Path of Exile 2 Guide: The Trial of the Ancestors
What is the Trial of the Ancestors?
The Trial of the Ancestors is a unique endgame activity in Path of Exile 2, where players face off against powerful and diverse enemies in a series of increasingly difficult challenges. This activity is inspired by the gladiatorial combat of ancient cultures, where challengers must survive waves of enemies and overcome deadly traps, all while competing for coveted rewards.
The trial takes place in a specially designed arena and consists of several rounds. Each round features different enemies with varying mechanics and abilities. Success in the Trial of the Ancestors relies not only on the player's ability to defeat these enemies but also on their understanding of the various trial-specific mechanics that can turn the tide of battle.
Preparing for the Trial
Before diving into the Trial of the Ancestors, you'll want to make sure you're fully prepared. The difficulty of the trial scales with each encounter, and players will need to be in peak condition to succeed.
1. Gear and Build Optimization
The most important factor in any Path of Exile activity is your character's build and gear. Here's a checklist of things to keep in mind:
Defensive Layers: Due to the high damage and unique mechanics of the trial, it's critical to have a strong defense. Focus on things like:
Evasion and Armor: Both are important for mitigating physical damage.
Life Leech or Energy Shield Regeneration: This will help you sustain yourself through long fights.
Elemental Resistances: Make sure your resistances are capped (75%) or close to it, especially for elemental damage types like Fire, Cold, and Lightning.
Offensive Power: While survival is important, you also need to be able to deal damage efficiently. Focus on:
DPS Boosts: Your character should have a reliable source of high damage to overcome enemies quickly.
Elemental or Chaos Damage: Some rounds may feature enemies that have unique resistances, so mix up your damage types to avoid running into a block.
Flasks: Bring a selection of flasks that enhance your survivability and damage. Consider:
Health Flasks for emergency healing.
Stibnite Flask for evasion and defensive buffs.
Quicksilver Flask for movement speed during evasive maneuvers.
You can buy POE 2 Currency Orbs to get them.
2. Trial-Specific Modifiers
The Trial of the Ancestors introduces a variety of modifiers that can alter the course of your encounter. These can include:
Elemental Ailments: Enemies may have the ability to inflict burns, freezes, or shocks, making it vital to invest in resistances and methods of removing these ailments.
Reflect Damage: Be mindful of enemies with Reflective abilities, as they can deal significant damage back to you when hit.
Trap Hazards: The arena may feature traps that deal significant damage or alter the flow of combat. You'll need to be vigilant and quick on your feet to avoid these.
3. Knowledge of Enemies
Every encounter will feature different enemies, each with its unique abilities. Knowing their behavior and weaknesses will give you a crucial advantage.
Enemy Summoners: Some rounds may feature enemies that summon minions or other hazards. It's essential to eliminate the summoners first to prevent overwhelming mobs from stacking up.
Area Denial: Certain enemies may use abilities that force you to move out of specific areas, such as ground effects or projectiles. Plan your movements carefully to avoid these hazards.
Buffing Enemies: Some enemies may have buffs that increase their damage or resistance. Removing these buffs or disabling them should be a priority.
The Layout of the Trial
The Trial of the Ancestors takes place in a distinct, arena-like environment, with the layout varying from trial to trial. In each instance, you'll face off against enemies in multiple waves, with each wave becoming progressively more difficult. The layout of the trial arena is designed to test both your combat and movement abilities.
1. Arena Zones
The arena is typically divided into multiple zones:
Safe Zones: These areas are relatively safe but usually have no resources (like healing or damage buffs).
Hazard Zones: Some areas may feature traps, obstacles, or dangerous environmental hazards.
Combat Zones: This is where the bulk of the action takes place. Here, enemies spawn and fight, and you'll have to deal with waves of foes.
2. Round Structure
Each round of the trial consists of multiple phases:
Wave Phase: Enemies spawn and engage you. These waves can have varying compositions and can include regular enemies, elite bosses, or a mix of both.
Boss Phase: After a set number of waves, you'll encounter a powerful boss or elite enemy. These bosses usually have unique abilities that require careful positioning and timing to defeat.
Trial Mechanics and Strategy
The Trial of the Ancestors introduces several mechanics that players must be aware of to succeed. Here are some core strategies to keep in mind:
1. Utilizing Ancestor Powers
As you progress through the trial, you'll unlock the ability to use "Ancestor Powers." These are special abilities that you can summon to aid in battle. You can use these powers during critical moments to turn the tide in your favor. Some examples of Ancestor Powers include:
Healing Totems: These will heal you and your allies over time.
Damage Buffs: Ancestor Powers can temporarily increase your damage output, allowing you to deal with enemies more efficiently.
Defensive Shields: Some Ancestor Powers create shields that absorb damage and protect you during intense combat phases.
2. Positioning and Movement
Positioning is key in the Trial of the Ancestors. Many rounds feature mechanics that require you to move quickly to avoid environmental hazards, such as traps or debuffing effects. Additionally, many enemies have high mobility or ranged attacks, so you'll need to stay on the move and use terrain to your advantage.
Kiting: If you're facing enemies with heavy melee damage, use hit-and-run tactics to whittle down their health while avoiding direct contact.
Crowd Control: Consider using crowd control abilities (like stuns, freezes, and slows) to disable multiple enemies at once and prevent them from overwhelming you.
3. Endgame Boss Mechanics
When fighting the final bosses or elite enemies, expect to encounter more complex mechanics. Some bosses will have multi-phase fights that include:
Dodge Mechanisms: Many of the final bosses will require you to dodge their devastating abilities. Learning their attack patterns will give you a chance to survive longer.
Summoned Minions: Be prepared for these bosses to summon additional enemies, making it harder to focus on them alone. Be ready to handle both the boss and the summoned minions at the same time.
Rewards and Progression
The Trial of the Ancestors offers a variety of rewards for successful completion, including:
Ancient Relics: These relics can be used to upgrade your gear or provide buffs for your character.
Unique Items: Some bosses drop exclusive gear and weapons that can be a significant upgrade to your build.
Trial-Specific Currency: You can earn currency that can be exchanged for specialized items in the Path of Exile 2 Trade system or used in crafting.
Additionally, completing the trial grants you Ancient Coins, which are used to purchase valuable items from a special vendor. These coins can be earned as you progress through multiple trials.
Conclusion
The Trial of the Ancestors in Path of Exile 2 is an exhilarating and challenging endgame activity that pushes your combat skills, build optimization, and strategic thinking to the limit. Success depends on preparing your character, learning enemy mechanics, and effectively utilizing Ancestor Powers. With the right preparation and a cool head, you can emerge victorious and reap the valuable rewards the trial has to offer. Whether you're a veteran Path of Exile player or a newcomer to the series, the Trial of the Ancestors is a compelling and rewarding challenge that will keep you coming back for more.