Path of Exile 2: Trial of Chaos Guide
Key Takeaways
- The Trial of Chaos is a challenging mid-to-high-level activity in Path of Exile 2, offering rare loot, currency, and powerful Ascendancy Points for your character.
- Proper preparation, understanding Tribulations, and choosing rewards wisely are crucial for conquering this brutal gauntlet.
- To access the Trial of Chaos, you must defeat Xyclucian the Chimera and secure the Chimeral Imbued Ultimatum from Act 3’s Chimeral Wetlands.
Path of Exile 2 (PoE 2) brings an abundance of challenging endgame content, and the Trial of Chaos is no exception. Nestled within the ominous Temple of Chaos in the Chimeral Wetlands, this gauntlet demands exceptional preparation, precise strategy, and nerves of steel. For adventurers brave enough to take it on, the rewards are substantial. However, if you’re unprepared, the Trial can quickly turn into an insurmountable nightmare.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore how to access the Trial of Chaos, provide strategies to navigate its punishing challenges, explain the mechanics of Tribulations, outline the most dangerous bosses, and delve into the sweet loot awaiting those who survive.
How to Access the Trial of Chaos
To enter the Trial of Chaos, you’ll need to complete a series of prerequisites. Here’s how to get started:
1. Defeat Xyclucian the Chimera
Xyclucian is a fearsome three-headed boss you’ll encounter in Act 3 of PoE 2, during the Legacy of the Vaal questline. The boss resides in the Deadly Nest, found in the Chimeral Wetlands. Defeating Xyclucian is no small feat it uses devastating elemental attacks and is designed to push players’ skills to their limits.
Once you’ve defeated Xyclucian, it will drop the Chimeral Imbued Ultimatum, a key item required to access the Trial of Chaos.
2. Head to the Temple of Chaos
The Trial itself takes place in the Temple of Chaos, which is also located in the Chimeral Wetlands. Once you have the Ultimatum in hand, you can head straight there and begin your first run.
Tip: Lost or misplaced your Chimeral Imbued Ultimatum? Don’t worry! You can join another player’s party and complete your first Trial of Chaos with them.
Trial of Chaos: A Step-by-Step Guide
The Trial of Chaos is structured as a multi-room dungeon filled with escalating challenges, intense enemy waves, and strategic choices. Here’s how to navigate it:
1. Choose a Tribulation
Each Trial room begins with the Trialmaster presenting you with a choice of three Tribulations. These modifiers drastically increase the difficulty of the encounters but also improve the rewards.
Examples of Tribulations:
- Blood Globules: Blood orbs fall periodically, dealing area damage.
- Time Paradox: Buffs last shorter, while debuffs last longer.
- Vaal Omnitect: Deploys a construct that attacks players during combat.
Choose wisely! Certain Tribulations can work in your favor depending on your build, while others can cripple your progress.
Pro Tip: Avoid Tribulations that limit mobility, such as Petrification Statues or hazards that stun and slow you. Builds that rely on ranged attacks should steer clear of Tribulations like Drought (reduced flask charges).
2. Complete the Combat Objectives
Once you select a Tribulation, you’ll face one of several randomized challenges:
- Eradication: Kill all enemies in the room.
- Escort: Safeguard a moving statue while fending off enemy waves.
- Soul Core Retrieval: Collect Soul Cores while surviving enemy attacks.
Enemies grow stronger with every successive room, and any Tribulations you select will carry over. This stacking difficulty adds a risk-versus-reward element: you must decide whether to continue forward or claim your rewards early and leave.
3. Encounter Mini-Bosses
Every third room pits you against a mini-boss. These encounters often introduce new mechanics or overwhelming numbers of enemies. A notable early boss is the Scourge of the Skies, a reanimated bird that unleashes blood and earth-based attacks.
Tip: If you’re struggling to complete the Trial, farm gear and level up before attempting it again. Rushing in underprepared is a recipe for disaster.
4. Face the Final Boss
To complete your first Trial of Chaos, you must survive four out of ten possible rooms. At the end of your fourth room, you’ll face a more powerful final boss (which can be one of several randomized bosses). Upon victory, you’ll unlock your hard-earned rewards.
Understanding Tribulations
Tribulations are the defining mechanic of the Trial of Chaos, adding unique hazards to every encounter. Some are mild inconveniences, while others can utterly derail your run. Here’s a breakdown of the best, safest, and riskiest Tribulations:
Best to Pick
- Blood Globules: Can be avoided with good movement.
- Time Paradox: Manageable if you avoid stacking debuffs.
- Resistant Monsters: Ideal for builds with high DPS.
Worth Considering
- Vaal Omnitect: Extra enemy mechanics can be manageable if you’re prepared.
- Volatile Fiends: Best for ranged players who can kite enemies.
Avoid at All Costs
- Drought: Reduces flask charges, limiting your survivability.
- Stormcaller Runes: Summons deadly lightning strikes that force you to keep moving.
- Impending Doom: Random explosions punish players with low mobility.
Expert Tip: If you’re farming the Trial for loot, select Tribulations that spawn more Rare enemies for better rewards.
Bosses of the Trial of Chaos
The Trial features multiple bosses, each with unique abilities and hazards. Here are some key bosses to prepare for:
Xyclucian, the Chimera
- Location: Found in the Chimeral Wetlands and as a boss in the Trial.
- Abilities: Multi-elemental attacks and heavy AoE damage.
- Tip: Focus on dodging its telegraphed attacks, and bring gear with strong elemental resistances.
Scourge of the Skies
- Description: A massive, reanimated bird with blood and earth-based abilities.
- Tip: Avoid its AoE blood attacks by staying mobile.
Bahlak the Sky Seer
- Description: Another reanimated bird with devastating ranged attacks.
- Tip: Use pillars or terrain to block its line of sight while dealing damage.
Rewards of the Trial of Chaos
Completing the Trial of Chaos provides some of the most lucrative rewards in Path of Exile 2. Here’s what you can expect:
1. Ascendancy Points
Your first successful run grants two Ascendancy Points, which can be used to enhance your Ascendancy class. This is a one-time reward.
2. Loot and Currency
- Vaal Orbs: Used to corrupt items, potentially upgrading their modifiers or adding sockets. Be cautious—corrupted items can no longer be modified.
- Soul Cores: Powerful socketable items with unique mods unavailable from standard runes.
Tips for Success
- Gear Up: Don’t attempt the Trial until your character is well-geared with capped resistances and high DPS output.
- Farm Strategically: Intentionally die after collecting loot in early rooms to farm XP and rewards.
- Play to Your Strengths: Choose Tribulations that complement your build, and avoid those that target your weaknesses.
FAQ
What level should I be before attempting the Trial of Chaos?
It’s recommended to be mid-to-high level (around Act 3 or higher) with optimized gear and capped resistances.
Can I retry the Trial of Chaos if I fail?
Yes, but you’ll need another Chimeral Imbued Ultimatum, which can be obtained through random drops or by defeating Xyclucian again.
How many rooms are in the Trial of Chaos?
The Trial consists of up to ten rooms, but you only need to complete four for your first successful run.
