Trials of Ascendancy in Path of Exile 2 demand smart preparation and quick decisions to unlock powerful subclass passives without frustration. These dungeons test your build's sustain and adaptability through Honour management in Sekhemas or escalating modifiers in Chaos. Mastering core mechanics early turns potential wipes into reliable clears and ascendancy points.

Gear Up for Survival First

Prioritize chaos resistance above 50%, life leech on attacks or spells, and movement speed before entering—level 20-25 minimum smooths the first trial. Stack defenses via flasks for Unstoppable and Fortify, as Honour drains fast on hits from rares. Skip glass cannon setups; balanced sustain lets you farm Honour from yellow-named packs without panic resets.

Honour Management in Sekhemas

Gain Honour by killing enemies, especially rares, but lose it on every damage tick—zero Honour or death fails the run. Choose Ritual rooms first to clear summoners blocking portals, preventing mob overloads. Hourglass trials tick down faster on elite kills, so burst them; avoid Gauntlets early unless mobility shines. Save gold keys for pledge chests at the end, netting Vaal Orbs or uniques.

Room Priority and Boss Strategies

Path from left to right on the map, favoring Chalice for boss practice and Escape for gold keys—follow sparks from activated crystals to the next. Rattlecage boss slams earth waves; kite sideways, burst during recovery. In Chaos trials, pick low-risk modifiers like reduced player speed over damage amps. Trialmaster offerings trade Honour for buffs—greed healing fountains mid-run.

Boon and Affliction Choices

Relics offer boons for power and afflictions as curses—stack safe buffs like extra life or speed, dodging curses that amplify damage taken. Higher Honour buys better options; farm it deliberately in early floors. Party play shares Honour pools and revives, cutting solo risk by half.

Progression and Repeat Runs

First Sekhemas or Chaos unlocks your ascendancy with 2 points; repeats and higher-level versions (60+ for more floors) grab up to 8 total. Don't skip Act 2's trial for early power—Chaos alone delays you an act. Reset bad RNG via town portal; track Barya level for scaled difficulty.