Path of Exile 2 challenges you to look beyond your base class to unlock true power. You can use Ascendancy Points to unlock abilities that change the game and match your playstyle.
However, earning these points is no simple feat. This article explains how to get Ascendancy Points in Path of Exile 2 to unlock your Ascendancy class and take your character to the next level.
How To Get Ascendancy Points
You can use Ascendancy Points to power up your character with exclusive skills from your Ascendancy class.
Each base class in Path of Exile 2 comes with two Ascendancy options, letting players tweak their playstyle however they want.
These points come from Ascendancy Trials, not the usual passive skill tree.
As you progress through the campaign and harder difficulties, you will run into these trials.
Once you collect all eight Ascendancy Points, you can tap into nodes that boost your build greatly in damage, defense, or utility.
Here’s how you can get Ascendancy Points.
Trial of Sekhemas (Act 2)
The Trial of Sekhemas in Act 2 is where you can earn Ascendancy Points.
Once you take down Balbala in Traitor’s Passage, you will walk away with Balbala’s Barya, a special key.
This key gets you into the trial, where there are enemies to fight, traps to avoid, and a boss waiting at the end.
The Honour system is a neat mechanic, which you will find in this trial. An Honour bar pops up at the bottom of the screen as soon as the trial starts.
The bar drains whenever you get hit. If it fully depletes, you fail and have to redo the trial.
Because of how this works, you will have a much easier time if you are at least Level 22 before attempting the trial.
Once you complete the Trial of Sekhemas, you get your first two Ascendancy Points and open up your Ascendancy class.
Trial of Chaos (Act 3)
The second trial becomes available in Act 3, known as the Trial of Chaos.
You’ll need the Chimeral Inscribed Ultimatum to start this trial. It drops from Xyclucian, the Chimera hanging out in the Chimeral Wetlands.
Like the last trial, you must deal with traps, fight off enemies, and tackle a demanding boss battle.
The Trial of Chaos steps up the challenge, so you must come prepared.
After completing it, you will pick up 2 more Ascendancy Points, leaving you with 4 by the time Act 3 wraps up.
The standard trials end here, and the only way to gain the remaining points is to take on Cruel difficulty.
Once you wrap up the campaign on Standard, Cruel Mode opens up. The challenges ramp up, but so do the rewards.
You need to run through the beefed-up versions of the Trial of Sekhemas and Trial of Chaos to get those last four Ascendancy Points.
Fifth and Sixth Ascendancy Points
You must complete a higher-level version of the Trial of Sekhemas to earn these.
This trial needs a Djinn Barya Coin, and you can pick those up in zones Level 65 or higher.
This time, it is more of a test since you have to push through three consecutive rounds.
Enemies pack a punch, traps are deadlier, and the Honour system is still out to get you.
This trial is best-tackled solo, as group scaling can make it much harder.
You will receive 2 additional Ascendancy Points for completing the trial.
Seventh and Eighth Ascendancy Points
The final two points are yours once you beat the enhanced Trial of Chaos.
You’ll need an Inscribed Ultimatum to enter, which you can find in Level 75 or higher zones.
This version of the trial has you running through ten areas in a row, ending with a tough fight against the Trialmaster, one of the hardest bosses around.
The Inscribed Ultimatum is a one-shot deal, so failing the trial means going back to farm another key before giving it another try.
Finish both trials in Cruel Mode, and you'll have 8 Ascendancy Points, unlocking everything you can do.
With eight Ascendancy Points, you can easily make a solid build and take on the Atlas of Worlds and other endgame content.