PoE2 Ascendancy Trials Feel Like a Debuff Roulette

The Ascendancy system has always been one of the biggest power spikes in Path of Exile, but in Path of Exile 2, it feels like the unlock process has gone a little too far. A recent Reddit thread with hundreds of upvotes now triggered a heated discussion about the new Ascendancy Trials, with a lot of players describing them as unfair, overtuned, and too dependent on RNG.

You can read the full post here:

The Ascendancy trials are still really unfair and difficulty, it feels like especially for Warrior.
byu/csupihun inPathOfExile2

RNG Over Skill

Unlike the Labyrinth from PoE1, which most players remember as straightforward once you learned Izaro’s patterns, PoE2’s Trials are loaded with random afflictions, debuffs, and curses. Runs often come down to luck: did you roll a “slightly annoying curse” or a “run-ending one”?

“The hardest boss in the Ascendancy Trial isn’t Sekhema or Chaos… it’s the debuff roulette wheel,” one player accurately wrote.

• The Trial of Chaos is often called the worst one yet: “Either you get the less bad debuffs or you just lose immediately.”
• The infamous “Bird boss” in Chaos also gets called out repeatedly for one-shotting even tanky characters.

Player Workarounds

In the comments below the Reddit post, players often shared the same strategies:

• Overlevel by 10+ levels and stack armor/energy shield for smoother runs.
• Do Sekhema early (end of Act 2) and delay Chaos until later.
• Pay for carries in later Trials to avoid the mechanics altogether.

Missing the Labyrinth

Surprisingly, many players are saying they actually miss the Labyrinth from PoE1, something that was once one of the most hated systems.

“I can’t believe I miss Lab from PoE1.”

“At least Lab was fast and consistent. These new Trials are a time sink and way harder than they need to be.”

The general consensus and argument is that basing Trials on Sanctum and Ultimatum, two of the least popular mechanics in PoE1, was a mistake if they are mandatory for progression.

Power Locked Behind Trials

The biggest frustration is that Ascendancy points are mandatory for most builds. It is not about difficulty content being tied to optional loot, but rather the fact that it is a core class progression system, gated behind what many players consider unfun. Because of this, Trials have left a somewhat sour taste.

There is one comparison within the Reddit thread that sums it up pretty well: “It’s like if PoE1 forced everyone to Delve to depth 600 just to unlock Ascendancy.”

Overall, it feels PoE2’s Trials are too tied to RNG and grind. Yes, you can adapt by overleveling, but most players hope GGG will adjust the system or even rethink Ascendancy progression altogether. Do you think Trials should stay as they are, or is it time for a change?

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