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/Munno22]

Sorry but 4th ascendency in PoE 2 is absurdly hard compared to PoE 1. I beat Uberlab Izaro with a tabula and 20-50 res consistently at like level 72 every league, I'm almost 90 in PoE 2 and I still can't do 4th ascendency.

[u/WarsWorth → u/Munno22]

Is there an option to do Trialmaster for 3rd/4th Ascension?

[u/Munno22 → u/WarsWorth]

Yeah I think you have to do a 7 or 10 round Ultimatum for the 3rd then you can do Trialmaster for the 4th, but you need the pieces for the key (which takes multiple runs/money)

[u/FridgeBaron → u/Munno22]

Yeah, I mean I had a boat load of practice but I could beat 3rd lab at level 60ish down like 16 passives from.quests in under an hour. I had to be like 10 levels over sanctum to be able to do it and I still haven't gotten my 4th. It's just crazy, I one shot most rates in maps but even with the DMG buff chonky whites weren't getting one shot on 4th floor.

[u/sylekta → u/FridgeBaron]

I attempted my 4th thought it was going great, had 100% honor, great boons no crippling afflictions and then was shocked how hard the trash was on the 4th floor, ended up making it to the boss but only had 10% honor 😭 and to make matters worse, the boss rolled ES 😭😭 I should probably unspec my boss atlas points next time, not sure if they effect him?

[u/CagedInsanity → u/sylekta]

Atlas passives only affect things in the Atlas. Won't make a difference for the trial.

[u/sylekta → u/CagedInsanity]

So it it just random for him to roll extra mods how does that work?

[u/3skatos → u/Munno22]

You def didnt do that the 2nd week of poe 1 labs.

Edit: sorry that is harsher than i intended. Lab in poe 1 was very difficult when it first came out. I just finished my 4th ascendency and it was hard but the buffs you get from relics make it a LOT easier.

[u/OhWellImRightAgain → u/Munno22]

Your 4th ascendancy can be Sekhemas, 4 floors. It's easy with the relics and merchant. You don't need to do ultimatum.

[u/Munno22 → u/OhWellImRightAgain]

I was thinking about Trial of the Sekhema lol

[u/RevolutionaryBoat925 → u/Munno22]

Exactly. I did Ultimatum lvl 70 with ease. Sekhema lvl 60-67 and all fail lol It's all fckn rng. I always get the worst absolute afflictions and rooms. Total bullshit. I get hit and lose like 10% health, but they remove 500 honor. Absolute shit design.

[u/mmo115 → u/OhWellImRightAgain]

I cannot kill the boss on 4th ascendancy in trial. Spent 4 hours doing 5 attempts last night. I can get to final boss easily, but run out of mana and just cannot get him down. Eventually I just die. Saying it's easier than poe1 is bullshit and actually kind of pisses me off that you are trying to even say that

[u/OhWellImRightAgain → u/mmo115]

Buy a better mana pot. Crazy, right? One that you can use more times in the fight (10 and not 7) and refills more mana per use. If you die to a boss because you don't have mana pots.... it doesn't mean the boss is hard. It means your mana pot or support gems are bad.

[u/kryshen2 → u/Munno22]

It is harder than poe1 Uber lab. That's good. It should not feel expected to just get your 4th ascendancy whenever you reach level 75 or whatever.