How to Prioritize Your Route in the Trial of the Sekhemas
The Trial of the Sekhemas is one of Path of Exile 2 Currency the most critical and challenging parts of Path of Exile 2’s Act 2. This rogue-lite, procedurally-generated dungeon crawl requires careful decision-making to survive and earn the Ascendancy subclass that can shape your entire character’s progression. A core element of mastering the Trial is planning and prioritizing your route through its many rooms.

Each room presents different risks and rewards—some have valuable resources like Sacred Water fountains or Merchants selling Boons and Relics, while others might offer Honor Shrines or just straightforward combat encounters. Knowing how to weigh these options and map out the most efficient path is key to completing the Trial successfully, especially since Sacred Water is lost upon death or exit and Honor acts like your life bar in the Trial.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to prioritize your route effectively so you maximize your Sacred Water, maintain your Honor, and ultimately claim the best possible rewards.

Understanding the Room Types and Their Importance
Before prioritizing, it’s essential to understand what kinds of rooms you will encounter, as each type impacts your strategy differently:

1. Sacred Water Fountain Rooms
These rooms contain fountains that replenish significant amounts of Sacred Water after clearing all enemies. Since Sacred Water is your currency to buy Boons, restore Honor, or craft Reward Keys, fountains are your primary resource source. Prioritizing these rooms is crucial early and throughout your run.

2. Merchant Rooms
Merchants offer powerful Boons (temporary buffs) and Relics (more permanent or long-lasting upgrades). These can dramatically improve your combat effectiveness or survivability. Although clearing these rooms may be difficult, the benefits often outweigh the risks.

3. Honor Shrine Rooms
Honor represents your “health” or run progress metric in the Trial. Low Honor can cause a failed run or reduced rewards. Honor Shrines restore your Honor in exchange for Sacred Water. These rooms are rare but vital if your Honor is dipping dangerously low.

4. Combat Rooms (Standard)
Most rooms will be combat-focused with no additional features but may have elite enemies or hazards. These are usually less rewarding but necessary for progression.

5. Reward Rooms
Found at the end of certain routes or runs, these rooms allow you to spend remaining Sacred Water on Reward Keys that unlock loot chests. Efficient use of leftover Sacred Water here can yield great gear or buy POE2 Currency currency.