Path of Exile 2: Full Guide to Getting All Ascendancy Points
In Path of Exile 2, mastering your chosen class means diving into its powerful Ascendancy paths. These advanced subclasses take your character's identity and specialization to a whole new level-whether you're a Spellcasting Sorceress or a brutal Titan Warrior, Ascendancies dramatically impact how you play. But to unlock the full power of your Ascendancy, you'll need Ascendancy Points and related Path of Exile 2 Currency. These points are not just handed out-they're earned through grueling Trials and multiple playthroughs.
This guide will walk you through exactly how to get all 8 Ascendancy Points in Path of Exile 2, starting from the basics of how the system works to the advanced steps needed to max out your subclass.
What Is Ascendancy in Path of Exile 2?
Ascendancy is the specialization system in PoE 2, allowing each of the seven base classes to evolve into one of two powerful subclasses. These Ascendancy classes come with their unique skill trees, active abilities, passives, and mechanics. Choosing the right one will define your build's direction and how you dominate the endgame.
Here are the current known Ascendancy options per base class:
·Warrior → Titan or Warbringer
·Mercenary → Gemling Legionnaire or Witchhunter
·Witch → Blood Mage or Infernalist
·Sorceress → Chronomancer or Stormweaver
·Monk → Invoker or Acolyte of Chayula
·Ranger → Pathfinder or Deadeye
·Huntress → Amazon or Ritualist
Unlocking and powering up these Ascendancy subclasses is done through Ascendancy Points.
How Many Ascendancy Points Can You Get?
You can earn a total of 8 Ascendancy Points across two full playthroughs of the game. Each set of 4 comes from completing Ascendancy Trials-challenging mini-dungeons filled with dangerous mobs, traps, and a boss fight at the end.
·First 4 Ascendancy Points: Earned on Normal Difficulty
·Final 4 Ascendancy Points: Earned on Cruel Difficulty (New Game+)
How to Get Your First Ascendancy Points (Normal Difficulty)
To begin earning Ascendancy Points, you'll need to complete two trials:
1. Trial of Sekhemas (Act 2)
·This is the first major Ascendancy Trial.
·You will face waves of enemies and avoid deadly traps.
·Your Honor meter decreases every time you take damage-keeping it high increases your reward.
·Completing this Trial for the first time gives you 2 Ascendancy Points.
2. Trial of Chaos (Act 3)
·The second Ascendancy Trial.
·Similar to the first, this dungeon will push your reflexes and build to the limit.
·First-time completion rewards 2 more Ascendancy Points, bringing your total to 4.
Note: Repeating these trials will not give more points. They're only rewarded once per difficulty.
How to Get More Ascendancy Points (Cruel Difficulty / NG+)
Once you've finished the main campaign in Path of Exile 2, you unlock Cruel difficulty, effectively a New Game+ mode. Here's what happens:
·You keep your character, gear, and unlocked skills.
·Enemies and bosses become significantly harder.
·You'll need to replay the game from Act 1, but with more challenge and greater rewards.
3. Trial of Sekhemas (Cruel)
·This is the same Trial as before, but on Cruel difficulty.
·Enemies hit harder and traps do more damage.
·Reward: 2 Ascendancy Points
4. Trial of Chaos (Cruel)
·The second trial returns, again tougher and more punishing.
·Avoiding damage is crucial to maintain your Honor bar.
·Reward: 2 more Ascendancy Points, bringing your total to the full 8 Points.
Why You Need All 8 Ascendancy Points
Unlike passive points in the massive skill tree, Ascendancy Points are used in much more focused, build-defining ways. Every single point opens up powerful synergies, and missing even one could drastically lower your build's potential in endgame content like:
·Maps & Dungeons
·Boss Gauntlets
·Hardcore Ladder Pushing
·Seasonal Challenges
Some examples of how Ascendancy Points might transform your gameplay:
·As a Blood Mage, you could unlock passives that let you trade life for massive damage bonuses.
·A Gemling Legionnaire might use Ascendancy nodes to dual-cast support gems, fundamentally altering skill behavior.
·An Invoker Monk might reduce cooldowns across all spells and unleash devastating chain reactions with every cast.
Tips to Prepare for Ascendancy Trials
·Gear for Mobility and Recovery: Trials often include trap sections-movement speed, blink skills, and health regen are vital.
·Practice Traps Early: Trials are partially about movement. Learn trap patterns and timing.
·Bring Damage Mitigation: Honor loss from damage reduces your reward-so buy POE 2 Orbs high resists, flasks, and defensive skills.
·Save Portal Scrolls: If you fail a Trial, you can re-enter, but you'll want a backup exit plan if your build isn't ready.
Final Thoughts
Ascendancy Points are the key to unlocking your full power in Path of Exile 2. While the game only grants 4 points per difficulty tier, these 8 total points define your character's path. Whether you're aiming to become a time-bending Chronomancer or a relentless Titan, completing the Ascendancy Trials will be one of your most important goals.
If you're serious about endgame content, seasonal metas, or crafting truly unique builds, you can't skip this system. Plan your Ascendancy early, practice the Trials, and get ready to push Wraeclast's hardest content with your full power unlocked.
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