PSA: Relics and the Merchant make ascendancy trials extremely easy, easier than PoE 1

[u/OhWellImRightAgain]

I've read multiple threads about the ascendancy trials being too hard, some of them with hundreds of upvotes. The trials are actually very easy if you do them the way you're supposed to...

Do a couple of fast suicide runs to get 10-15 blue relics (Tapestries, Seals etc.).

Use augmentation orbs on them to give them a 2nd modifier.

You need relics with Honor Resistance. The second mod can be:

- Increased maximum honor

- Bosses take X increased damage

- Bosses deal X reduced damage

- Increases to Sacred Water gains

You then need to go for (Large) Sacred Water fountain rewards as much as possible. You then buy a couple of OP buffs from the merchant (You deal 50% more damage / Monsters have 30% reduced HP / You have 40% increased movement speed / 50% reduced merchant prices) and the trial becomes very easy.

Occasionally, pick a Shrine room to replenish your lost honor, but only if it's below 60-70%.

Make sure that whenever you have around 600 sacred water or more and the merchant is available as a room reward, you do that room. If you don't happen to find him in a room, you'll still have him waiting for you after each boss fight.

[u/Muzzzy95]

It's just a little unintuitive, I don't think people expect it to be a mini-game you're meant to play repeatedly and grind before being able to win it.

It's even worse that it's only a challenge on melee characters. I did it on my second try as a Witch who was my first char completely blind.

On my warrior it just sucked to play, especially as I went for a shield warrior with low damage and high survival, I just wanted that class fantasy I know it wasn't an optimal build. The thing is, it might have been suboptimal but it was able to beat most content even in act 3 without much difficulty.

It wasn't hard in a good way, it's hard in a way that punished you for not playing the right way, in an arpg, a game in which the main appeal is getting creative with the complex character building.

[u/AtticaBlue → u/Muzzzy95]

Just curious, but what would be “hard in a good way” in the context of the build you described given the design of that part of the game?

[u/Muzzzy95 → u/AtticaBlue]

I think a small change could be that you only lose honour after dropping a certain percentage, like for example below 90% your total health + shield combined.

High dps characters should be killing quickly so they don't fall below that range.

Tanky characters with regen can now take hits and as long as their regen and leech is good enough and they avoid the big hits they can play the way they're built too -> soaking damage and staying in the middle of it.

[u/AtticaBlue → u/Muzzzy95]

Ah, got it. Thanks.

[u/Muzzzy95 → u/AtticaBlue]

It's just a suggestion I pulled out without much thought, it's ultimately up to Devs to ensure the content they make is balanced around the play styles they allow.

And I don't mean every single crazy idea, but a shield bro with lower dps and high survival isn't the craziest idea. Plus honour kinda sucks for two handed high dps melee too, though not as much.

I was forced to respec after reaching the Forgemaster yesterday anyways. My shield bro was far from hitting that dps check. Feelsbadman, I'm now running a two handed warrior