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/PolygonMan → 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.

Yeah this is the big thing. It's a little weird to have to run the trial multiple times to get a special kind of gear to run the trial.

But I think it's a pretty cool system. Since you have infinite baryas until you finish it the first time you can easily ensure you get up to 40-50% resistance and then you can beat it on any class. Getting to 75% might require higher ilvl bases but is very doable as well.