PoE 2 Trial of the Sekhemas: A Complete Guide to Entry, Zarohk, and Sekhemas Coins

The Trial of the Sekhemas in Path of Exile 2 is a crucial challenge for players looking to enhance their character through the Ascendancy system. It starts as an Act 2 trial but extends into endgame challenges where greater rewards and tougher encounters await. The pinnacle of this trial is Zarohk, the Temporal, a powerful boss who tests even the best builds. Additionally, the Sekhemas Coins, such as the Test of Will Barya, Test of Cunning Barya, Djinn Barya, and Test of Time Barya, allow players to modify their trial experience. This guide covers everything you need to know, from entering the trial to defeating Zarohk and using these special coins effectively.

How to Enter the Trial of the Sekhemas

Early Game Entry (Act 2)

To access the Trial of the Sekhemas for the first time in Act 2, follow these steps:

1. Defeat Balbala, the Traitor:

   • Found in Traitor's Passage near Halani Gates.

   • Drops Balbala’s Barya, which grants access to the trial.

2. Use the Desert Map to Travel:

   • Return to the Ardura Caravan and navigate to the Trial of the Sekhemas.

   • Speak with Balbala, the Advisor to begin.

Endgame Access

Once you complete the campaign, the Trial of the Sekhemas becomes available at a higher difficulty with greater rewards. This requires a Djinn’s Barya Coin, obtainable through:

• Drops in Waystone (Tier 1+) Maps.

• Trading with other players.

• Completing high-tier expeditions and arena challenges.

For the best gear and coins, check out SSEGOLD, where you can quickly get the currency and items you need to tackle these challenges. You can also explore a wide selection of PoE 2 items to enhance your build and improve your chances in the trial.

Understanding the Number of Trials in Djinn Barya

Each Djinn Barya coin has a detail called "Number of Trials," which represents the number of floors you’ll need to complete within the trial. Each floor increases the challenge and offers escalating rewards.

• Level 60+ Djinn Barya: Typically features 3 floors.

• Level 75+ Djinn Barya: Usually comprises 4 floors.

The more trials you face, the harder the enemies and traps become—but the rewards also scale up significantly. Make sure your character is prepared before attempting higher-level Djinn Barya trials. As Zarohk is at the final floor, if you want a challenge at him but don’t have the needed Djinn Barya, check SSEGold PoE 2 Items.

Understanding Honour and Room Selection

The Honour Bar determines your survival in the trial. Losing all Honour forces a restart.

• Honour Loss: Taking damage depletes your Honour.

• Honour Restoration: Cannot be restored with flasks; instead, it is replenished via trial rewards or shrine bonuses.

Each trial is composed of different rooms offering unique challenges:

• Combat Trials: Face waves of enemies.

• Trap Gauntlets: Navigate deadly traps.

• Puzzles and Time Challenges: Solve mechanisms or defeat enemies within a set time.

Picking the right rooms based on your build is key to surviving and progressing efficiently.

Boons and Afflictions

Sekhemas Coins and Their Effects

Sekhemas Coins modify your trial experience, providing different challenges and rewards.

Djinn Barya

• Used to unlock and participate in the Trial of the Sekhemas

Test of Will Barya

• Increases enemy damage and speed but boosts the quality of rewards.

• Recommended for high-damage, tanky builds that can handle tougher encounters.

Test of Cunning Barya

• Introduces additional traps and puzzle-based mechanics.

• Best suited for high-mobility characters who can maneuver effectively.

Test of Time Barya

• Adds time-limited rooms where objectives must be completed quickly.

• Works well for fast-clearing builds with strong area damage.

How to Use Sekhemas Coins

• Before entering a trial, place the desired coin on the Relic Altar.

• Multiple coins can be used to stack effects (e.g., combining Test of Will and Test of Cunning creates a high-difficulty, high-reward scenario).

• Coins are tradable and can be bought from other players, or sourced easily from SSEGOLD.
  

List of Relics in the Trial of the Sekhemas

Regular Relics

These relics can be obtained by completing rooms and defeating bosses within the trial. They provide useful bonuses during a run and can be combined for greater effect:

• Amphora Relic – Provides additional effects during the Trial of the Sekhemas.
  

• Coffer Relic – Provides additional effects during the Sekhema Trial.
  

• Incense Relic – Grants additional effects during the Sekhemas trial.
  

• Seal Relic – Grants additional effects during the Sekhemas trial.
  

• Tapestry Relic – Grants additional effects during the Sekhemas trial.
  

• Urn Relic – Grants additional effects during the Sekhemas trial.
  

• Vase Relic – Provides additional effects during the Sekhemas' trial.
  

Special Relics

The following six relics can only be obtained by defeating Zarokh, the Temporal — the final boss of the Trial of the Sekhemas. These relics have powerful effects but are destroyed after use. Each relic also unlocks the potential for unique drops upon successful completion of the Trial:

1. The Last Flame

   • Dropped by Zarokh, the Temporal

   • Sets maximum honor to 1

   • Can only be used in level 80+ trials

   • Destroyed upon use

   • Successfully completing the trial with this relic equipped may reward you with Temporalis
     
     

2. The Peacemaker

   • Dropped by Zarokh, the Temporal

   • Gives you an additional Barya

   • Removes all defenses while equipped

   • Destroyed upon use
     
     

3. The Remembered Tales

   • Dropped by Zarokh, the Temporal

   • Prevents you from gaining boons

   • Destroyed upon use

   • Successfully completing the quest with this relic equipped may reward you with Blessed Bonds
     
     

4. The Burden of Leadership

   • Dropped by Zarokh, the Temporal

   • Hides room details on the trial map

   • Destroyed upon use

   • Successfully completing the trial with this relic equipped can reward you with Sekhema's Resolve Ring
     
