Path of Exile 2 (PoE 2) introduces a array of challenging endgame and campaign content, and among its most compelling features is the Trial of the Sekhemas. As one of three core Ascension Trials, this randomized gauntlet tests players' combat skills, resource management, and strategic thinking through a series of rooms filled with monsters, traps, and unique mechanics. Completing its challenges unlocks powerful rewards, making it a must-tackle for any player aiming to maximize their character's potential. This will bring you more rewards, such as POE 2 Orbs. Below is a comprehensive breakdown of all Trial of the Sekhemas challenges and the rewards that await those who conquer them.

An Overview of the Trial of the Sekhemas

First accessible in Act 2 of the PoE 2 campaign, the Trial of the Sekhemas is a level 22 gauntlet structured across 4 floors, each containing 8 rooms-totaling 32 rooms per run. Unlike static challenges, each trial run is randomized, meaning no two attempts feel the same. The core mechanic binding all challenges is Honour: a unique survival resource that acts as the trial's "life bar." Any damage taken reduces Honour, and if it depletes entirely, the trial ends in failure.

To access the trial, players must first defeat Bal Bala the Traitor in the Traitor's Passage (Act 2), who drops Balbala's Barya-a quest item that serves as the trial key. This item is returned to the player if the trial is failed, allowing repeated attempts. For subsequent runs, players use Djinn Barya items, whose item level dictates the number of floors available and whether additional Ascendancy Points are awarded as rewards.

Core Mechanics Shaping All Challenges

Before diving into specific challenges, understanding the trial's key mechanics is critical. These systems influence every room and challenge, adding layers of strategy to each run.

Honour is the trial's most vital resource. Unlike regular health, it cannot be restored through standard healing items-instead, players must seek out rooms that reward Honour or use Sacred Water, a special resource earned in trials to purchase boons or healing. Boons and Afflictions also modify each run: boons grant buffs like increased Honour or Sacred Water gains, while afflictions add debuffs that raise difficulty, such as reduced defenses or unknown room objectives.

Relics are another key component. Players place relics on the Relic Altar (after inserting their Barya key) to gain buffs that ease trial progression-such as increased maximum Honour, life, or Sacred Water gains. Unique relics, though one-time-use and rare, offer powerful rewards but apply severe debuffs, turning the trial into a high-risk, high-reward endeavor.

All Trial of the Sekhemas Challenges

The trial's challenges are divided into room-based objectives, with each floor escalating in difficulty. While room types are randomized, they fall into distinct categories, each presenting a unique test. Below are the most common challenge types players will encounter:

1. Combat Gauntlet Challenges

These are the most straightforward challenges, tasking players with defeating all monsters in a room. Enemies range from regular Maraketh foes to elite mobs with dangerous modifiers, and room layouts often include traps (such as spike pits or fire jets) that deal additional Honour damage if triggered.

Higher floors introduce pack-size increases and enemy synergies-for example, casters paired with melee tanks-forcing players to prioritize targets and use crowd-control abilities effectively. Failing to clear all enemies within an unspoken time limit (implied by escalating trap damage) results in Honour loss and trial failure.

2. Objective-Based Room Challenges

These challenges require more than just brute force. Common objectives include activating sacred shrines (while fending off enemies), destroying corruption orbs before they explode, or escorting a vulnerable NPC to safety through a monster-filled room.

A notable objective is the "Hourglass Trial," where players must complete tasks before a timer runs out-adding urgency to every action. Another variant is the "Ritual Trial," which requires players to stand in consecrated circles to progress, leaving them vulnerable to enemy attacks. These challenges reward patience and positioning over raw damage.

3. Boss Challenges

Every floor culminates in a boss fight, with the final 4th-floor boss being Zaro Kh, the Temporal-the trial's ultimate test. Earlier floor bosses include Rattlecage, the Earthbreaker, a slow but devastating foe with lava-based attacks that deal massive Honour damage if dodged incorrectly.

Bosses have unique mechanics: Rattlecage creates lava pools that persist on the ground, while Zaro Kh manipulates time, spawning clones and slowing player movements. Defeating bosses requires learning their attack patterns and using relic buffs strategically-for example, using a relic that increases fire resistance to counter Rattlecage's lava attacks.

4. Unique Relic Challenges

For seasoned players, unique relics offer optional but highly difficult challenges. Each unique relic applies a severe debuff but grants exclusive rewards if the trial is completed with the relic equipped.

The rarest unique relic, The Last Flame, reduces maximum Honour to 1-making any hit a potential failure-but rewards players with Temporalis, one of PoE 2's most powerful unique items. These challenges are true skill checks, reserved for players with optimized builds and extensive trial experience.

All Trial of the Sekhemas Rewards

The Trial of the Sekhemas offers rewards ranging from campaign progression tools to endgame-defining unique items, scaling with the trial's difficulty and the player's performance. Below are all confirmed rewards, organized by their significance:

1. Campaign and Ascension Rewards

Completing the trial for the first time (using Balbala's Barya) is required to unlock Ascension Classes-specialized character archetypes that grant powerful passive skills and abilities, shaping the core of a player's build. This is the trial's most critical campaign reward, as Ascension Classes are essential for late-game success.

Higher-level Djinn Barya keys (earned from endgame content or trading) grant additional Ascendancy Points upon completion. These points allow players to further customize their Ascension Class, unlocking even more powerful passives.

2. Room and Floor Rewards

Each cleared room rewards players with basic loot, including currency items (such as Orbs of Alteration or Chaos Orbs), rare equipment, and Sacred Water. Floor completion rewards are more valuable: clearing Floor 1 grants common relics, Floor 2 offers rare relics, and Floors 3 and 4 yield epic relics with powerful buffs.

Boss reward rooms, unlocked after defeating a floor boss, contain guaranteed rare or unique items. These rooms also offer Pledges-optional agreements that grant additional rewards but apply permanent afflictions for the remainder of the trial (e.g., increased enemy damage in exchange for more currency).

3. Unique and Endgame Rewards

The most coveted rewards come from completing the trial with unique relics or defeating Zaro Kh, the Temporal. Defeating Zaro Kh with a unique relic equipped guarantees a powerful unique item-each relic corresponds to a specific unique, with The Last Flame yielding the highly sought-after Temporalis.

Zaro Kh also drops unique relics themselves (in runs using level 75+ Djinn Barya keys), which are poe2 trade and highly valuable. The rarest unique relics, like The Last Flame, can sell for up to 250 Divine Orbs-making the trial a lucrative endgame farming activity for skilled players.

Additionally, completing the trial on higher difficulties (with more floors) grants increased quantities of currency, relics, and unique items-rewarding players who embrace the trial's challenge.

Final Tips for Conquering the Trial

To succeed in the Trial of the Sekhemas, prioritize resource management: always choose rooms that reward Honour or Sacred Water when your Honour is low. Use relics strategically-common relics that boost Honour or defenses are ideal for beginners, while unique relics are best reserved for optimized builds.

Learn boss patterns and don't rush: taking time to dodge attacks and clear traps will preserve your Honour and increase your chances of success. Finally, farm higher-level Djinn Barya keys to unlock more floors and better rewards-turning the trial from a campaign milestone into a staple of your endgame routine.

The Trial of the Sekhemas is more than just a test of strength-it's a showcase of PoE 2's deep, strategic gameplay. With its varied challenges and rewarding loot, it offers endless replayability and a clear path to character progression. Whether you're a new player unlocking your first Ascension Class or a veteran farming unique relics, the Trial of the Sekhemas has something to offer every PoE 2 adventurer.