Path of Exile 2 Trials of Chaos guide

Trials of Chaos in Path of Exile 2 is an optional challenge, but one worth undertaking. If you’re trying to grow in power as well as unlock useful, rare crafting materials, this is certainly one way to go about it. In some ways, it’s similar to the Trial of the Sekehemas, and in others, it’s quite a different experience. Either way, once you hit Act 3 and are ready to take on a real challenge, this will be waiting.

Path of Exile 2’s Trials of Chaos await once you’ve unlocked them, and will always be waiting. However, after the first time you’ve completed them, it will be a long, tedious grind to return — but it will be worth it if you want more Ascension points.

How to begin Trials of Chaos in Path of Exile 2

To even begin the Trials of Chaos in Path of Exile 2, you must defeat Xyclucian the Chimera in the Chimeral Wetlands of Act 3. Defeating the enemy the first time will drop a Chimeral Imbued Ultimatum, the currency you need for the Trials of Chaos. It’s similar to getting the items for the Trial of the Sekehemas.

Step 1: Defeat the Chimera (Image via Grinding Gear Games)

Defeating Xyclucian isn’t especially difficult either. When it’s on a stone pillar, attack hard to break it down so you can reach the boss (if melee). Avoid the line of ice it drops as well as the fire attacks and other AOEs. It’s not a challenging foe, but it must be brought down to continue the main story and unlock this further challenge.

The next step is to find the Temple entrance in the Chimeral Wetlands. One of the exits to this map leads you right to the Trials of Chaos at the Temple of Chaos in Path of Exile 2. You should be at least level 38 before you try this, but higher certainly won’t hurt. Just plug your Chimeral Imbued Ultimatum into the Temple Offering and hit Open. Enter alone or with a group and you can begin.

How Trials of Chaos work in Path of Exile 2

You need an Inscribed Ultimatum - these can drop off of any enemy, so be patient for future attempts (Image via Grinding Gear Games)

Each stage of the Trials of Chaos in Path of Exile 2 works in the same way. You need to Pick a Tribulation, Complete a Challenge, and defeat a boss every three rooms. After you’ve won, you can claim your loot and potentially Ascendancy points. For the first trip through, you gain 2 Ascendancy points.

The Tribulations are a wide variety of unpleasant challenges/debuffs that get added to your character/party for the whole run. Some of them are completely brutal, and some are a minor nuisance at best. The actual stages are pretty easy. It’s stuff like “Defeat all enemies,” “Survive for a length of time,” or “Escort a statue across the map.”

You’ll have to stand near it to keep it floating and moving. The enemies will be an equal level of the Ultimatum you used, the default being 38. However, if you find others later, they will be at a higher level — such as the 40/50 level ones I found. Once you defeat a boss, you can claim your rewards, and move on, if the Ultimatum allows for more than four floors.

Your Tribulations carry over, so things can get incredibly dicey (Image via Grinding Gear Games)

To make things a little easier, we’ve divided up the Tribulations, into groups, in order of our preference. Some of them should seldom be picked, that’s for sure. Of course, this also depends on your build, group composition, or what you trust yourself to deal with.

Best Tribulations to choose

Time Paradox: Buffs expire three times faster and Debuffs expire three times slower
Lessened Reach: 50% less Area of Effect and Projectile Speed
Resistant Monsters: Monsters have +50% to all Resistances
Volatile Fiends: Monsters release deadly volatiles on death. Rare monsters leave larger ones.
Blood Globules: Globules of blood manifest nearby, tracking you. When above you they will fall, dealing physical damage.
Fire turrets: Periodically fire small fireballs from stone turrets across the map.

Mediocre Tribulations

Vaal Omnitect: An ancient Vaal machination will deploy attacks against nearby intruders.
Damaged Defenses (if ranged): 50% less defenses.
Deadly Monsters (if ranged): Monsters always deal critical hits

Avoid these Tribulations

Drought: Monsters grant no Flask or Charm Charges on death.
Heart Tethers: Bloody hearts appear that apply tethers, slowing you. Breaking the tether will stun you.
Petrification Statues: Challenge area contains several statues that petrify you if you stand within their gaze for a duration.
Stormcaller Runes: Runes will appear that call deadly lightning storms if you remain in them.
Impending Doom: Rings of Doom appear on the ground which grow over time, exploding for physical damage once they reach a maximum area.
Toxic Monsters: Monster hits always inflict bleeding and poison.

There are three bosses you can potentially find in the Trials of Chaos in Path of Exile 2. In our experience, we always fought Chetza, the Feathered Plague first, but that could vary for your first attempt. Below, you can find links to guides for all three bosses:

Success will net you a wide assortment of items, such as Vaal Orbs and Soul Cores. The Ultimatum you used will also inform you if you can gain Ascendancy points upon completion, so keep that in mind as well. To return you need another Inscribed Ultimatum, but they are a random drop, so you may have to be patient.

Check out our other Path of Exile 2 guides and features:

Edited by Adarsh J Kumar