You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here
In Path of Exile 2, Ascendancy Classes are powerful “subclasses” that can significantly increase your build’s power level. Ascendencies provide you with an additional passive skill tree, where you can invest Ascendancy Passive points. To access this skill tree and gain those valuable points, you must first complete the Trials of Ascendancy. In this guide, we’ll explain the process of unlocking your Ascendancy Class and acquiring additional passive skill points.
What are Ascendancies in PoE2?
Ascendancies in Path of Exile 2 are upgrades to your chosen class that allow you to specialize your character build by adding an additional powerful passive skill tree. Each of the 12 available classes (with 6 in Early Access) offers 3 different Ascendancy choices (currently 2 per class in EA). The combination of your character’s main class and Ascendancy Class ultimately shapes your build and can define your playstyle. These are the classes and their Ascendancies currently available in Path of Exile 2 Early Access:
| Class | Ascendancies |
|---|---|
| Warrior | Warbringer Titan |
| Ranger | Deadeye Pathfinder |
| Witch | Bloodmage Infernalist |
| Sorceress | Stormweaver Chronomancer |
| Mercenary | Witchhunter Gemling Legionnaire |
| Monk | Invoker Acolyte of Chayula |
How to Ascend by completing the Trials of Ascendancy
There are three Trials of Ascendancy that you can access during the campaign (with two of them available in Early Access). These Trials allow you to ascend and unlock your Ascendancy Class, along with gaining additional Ascendancy Passive points. To complete each Trial, you will need to locate its entrance, overcome a series of challenges, and defeat the final boss.
Your first successful completion of any Trial will unlock the option to pick your Ascendancy Class and grant you 2 Ascendancy Passive points. After that, you’ll need to complete higher-level versions of the Trials to unlock further Ascendancy points. There are three primary Trials of Ascendancy planned for PoE2:
- Act 2: Trial of the Sekhemas
- Act 3: Trial of Chaos
- Act 4: Unknown Trial – currently unavailable in Early Access
How to get more Ascendancy Passive Skill points
To begin your journey towards Ascendancy, you must first locate a quest item key for each Trial. After obtaining the key, you’ll need to travel to the entrance of the Trial and overcome its challenges. Each Trial offers a different and unique way to engage. Once you’ve completed a Trial, you will be granted 2 Ascendancy Passive points. You can unlock additional Ascendancy Passive points by completing higher-difficulty versions of the Trials. If you make a mistake, you won’t be able to re-pick a different Ascendancy Class, as it currently stands, but you can refund spent Ascendancy Passive Skill points as usual.
You will need Trial Keys to access these higher-level Trials. These keys are random drops and are tied to specific Trials. For example, an Inscribed Ultimatum key allows you to enter the Trial of Chaos, but you can’t use it to attempt the Trial of the Sekhemas. Once you obtain a Trial Key, you can decide whether to attempt that Trial or wait for a preferred key for another one. The choice is yours – whether to complete the Trials in any order, or focus on higher difficulties for better rewards. By completing higher-level Trials, you can currently unlock up to 8 Ascendancy Passive points. These points can be spread across different Ascendancy choices depending on the Trials you’ve completed.
You don’t have to do all of the Trials to get Ascendancy Passive points. You can simply keep doing your favourite, as long as you have Trial Keys of high enough level and of the right type to start them.
When should you Ascend?
Although the Trial of the Sekhemas in Act 2 is available early in the campaign and is marked as Monster Level 22, you may want to wait a bit to attempt the Trial. If you fail, you will lose the Trial Key and will have to farm it again to have another go. With that said, Trial of the Sekhemas is usually the best choice for unlocking your Ascendancy Class and obtaining your first 2 Ascendancy Passive points. Ascending early gives you a significant power boost, especially if you have the build and gear strong enough to complete the Trial. If you’re under-levelled or your build isn’t performing well, consider waiting until later in Act 2 to tackle the Trial, giving yourself time to improve your character before attempting the challenges.
Before Ascending, check that your gear is up to par – you can use our Crafting guide to help you with that. Also, read up on salvaging and disenchanting gear as well.
About the Author
