies
Blood Mage	Uses life instead of mana for spells, specializing in life leech and damage-over-time skills.	Blood Barbs, Crimson Power, Sanguimancy, Vitality Siphon
Infernalist	Commands infernal magic, summons Hellhounds, and can transform into a demon.	Beidat’s Gaze, Grinning Immolation, Pyromantic Pact, Demonic Possession
Monk Ascendancies
Invoker	Specializes in elemental waves, shock mechanics, and energy shield recovery.	I am the Blizzard, The Soul Springs Eternal, Faith is a Choice, And I Shall Rage
Acolyte of Chayula	Manipulates darkness for survivability and chaos damage boosts.	Embrace the Darkness, Reality Rending, Chayula’s Gift, Ravenous Doubts

Each Ascendancy class unlocks special passive trees, skills, and powerful crafting opportunities, helping create the perfect build.

Fastest Way to Farm Ascendancy in PoE 2

Sanctum vs. Ultimatum: Which Trial is Better?

PoE 2 offers two Ascendancy trials with distinct mechanics:

Both methods allow players to gain access to all Ascendancy points, but the difficulty level and playstyle suitability vary.

Tips & Tricks to Get Ascendancy Points

To successfully unlock Ascendancy, follow these structured tips to enhance your gameplay:

• Farm Inscribed Ultimatums: These are crucial for gaining access to the Trial of Chaos. Ensure you consistently farm them to progress.
• Restore Honour Resistance: This is essential for preventing failures in trials. Having sufficient Honour Resistance will greatly reduce the risk of losing during difficult encounters.
• Choose the Right Boons: When selecting boons, focus on those that provide healing, damage reduction, and extra Sacred Water. These will significantly improve your survival chances in trials.
• Use Relics Effectively: Prioritize movement speed, energy shield, and resistances when choosing relics. These enhancements will help you sustain longer in battles and improve your overall durability.
• Avoid Dangerous Modifiers: Some Ultimatum modifiers, such as Volatile Fiends and Pyramid Beams, can be lethal. Avoid selecting these risky choices, or be prepared with strategies to mitigate their effects.

By following these tips, you can better prepare for Ascendancy and significantly increase your chances of success.

Final Thoughts

Unlocking Ascendancy points is essential for progressing through PoE 2's endgame content. Focus on mastering the Ascendancy trials to gain powerful new abilities and optimize your build. Completing all trials grants eight Ascendancy points, offering numerous build-enhancing rewards. By carefully planning your trials and using the right strategies, you’ll be able to dominate the challenges of Path of Exile 2.

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Change Log

• 06.02.2025 - PoE 2 How To Get Ascendancy Points guide published.