Love the game. Ascendancy is a bad experience.

Basically just making this post because I don't know where is best to give feedback.

Trials are very difficult in ways that are different from the rest of the game. This limits builds in the case of sanctum and I don't even know what to make of trials of chaos. I like the concept, but some mods do nothing and some mods will end your run alone. The one boss does like a million damage even when over-leveling it by like 10 levels. Some rooms are kill like 15 white mobs and others are survive the hardest boss fight of your life.

It has occurred to me that if content is super difficult for you as a player or for your build your time is way over indexed on that content if you feel you have to do it.

What I enjoy most about PoE is building characters, theory crafting, blasting maps, playing with friends, etc. Trials are everything I don't like. Difficult, inconsistent, forced, stressful, solo, etc.

If there is a better way of giving feedback please let me know. I'd be happy to send an email or something less public in the future!

I and many others completely agree with you. The requirement to run an overtuned and intensely unenjoyable (for me) mechanic has ended my EA run with the game I think.

My hope is GGG read all this impassioned negative feedback on this, and make reasonable alternatives.

Adding my agreement here. Tried the Trial of Chaos and failed hard (at around level 35) and not been back since even though I want to test out the Ascendency passives. I'm now 43 so will probably go back and have another go, but the mobs were just swarming my minion witch as soon as I got of the elevator and couldn't even make a dent!

I'm sure GG will take a look and tweak.

I don't know if this is just me, but I have still been unable to get my last ascendancy points.

I have played PoE for many years and have done nearly all the content including all uber bosses. I enjoyed it and enjoyed that it was optional.

Ascendancy points 3 and 4 are by far the worst experience I have ever had with any video game.

Ascendancy trials are trash. Absolutely toxic content. I think, in their own right, for an endgame system they are GOOD. But locking a core part of our gameplay, character build, character agency behind Lab X 10 X steroids is just the wrong design decision GGG.

Going for points beyond 4...
Not only is Sanctum still ridiculously unforgiving and difficult, it is insanely long, only to probably die after 30-45+ minutes. I attempted to get my 5th and 6th points. Cruised through the first floor. Cruised through most of the second floor until the last two rooms that took away 2000 honor. "get good"? lol... Ultimatum, dont get me started. Good luck.

I wonder what the stats are of how many people are going beyond four points.

Now, the devs are on break for the holiday and thats fine. Take time, job well done! But when you get back, please prioritize this. No one likes it. No one gets excited about it. It is so far removed from the rest of the content we engage with. We dont like it and it'll always be a bane and drag on an otherwise fun game.

I have always hated this mechanic in POE 1, haven't done it since the league that it started in. It frustating to get to the final boss and have 50 honor left. At this point I don't see ever getting an assendency. First rule of gaming should be fun, the vast majority of people playing path of exile probably are never able to do the high level of content.

the ascendancy trials is the worst decision that GGG has ever made

Its the price you have to pay when you decide to eat meal thats half-baked.

agree
why the hell have they done this with the Ascendancy
Also die in a map and its over should be removed what is the point of that
YOU GAME ISN'T FUN

I actually find both trials fun, but they defiantly need to be a bit less harsh for beginners.