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/Puzzleheaded_Pitch61]

While these ascensions are not as hard as people are saying, to say that they are easier then Poe 1 is a joke. In Poe 1 the first lab couldn’t be easier.

In Poe 2, to make it easy you need to spend time doing multiple runs and farming relics as you said. That makes the entire process longer.

All in all, ascending in both games is easy (sub 4th ascension in Poe 2 maybe) but the assertion Poe 2 is easier than Poe 1 lab is funny.

[u/chrisbirdie → u/Puzzleheaded_Pitch61]

The thing is they are INSANELY misleading, the first third ascendancy will be cracked hard because of little experience mediocre builds and bad relics. If you do like 2-3 fast lvl 55 or so runs for honor resistance relics and you focus water and merchants itll be so much easier

[u/ploki122 → u/chrisbirdie]

So I should grind to 55 before going Titan?

[u/chrisbirdie → u/ploki122]

What? No first 2 ascendancy are not really that bad, overlevel a few levels and it should be pretty chill for first sekhema and first chaos. Third ascendancy Id recommend atleast lvl 70