Path of Exile 2 is shaping up to be a worthy successor to the beloved Path of Exile, introducing new mechanics, content, and an expanded skill tree that promises to deepen the complexity and strategy of character building. Among the most important aspects of character progression in Path of Exile has always been the Ascendancy system, which allows players to specialize their builds in powerful and unique ways. With Path of Exile 2 introducing additional layers of gameplay, Ascendancy Points and how to obtain them remain critical to shaping the path of your character.

In this article, we'll dive deep into what Ascendancy Points are, how you can obtain them in Path of Exile 2, and the best strategies for maximizing their use as you progress through the game. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or a newcomer to the series, understanding the Ascendancy system and its potential is essential for making the most out of your Path of Exile 2 experience.

What Are Ascendancy Points?

Ascendancy Points are an important resource in Path of Exile and Path of Exile 2. These points allow you to ascend your character into one of the available Ascendancy classes, which grants you a powerful set of passive bonuses, skills, and abilities that define your build's strengths. Ascendancy classes are unique, offering deep customization and allowing you to further specialize your character's playstyle.

Each character can only select one Ascendancy class, and the bonuses provided by these classes are critical to shaping your overall strategy. In Path of Exile, this often leads to high customization of characters and provides a unique sense of progression as you reach higher levels.

In Path of Exile 2, while the details about Ascendancy Points have yet to be fully disclosed, we can expect many of the core concepts from the original game to remain intact, with likely improvements and expanded options that enhance gameplay.

How to Unlock Ascendancy Classes

Before we get into how to get Ascendancy Points, it's important to understand how you unlock the ability to choose an Ascendancy class. In both Path of Exile and Path of Exile 2, Ascendancy classes are unlocked during a special quest that you must complete after reaching a certain stage in the game. Here's how the process works:

1. Reach Act 10 (or Equivalent)

To unlock Ascendancy classes in Path of Exile 2, you will need to progress through the campaign and reach a specific point, most likely Act 10 or its equivalent. The exact location and progression requirements may vary slightly between Path of Exile and Path of Exile 2, but the general premise remains that you must complete the early-to-mid-game content before gaining access to Ascendancy.

2. Complete the Labyrinth

Once you reach the appropriate act or stage in the campaign, you will gain access to the Labyrinth, a challenging dungeon filled with traps, puzzles, and enemies. The Labyrinth serves as a test for your character, and completing it is necessary to earn Ascendancy Points. You'll need to defeat several bosses and complete various stages of the Labyrinth to earn the right to choose your Ascendancy class.

In Path of Exile 2, the Labyrinth will likely return with some new features and potentially additional layers of complexity. We can expect that navigating the Labyrinth will remain a core part of obtaining Ascendancy Points.

3. Gain Access to the Ascendancy Tree

After successfully completing the Labyrinth, you'll be granted access to the Ascendancy Tree, where you can spend your Ascendancy Points to choose a class and start unlocking the powerful passive bonuses associated with that class. The choices you make here will significantly impact your character's capabilities, and this is where the customization options truly shine.

How to Get Ascendancy Points in Path of Exile 2

In Path of Exile 2, Ascendancy Points are likely to be awarded in a similar fashion to the original game, with a few updates or improvements. Here are the most probable ways to earn Ascendancy Points:

1. Completing the Labyrinth

The core method for obtaining Ascendancy Points in Path of Exile 2 will likely remain completing the Labyrinth. After finishing the Labyrinth, you will be rewarded with a number of Ascendancy Points depending on your progress. Each time you complete the Labyrinth, you will typically gain 2 or 3 points, which can be spent on the Ascendancy Tree to unlock new nodes and passive bonuses.

In addition to the main Labyrinth runs, Path of Exile 2 may introduce a variety of difficulty settings, challenges, or additional rewards that make repeated runs of the Labyrinth worthwhile. Expect higher difficulties to grant more Ascendancy Points or POE 2 Currency that allow you to further refine your character's build.

2. Using the Labyrinth Trials

To enter the Labyrinth and complete its various stages, you must first unlock the Labyrinth Trials—puzzle-like challenges scattered throughout the world. These trials serve as a prerequisite to entering the Labyrinth itself, and each trial completed will bring you one step closer to gaining Ascendancy Points.