     

5. The Changing Seasons

   • Dropped by Zarokh, the Temporal

   • Prevents restoration of honor

   • Destroyed upon use

   • Successfully completing the trial with this relic equipped may reward you with the Sandstorm Visage
     
     

6. The Desperate Alliance

   • Dropped by Zarokh, the Temporal

   • Increases damage dealt by 100%, but reduces damage taken by 75%

   • Destroyed upon use

   • Successfully completing the trial with this relic equipped may reward you with Against the Darkness
     
     

Trial of the Sekhemas Bosses

Rattlecage, the Earth Breaker (Floor 1)

• Damage Types: Physical, Fire

• Resistances: Physical, Fire, Lightning

• Weakness: Cold

• Rewards: Floor 1 completion

• Strategy: Rattlecage has a fairly simple and predictable moveset, which makes it easy to react to. However, in the last 10% of its health, the number of falling stalactites and magma geysers increases dramatically. Stay mobile and listen to Balbala's warnings to avoid incoming attacks.
  

Terracotta Sentinels (Floor 2)

• Damage Types: Physical, Cold, Fire

• Resistances: Physical, Fire (Hadi), Cold (Rafiq)

• Weakness: Cold (Hadi), Fire (Rafiq)

• Rewards: Completed floor 2, second set of Ascendancy points

• Strategy: Defeating a guardian triggers arena hazards based on the element of the defeated guardian. Kill Hadi first to avoid Rafiq's Cold Missiles and Cold Ground, which can slow you down significantly and make you vulnerable to follow-up attacks.
  

Ashar, the Sand Mother (Floor 3)

• Damage Types: Physical, Chaos

• Resistances: Physical, Fire, Lightning

• Weakness: Cold

• Rewards: Floor 3 completion, third set of Ascendancy points

• Strategy: The arena has pressure plates that trigger traps that summon Adorned Beetles or fire poison darts. These traps deal high Health and Honor damage, making positioning critical. Avoid stepping on the plates and stay agile to avoid the swarms.
  

Zarokh, the Temporal (Floor 4)

• Damage Types: Physical

• Resistances: Fire, Cold, Lightning

• Rewards: Completion of the Trial of the Sekhemas, Fourth Set of Ascension Points

• Strategy: Zarokh's attacks are highly telegraphed but hit hard. Proper timing and positioning are essential for survival. Be especially careful when using relics such as The Last Flame, which sets your maximum honor to 1.
  

How to Defeat Zarohk, the Temporal

On the final floor of the endgame version of the Trial of the Sekhemas, players face Zarohk, the Temporal, a powerful adversary with distinct phases and mechanics.

Zarohk’s Attack Patterns and Phases

Zarohk has three phases, each progressively more difficult:

Phase 1: Standard Combat

• Temporal Slices: Zarohk swings his blade, releasing shockwaves.

• Time Ripple: Creates a ripple that slows movement and reduces attack/cast speed.

• Summon Sekhema’s Shades: Summons shadow warriors that attack in unison.

Strategy: Stay mobile and avoid standing in slowed areas.

Phase 2: Temporal Rift

• Time Fracture: Alters time flow, causing rapid speed-ups or slowdowns.

• Blade Echoes: Releases ghostly blades that track players.

• Chrono Collapse: A large explosion affecting all areas where time was previously fractured.

Strategy:

• Watch for time anomalies and move accordingly.

• Attack during slow phases and defend during speed bursts.

• Use movement skills like Flame Dash or Blink Arrow to escape Time Fracture zones.

Phase 3: Unleashed Power

• Sekhema’s Judgement: A massive arena-wide wave attack.

• Temporal Collapse: The entire arena becomes unstable, shifting between past and future states.

• Summon Infinite Shades: Constant waves of shadow warriors until Zarohk is defeated.

Strategy:

• Prioritize high damage output to finish the fight before being overwhelmed.

• Focus on AOE attacks for managing summoned shades.

• Keep moving and avoid the unstable areas to prevent getting locked into Temporal Collapse.

How Relics Work in the Trial of the Sekhemas

Relics are special items that you can equip before starting the trial to modify your experience or enhance your chances of success. Here’s how they function:

• Equipping Relics: Before beginning the trial, place relics on the Relic Altar alongside your Sekhemas Coin.

• Relic Effects: Relics can boost Honour, increase damage, provide resistance bonuses, or even alter room mechanics.

• Stacking Relics: You can equip multiple relics to stack their effects, allowing for greater customization and strategic advantage.

• Obtaining Relics: Relics are found throughout the game world, in higher-tier maps, or purchased from other players through services like SSEGold.com.

Using the right combination of relics and coins can significantly alter the trial's difficulty and rewards, giving you an edge against even the toughest challenges.

Final Tips for Success in Trial of the Sekhemas

• Choose Your Rooms Wisely: Don’t pick rooms that counter your build’s weaknesses.

• Gear Up for Honour Management: Use relics that boost Honour regeneration.

• Stack Chaos Resistance: Zarohk deals chaos and time-based damage.

• Use the Right Sekhemas Coin: Pick a coin that complements your playstyle.

• Trade for Coins and Gear: If you need better gear or specific coins, check SSEGold for trading options.

Conclusion

The Trial of the Sekhemas in Path of Exile 2 is one of the most exciting and rewarding challenges in the game. Whether you’re tackling it in Act 2 for your Ascendancy class or taking on Zarohk, the Temporal in its endgame form, preparation is key. Using Sekhemas Coins and Relics to tailor your experience allows for varied playstyles and unique rewards.

Mastering this trial not only strengthens your character but also unlocks powerful endgame possibilities. So gear up, choose your path wisely, and claim your place among the Sekhemas!

Good luck, Exile!