Ascension trials
Ascension Trials are encountered scattered throughout the campaign required to unlock Ascendancy class and ascendancy skill points. Each ascension trial is associated with a major culture from Wraeclast. Thus, there are many ways to ascend - if the player does not enjoy a particular option, they may ascend through another.
At the end of any trial, the exile may access the Altar of Ascendancy. For exiles who reach it for the first time, the Altar of Ascendancy grants two ascendancy points and allows them to choose an ascendancy class as early as Act 2. A further four ascendancy points can be obtained at certain progression points during the campaign, while a final two points can only be obtained from an endgame variant of a trial after reaching the endgame.
| Trial Type | Ascension 1 | Ascension 2 | Ascension 3 | Ascension 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trial of the Sekhemas |  Balbala's BaryaArea Level: 22Number of Trials: 1"Why are you standing there gawking at me? We must go to the Trial of the Sekhemas!"Take this item to the Trial of the Sekhemas. Right-click to listen to Balbala.  /  Djinn BaryaArea Level: #Number of Trials: #"Take me to the Trial of the Sekhemas. I will serve."Take this item to the Relic Altar at the Trial of the Sekhemas.  Floors: 1 |
Area Level 45+ Djinn BaryaArea Level: # Number of Trials: #"Take me to the Trial of the Sekhemas. I will serve."Take this item to the Relic Altar at the Trial of the Sekhemas. Floors: 2 OR any other Ascension 1 |
Area Level 60+ Djinn BaryaArea Level: # Number of Trials: #"Take me to the Trial of the Sekhemas. I will serve."Take this item to the Relic Altar at the Trial of the Sekhemas. Floors: 3 |
Area Level 75+ Djinn BaryaArea Level: # Number of Trials: #"Take me to the Trial of the Sekhemas. I will serve."Take this item to the Relic Altar at the Trial of the Sekhemas. Floors: 4 Defeat Zarokh, the Temporal |
| Trial of Chaos |  Chimeral Inscribed UltimatumArea Level: 40Number of Trials: 4Mortals spend their lives wondering which fate shall be theirs. Chaos takes amusement in knowing the answer: all of them.Take this item to the Temple of Chaos to participate in a Trial of Chaos.  or  Inscribed UltimatumArea Level: #Number of Trials: #Mortals spend thier lives wondering which fate shall be thiers. Chaos takes amusement in knowking the answer: all of them.Take this item to The Trail of Chaos to participate in a Trial of Chaos.  Number of Trials: 4 |
Area Level 60+ Inscribed UltimatumArea Level: # Number of Trials: #Mortals spend thier lives wondering which fate shall be thiers. Chaos takes amusement in knowking the answer: all of them.Take this item to The Trail of Chaos to participate in a Trial of Chaos. Number of Trials: 7 OR any other Ascension 1 |
Area Level 75 Inscribed UltimatumArea Level: # Number of Trials: #Mortals spend thier lives wondering which fate shall be thiers. Chaos takes amusement in knowking the answer: all of them.Take this item to The Trail of Chaos to participate in a Trial of Chaos. Number of Trials: 10 |
Inscribed UltimatumArea Level: # Number of Trials: #Mortals spend thier lives wondering which fate shall be thiers. Chaos takes amusement in knowking the answer: all of them.Take this item to The Trail of Chaos to participate in a Trial of Chaos.  Deadly FateFight enough battles, and itbecomes all but inevitable.Can be placed in the door at the end of the Trial of Chaos to challenge the Trialmaster.   Cowardly FateThe ignoblest of choices.Can be placed in the door at the end of the Trial of Chaos to challenge the Trialmaster.  Victorious FateThere is always a chance, however small,that you might actually succeed.Can be placed in the door at the end of the Trial of Chaos to challenge the Trialmaster.  Defeat The Trialmaster |
Trial of the Sekhemas
The Sekhema is the highest position in Maraketh culture, and all who want to attain it must pass the trial. The Trial of the Sekhemas is extremely similar mechanically speaking to a combination of the Path of Exile 1 Forbidden Sanctum and Labyrinth.
First, the exile must defeat Balbala, the Traitor and trap their soul in a 
coinBalbala's BaryaArea Level: 22
Number of Trials: 1"Why are you standing there gawking at me?
We must go to the Trial of the Sekhemas!"Take this item to the Trial of the Sekhemas. Right-click to listen to Balbala.. Then, the coin may be placed within the Relic Altar to begin the trial.
The trial is composed of several progressive rooms within a floor. Each room will have an objective to accomplish before the room is passed, and the floor is ended by a boss. Every room will have a reward - for example, they may reward a Bronze Key, Silver Key, or Golden Key, which may be used to open their respective caches at the end of the trial.
Damage taken during the Trial of the Sekhemas will also damage your Honour, which cannot be recovered by normal means. Running out of honour will fail the trial.
The exile may be supported or impeded by Boons and Afflictions, special buffs and debuffs that persist throughout the trial. Sacred Water may be traded with Balbala, the Advisor for boons and relics.
Trial of the Chaos God
The Temple of Chaos was once used by the Vaal civilization to test their high priests, when they worshipped the entity Chaos. Entrance to the trial requires an 
Inscribed UltimatumInscribed UltimatumArea Level: #
Number of Trials: #Mortals spend thier lives wondering which fate shall be thiers. Chaos takes amusement in knowking the answer: all of them.Take this item to The Trail of Chaos to participate in a Trial of Chaos., given by the Trialmaster. The Temple of Chaos is extremely similar to mechanically speaking to the Path of Exile 1 Ultimatum mechanic.
Before each chamber of the trial, the Trialmaster will offer a reward, as well as three tribulations. The exile must choose one to affect them for the rest of the trial. Each room will have an objective to complete to progress through the trial. After each room, the exile will be given an ultimatum - take the rewards earned so far, and leave, or continue with items on the line and take more risk. If the exile dies at any time, the trial is failed and rewards lost.
The first boss will be encountered after the first three chambers. There are multiple possible bosses and the order of the bosses is random. The Altar of Ascendancy will be accessible after defeating the boss. For exiles who reach it for the first time, The Altar of Ascendancy grants two ascendancy points and allows them to choose an ascendancy class.
Trial of the ???
The third Ascension Trial (themed around the Karui) has not yet been released. However, it has been suggested that it may be similar to The Trial of the Ancestors.