As you advance through the game, you will need to unlock these trials, which may require you to complete specific tasks or defeat certain bosses within the world. In Path of Exile 2, the Labyrinth Trials may be revamped or expanded, possibly adding new mechanics to make this process more engaging and challenging.

3. Challenging Higher Labyrinth Difficulties

In both Path of Exile and its sequel, players can access multiple difficulty levels for the Labyrinth. Each new difficulty will test your skills more rigorously and grant you greater rewards. By completing the Labyrinth on harder difficulties, you will likely gain additional Ascendancy Points, special items, cheap Path of Exile 2 Currency, or other powerful rewards.

It's worth noting that the Labyrinth's difficulty may scale with your character's level, meaning that higher-level players will be able to take on more difficult Labyrinths for greater rewards, including additional Ascendancy Points.

4. Charitable Quests or Alternate Methods

While the Labyrinth is the primary method of obtaining Ascendancy Points, it's possible that Path of Exile 2 introduces alternative methods or side-quests that reward you with these points. These could include special quests tied to the game's lore, repeatable objectives, or unique challenges offered by NPCs in the game world. If Path of Exile 2 follows a similar progression to the original game, it's likely that these quests will provide you with incremental rewards, including Ascendancy Points.

5. New or Expanded Endgame Content

Path of Exile 2 is set to introduce even more endgame content, such as potentially new dungeon-like areas, boss fights, or special challenges. If Path of Exile 2 follows the blueprint of its predecessor, players could gain Ascendancy Points by tackling these endgame challenges. These could be tied to boss encounters, raids, or new systems like a "conqueror" system where completing certain objectives rewards you with Ascendancy Points.

The design philosophy behind Path of Exile 2 encourages players to delve deep into its endgame mechanics, so Ascendancy Points could also be earned through these expansive systems, allowing for more flexibility in how players approach their builds.

Ascendancy Point Allocation: Maximizing Your Build

Once you've obtained Ascendancy Points, the next step is deciding how to allocate them in your Ascendancy Tree. Here are some general strategies for maximizing your build using Ascendancy Points:

1. Specialize Your Playstyle

Ascendancy classes are designed to complement specific playstyles, whether you're focusing on damage output, defense, summoning minions, or controlling elemental or chaos damage. Carefully consider what role you want your character to fill and choose an Ascendancy class that synergizes with your overall build. Don't just pick an Ascendancy for its raw power; think about how its bonuses will fit into your character's existing abilities.

2. Balance Offensive and Defensive Nodes

Ascendancy Points can provide a mix of offensive and defensive bonuses. While it's tempting to invest heavily in damage, a balanced build that also focuses on survivability is often more successful, especially in tougher areas like the endgame. Be sure to allocate some points to defenses such as life regeneration, damage reduction, and resistances to ensure your character can survive against stronger enemies.

3. Focus on Synergy with Skill Gems

Your skill gems are just as important as your Ascendancy Points. Look for Ascendancy bonuses that enhance or support the skills you're using in your build. If you rely on a particular type of damage or element (fire, cold, chaos, etc.), choose Ascendancy nodes that bolster those skills.

4. Plan for Endgame Scaling

As you progress into the game's more difficult content, it's important to plan how your Ascendancy Points will scale. Some Ascendancy classes become much stronger when paired with specific endgame gear, so think about how your Ascendancy class will synergize with your endgame strategy.

Conclusion

Path of Exile 2 will undoubtedly build upon the deep and rewarding systems introduced in its predecessor, and the Ascendancy system remains one of the most exciting aspects of character customization. Understanding how to unlock Ascendancy Points and make the most out of them will be crucial to shaping your character's power and playstyle. By carefully considering your Ascendancy class, synergies, and overall build strategy, you'll be able to unlock new layers of power and experience in this exciting new chapter of Path of Exile.

As new details emerge about Path of Exile 2, be sure to stay up to date with the latest developments, as the Ascendancy system may evolve further, offering even more options for players to experiment and dominate their foes.