Improving Acendancy Trials : A Thoughtful Proposal [Long Post]

LONG POST ABOUT FUTURE WAYS TO IMPROVE ASCENDING

TLDR :

1: RNG-Based trials requiring hitless runs is terrible design and limits the number of viable builds in the game

2: You chose the two most marmite league mechanics — both heavily avoided by large parts of the playerbase in POE1

3: With the Introduction of Act 4 Karui, introduce a 3rd method of Ascendancy based on the DELVE mechanic

4: In the short term rebalance loot so Ascendancy 3 & 4 can be run in Temple (Dhjin Coins drop rate is 10:1 temple)

5: Introduce unique Dhjinn coin and Incribed Ultimatum that reset debuffs and honour at the end of each floor


Main Issue

Right now, Ascendancy in PoE2 feels like a chore — it's either:

- A rogue-lite grind you engage with only because you have to or

- A punishing "save or suck" mechanic where you either get a perfect run or waste 30–45 minutes of your life

Neither of these systems feels integrated with the core gameplay loop.

They interrupt what you're doing — mapping, bossing — to make you go do a completely different game mode.

That’s fine if those systems are universally fun, but they’re not.

Lab was controversial for years, but it was atleast short and was more of a stat check then 3 slogs of negative boons requiring hitless runs.

Alternative

What I’m proposing is a 3rd, alternative path to Ascendancy that doesn’t invalidate the others — just offers a different route that feels like PoE gameplay.


A Delve-Based Ascendancy Path

Let’s tie Ascendancy progression to a mechanic that i dont run ONLY for ascendancy.

Not only does this make Ascendancy accessible through organic gameplay, but it also rewards actually running the game

Instead of needing to complete a 30-minute no-hit gauntlet, you could gain Ascendancy progression by delving deeper, reaching certain biomes, or surviving particularly dangerous encounters (e.g., node bosses, depth checkpoints, etc.).

This allows players to work toward Ascendancy while doing something they’re already motivated to do — farming fossils, getting loot, engaging with meaningful combat.

Most importantly: you’re not punished for failure in the same way. You can recover, re-run and try again, or just delve around it instead of restarting from square one because of a trap a desync OR BAD RNG ON BOONS!.


This doesn't have to be easier. It just has to be better integrated. And Delve offers a risk/reward structure that can scale beautifully with player power and ambition.

Why This Helps PoE2


- It aligns Ascendancy with PoE2’s commitment to deeper, more meaningful combat

- Things can be hard without requiring hitless mechanics like honor

- It opens the door to more builds and more playstyles being viable — not just ones that can clear the map with a button click (Only way i can do last trial right now)

- It’s a system already beloved by players, and one that already rewards time investment and progression naturally

- It doesnt remove the current methods just gives more options and then people that DO like the insanity of perfect hitless runs can get better loot as a result


Conclusion

Temple and Trials shouldn’t be the only two gates to one of the game’s most defining features.

By offering a Delve-based alternative, you're not removing challenge — you're just recontextualizing it into a mode that respects player time, rewards investment, and feels like part of the game, not a detour from it.

This is clearly not something that can be in Production in a week and would be many months away but i feel something like this would be a better mechanic for ascendancy before 1.0


Short Term Fixes

- Trials is awful, increase drop rate on inscribed ultimatums for Ascendancy 3 and 4 at least that would be better for most

- Want a chase unique that isn't overpowered and will be sought after? Introduce a Unique coin and ultimatum that removes the debuffs or choices after each trial/floor

i actuaIIy didn't even did my fourth ascendancy. yet, in 0.1.0 i farmed sekhema so yeah, it's reaIIy a hard content, in terms of time and fun aspect, it's a bit painfuII at first

Some people find it easier then others but Trials really only allows certain builds and is brutal if you dont pick a screen clearing build

Id just rather there was a 3rd way that was more woven into the game