This guide covers everything you need to POE2 Currency know about Ascendancy progression: from how to access the trials, tips for beating key bosses like Balbala, to how to use POE 2 Currency effectively to speed up your advancement.
What Is the Ascendancy System?

Each character class in POE2 branches into several Ascendancy classes, each with a unique skill tree filled with powerful nodes that can dramatically alter your playstyle. Unlocking and investing Ascendancy points allows you to specialize your character, enabling diverse strategies such as tanking, burst damage, crowd control, or mobility.
Unlocking Ascendancy: Trial of the Sehkemas (Act 2)

Your first step towards Ascendancy starts after defeating Balbala, The Traitor in Act 2’s Traitor’s Passage. Balbala drops the Barya Coin, which lets you enter the Trial of the Sehkemas.

This trial is a gauntlet made up of seven rooms, each featuring different traps, enemies, and negative modifiers designed to test your combat prowess and strategic thinking. The core mechanic is the Honour system: a shared health bar that diminishes with every hit you take. Lose all your Honour, and you fail the trial.

Tips for Surviving the Trial of the Sehkemas:

    Keep your Honour high by avoiding unnecessary damage.

    Use ranged attacks and mobility skills.

    Study the traps in each room before rushing in.

    Upgrade your Flasks and gear to maximize survivability.

Completing all rooms and the final boss fight grants you access to the Altar of Ascendancies, where you choose your subclass and gain your first two Ascendancy points.
Advancing Further: Trial of Chaos (Act 3)

After your initial Ascendancy choice, the Trial of Chaos offers an opportunity to poe2 trade gain two more Ascendancy points. To enter, defeat Xyclucian, the Chimera, in the Chimeral Wetlands and pick up the Chimeral Inscribed Ultimatum.