How to Beat Balbala the Traitor in Path of Exile 2: The Trial of the Sekhemas Guide
Key Takeaways:
- Balbala, The Traitor, is the pivotal first step to unlocking the Trial of the Sekhemas, demanding strategy, patience, and skill.
- Understanding the Trial’s unique mechanics such as the Honour system is critical to surviving its seven rooms and final boss, Rattlecage, the Earthbreaker.
- Every player class faces unique challenges, but careful planning, tactical dodging, and skillful management of buffs and debuffs can ensure success.
Embarking on the Trial of the Sekhemas in Path of Exile 2 is no walk in the park. This guide is designed to help you conquer Balbala, The Traitor, navigate the treacherous Trial of the Sekhemas, and claim your rightful place at the Altar of Ascendancies. We’ll cover everything, from locating Balbala to defeating her, surviving the Trial, and besting the final boss, Rattlecage, the Earthbreaker.
Step 1: Finding and Defeating Balbala, The Traitor
Locating Balbala
To begin your journey, you’ll need to find Balbala in the Prison of the Disgraced, located within Traitor’s Passage in Act 2. While traversing this eerie passage, you’ll notice paper seals pinned to the walls your breadcrumb trail to Balbala. Follow these seals until you encounter a door covered with them. Inside, you’ll find Balbala tied up at the center of the room.
Freeing Balbala initiates the fight, so brace yourself! Remove the bindings one by one, but be ready to engage in combat as soon as the last one is undone.
How to Beat Balbala, The Traitor
Balbala is a fast-paced, unpredictable boss with a deadly arsenal of attacks. Knowing her mechanics ahead of time will greatly increase your chances of victory:
Balbala’s Abilities:
- Golden Throwing Knives: These fly out in boomerang-like arcs, returning to her before being hurled again. Keep moving to avoid being hit twice.
- Fire Tornado Slam: Balbala launches into the air and crashes down in a fiery spinning tornado. Stay mobile and avoid the landing zone.
- Hovering Knife Wave: She throws a wave of golden knives that hover briefly before locking onto you. Dodge them as they fire.
- Knife Minefield: Glowing knives embed themselves in the arena, exploding after a short delay. Stay alert and tread carefully.
- Grim Reaper Minion: Balbala summons a shadowy minion to assist her. Deal with it quickly to avoid being overwhelmed.
- Fiery Ground Runes: She places burning runes on the floor. Stepping on them sets you alight watch your footing.
- Poison Gas Phase: At random intervals, Balbala vanishes, blanketing the arena in poisonous gas. You must locate her she’s usually hovering in the back before the phase ends.
Strategies for Victory:
- Dodge is Key: Balbala’s attacks are fast, but they are also heavily telegraphed. Dodge consistently, especially during her knife waves and poison phases.
- Positioning Matters: Keep her in your line of sight and avoid stepping on runes or minefields.
- Focus on the Adds: If she summons minions, eliminate them quickly to reduce the chaos.
- Class-Specific Tips:
- Monk: Use mobility skills like Wind Blast to maintain distance and strike when she’s stunned.
- Witch: Focus on AoE skills to clear adds while dealing damage to Balbala.
- Warrior: Prioritize defensive skills and time your attacks carefully.
Once Balbala is defeated, collect Balbala’s Barya a vital item for accessing the Trial of the Sekhemas.
Step 2: The Trial of the Sekhemas
Understanding the Honour System
The Trial of the Sekhemas is not about surviving with your Life; it’s about preserving your Honour. You begin the trial with 646 Honour, which decreases every time you get hit. Unlike your Life bar, Honour cannot be replenished with Flasks. If you run out of Honour, you’ll fail the trial.
Starting the Trial
- Use the Desert Map from the Caravan to access the Trial.
- Place Balbala’s Barya in the Relic Altar’s center slot to initiate the trial.
- Add Relics to the altar to gain buffs for the trial. Be strategic some Relics make the trial easier, while others offer powerful benefits at the cost of added difficulty.
Trial Mechanics and Challenges
The Trial is divided into seven rooms, followed by a final boss encounter. Each room presents a unique challenge, and you’ll need to choose your path using the Trial Map after the first room. Here’s what to expect:
Room Types:
- Escape Trial: Reach and activate the next Death Crystal before the timer runs out. Beware of traps and enemies along the way.
- Gauntlet Trial: Clear the room of enemies and find levers to unlock the exit. Stay aggressive, but manage your resources carefully.
- Ritual Trial: Stop the ritual by defeating all Ritual Casters. Casters are spread out, so prioritize them quickly.
- Hourglass Trial: Survive for a set duration while enemies spawn relentlessly.
Tips for Success:
- Weigh Rewards vs. Handicaps: Some rooms come with harsh debuffs, like reduced movement speed or increased damage from traps. Choose challenges that match your skill level and resources.
- Sacred Water and Boons: Collect Sacred Water during the trial and spend it on Boons with Balbala to gain advantages in later rooms.
- Play It Safe: If you’re low on Life or Honour, opt for easier rooms and avoid unnecessary risks.
Step 3: Rattlecage, The Earthbreaker
At the end of the Trial, you’ll face Rattlecage, the Earthbreaker. This towering foe is slow but hits like a truck and fills the arena with hazardous lava.
Rattlecage’s Abilities:
- Ground Punch: Causes a fiery explosion in a small radius.
- Lava Cracks: Splits the ground, releasing streams of lava. These cracks spawn small volcanoes that spew additional lava.
- Lava Rain: Once Rattlecage reaches 50% health, lava begins falling from the sky with no ground markers. Dodge frequently to avoid being hit.
Strategy for Rattlecage:
- Keep Your Distance: Use long-range attacks to stay out of Rattlecage’s melee range.
- Avoid the Lava: Stay on the move to avoid cracks, volcanoes, and falling lava.
- Burst Damage: Once the lava rain stops, capitalize on the lull to deal maximum damage.
Defeat Rattlecage, and you’ll unlock the Altar of Ascendancies, where you can choose one of two Ascension Classes.
Ascension Classes and Replayability
Your Ascension Class grants powerful abilities tailored to your playstyle. To unlock more skill points, you’ll need to complete the trial again. Each subsequent attempt adds a new floor, increasing the difficulty. You’ll also need another coin to retry the trial, so plan carefully.
FAQs
Q: How do I locate Balbala during the poison gas phase?
A: Search the arena for faint movements or shimmering outlines. Balbala is usually hovering near the back of the arena. Closing the distance will force her to reappear.
Q: What’s the best class for the Trial of the Sekhemas?
A: Every class has its advantages, but ranged classes tend to fare better due to their ability to attack from a distance. Monks and Warriors may struggle with certain mechanics but can prevail with strategic play.
Q: Can I restore Honour during the trial?
A: No, Honour cannot be restored during the trial. Avoid taking unnecessary hits and focus on dodging rather than tanking damage.
Q: What’s the best way to handle Rattlecage’s lava rain?
A: Keep moving! Without ground markers, the only way to avoid damage is to stay mobile and maintain a safe distance from Rattlecage.
Q: Is Balbala an optional boss?
A: Yes, but defeating her is highly recommended as it grants access to the Trial of the Sekhemas, which is essential for unlocking your Ascendancy Class.
