Ascension trials

The Ascension Trials are sets of major challenges designed to test players at key levels of character progression allowing them to unlock an ascendancy class that advances their power through powerful abilities. These trials are encountered scattered throughout the campaign and each are associated with a major culture from Wraeclast. Every trial offers uniquely different challenges, providing players with alternative choices to achieve ascension.

The Trial of the Sekhemas and the Trial of Chaos are currently the only two Ascension Trials available in early access.

Ascension requirements

Ascension Trials are unlocked at certain points of progression during the campaign and endgame. Players can begin their quest to ascend as early as in Act 2 of the campaign. When successfully completing a required trial, players will gain access to the Altar of Ascendancy to select their Ascendancy class and gain ascendancy points to allocate.

In order to fully ascend a character, a player must complete 4 tiers of Ascension Trials, receiving 2 ascendancy points for each for a total of 8. It is possible to repeat the same type of trial for all 8 points. It is also possible to earn multiple sets of points in a single run as long as each condition is satisfied.

Quest tokens

During the campaign, players will be given the option to complete different Ascension Trials via optional storyline quests. The main story will grant special trial entry tokens (Balbala's BaryaBalbala's BaryaArea Level: 22Number of Trials: 1"Why are you standing there gawking at me?We must go to the Trial of the Sekhemas!"Take this item to the Trial of the Sekhemas. Right-click to listen to Balbala. and Chimeral Inscribed UltimatumChimeral Inscribed UltimatumArea Level: 40Number of Trials: 4Mortals spend their lives wondering whichfate shall be theirs. Chaos takes amusementin knowing the answer: all of them.Take this item to The Temple of Chaos to participate in a Trial of Chaos.) in Acts 2 and 3 respectively. These tokens have a fixed area level and are not consumed if the trial is failed, allowing an infinite number of re-attempts. While these quests are intended to be completed when obtained, players can do so in any order.

Regular tokens

Players can also gain access to the ascension trials through regular trial tokens (Djinn BaryaDjinn BaryaArea Level: #Number of Trials: #"Take me to the Trial of the Sekhemas.I will serve."Take this item to the Relic Altar at the Trial of the Sekhemas. and Inscribed UltimatumInscribed UltimatumArea Level: #Number of Trials: #Mortals spend their lives wondering whichfate shall be theirs. Chaos takes amusementin knowing the answer: all of them.Take this item to The Temple of Chaos to participate in a Trial of Chaos.). These tokens are tradeable and can drop anywhere as long as they meet area level requirements.

Each trial tier requires the token to be a specific area level or above. The token will also display whether the character will gain ascendancy points from completing a trial using that token. Currently, regular tokens must be used to obtain ascendancy points 5 to 8, and can also be used to obtain points 1-4 if not already obtained.

Note that points 3-4 from the second ascension can be obtained by either doing the 2nd tier of the trial you completed, or the first tier of a different trial (typically much easier and available earlier on). For example, if the first trial completed was the quest version/Tier 1 Trial of the Sekhemas, the second trial can either be a Tier 2 Trial of the Sekhemas (harder), or the quest version/Tier 1 Trial of Chaos (easier).

The character must reach a minimum character level (typically a few levels below the area level) in order to attempt a trial.

Respecialization

To change your ascendancy class, you must complete an Ascension Trial of at least the highest difficulty you've already completed (e.g.: if you have 4 Ascendancy points, you need to complete a Trial of Sekhemas with 2 floors or a Trial of Chaos with 7 trials), then use the Altar of Ascendancy with all your Ascendancy passives unallocated. Passives can be unallocated for gold during the trial by speaking with Balbala, the Advisor or The Trialmaster.

Available trials

Trial of the Sekhemas

The Trial of the Sekhemas is an Ascension Trial devised by the great Sekhema Varashta, to test the ancient Maraketh. It is first accessible in Act 2. It is a randomized gauntlet of rooms filled with monsters, traps, and bosses that can damage and reduce a player's Honour, a survival resource that will end the trial run if depleted. While navigating each trial floor, players are affected by Boons and Afflictions that affect the run's difficulty and can interact with a variety of mechanics when completing each room to improve or change their odds. The trial is based on the Forbidden Sanctum from Path of Exile 1.

Trial of Chaos

The Trials of Chaos is an Ascension Trial designed by the Vaal priests who worshipped the primordial entity, Chaos. It is first accessible in Act 3, off the Chimeral Wetlands. It is a gauntlet of rooms filled with dangerous challenges that must be completed without dying while dealing with deadly trial modifiers that accumulate throughout the run. It is based on Ultimatum from Path of Exile 1.

Future trials

The third Ascension trial has yet to be officially announced, but it is confirmed to be the Trial of the Ancients, a competition held by Karui spirits in honor of the ancestors in the Halls of the Dead.

The area where the trial is held can be accessed in Act 4, but at the moment the Trial is not being held. According to Navali, many Karui are refusing to participate in the Trials due to unrest caused by Utula. She ensures that the Trials will be held again eventually and "You will know when the time is right."