The Best Paths Through Trials of Ascendancy for Your Build

[Matthew]

Trials of Ascendancy in Path of Exile 2 offer flexible paths via Sekhemas or Chaos trials, tailored to your build's strengths in sustain, burst, or mobility. Sekhemas favors tanky setups with Honour farming, while Chaos suits aggressive clears under timed pressure. Optimal routes balance early power spikes with endgame scaling, overleveling each stage by 5-10 levels for smooth progression to all 8 points.

Sustain Builds: Sekhemas All the Way

Life leech or block-focused builds thrive on Trial of the Sekhemas across all four tiers. Start Act 2's base Djinn Barya (1 floor) for points 1-2, chaining Ritual rooms to stack Honour from rares without panic. Level 45+ keys (2 floors) grab 3-4; prioritize Hourglass waves bursting elites to extend timers. At 60+ (3 floors) and 75+ (4 floors + boss), Honour resistance relics let you facetank Rattlecage slams, kiting minimally. This path minimizes risk, yielding consistent clears for defensive ascendancies like Titan or Hierophant.

Burst DPS Builds: Chaos for Speed

High single-target damage shines in Trial of Chaos, skipping Honour for 7-10+ rounds of Tribulations. Act 3's base Inscribed Ultimatum nets points 1-2 via quick add clears and safe modifiers like turrets over amps. Level 75+ Ultimatums (10 rounds) for 5-6; burst bosses like Xyclucian during breath recoveries. Pinnacle Trialmaster defeats claim 7-8—dodge grids patiently, exploding phases. Ideal for Deadeye or Lich, blending speed with loot from short trials.

Hybrid Mobility Builds: Mix and Match

Movement speed kings alternate for efficiency: Sekhemas base for early 1-2 points (Escape rooms chasing crystals), Chaos base for 3-4 (Gauntlet endurance). Farm 60+ Djinn Barya for 5-6 via left-to-right mapping, then pinnacle Chaos for finals. Flask Unstoppable, leech via dodges—suits Chronomancer or Amazon. Party shares Honour/revives, halving deaths.

Universal Optimizations by Tier

Overlevel ruthlessly: Act 2 end for first Sekhemas, level 40+ for seconds, 75+ for later. Stack 50%+ chaos resist, buy Honour relics via suicide runs. Reset bad boons instantly; pledge gold keys for Vaal Orbs. Sustain paths farm Honour deliberately; burst ignores it for pace.