The Trial of Chaos in Path of Exile 2 is one of the most intense and rewarding wave-based challenges in the game. Whether you're tackling it for ascension, farming soul cores, or unlocking the secret boss, there’s a lot to gain from mastering these trials. But is it worth doing early in the endgame? How does it compare to other PoE 2 endgame activities? And most importantly, what are the best rewards you can get from it? Let’s dive in.
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The Trial of Chaos becomes available in Act 3, marking an important challenge for players aiming to test their skills and farm valuable loot.
You’ll find the entrance to the Temple of Chaos, which can be reached by traveling through the Wetlands in the Barrens.
For those progressing further, it reappears in Cruel Act 3 at the Sanctum, Trial of Chaos, offering a tougher version of the challenge.
To enter the trial, you’ll need a Keystone, known as an Inscribed Ultimatum. These Keystones dictate the number of trials you’ll face per run:
Level 40 Keystones – Includes 4 trial runs, serving as a good introduction for mid-game players.
Level 80 Keystones – Features 10 trial runs, which is the endgame version with significantly harder enemies and better rewards.
The 10-trial version is where the real challenge begins.
Completing it not only grants superior loot but also rewards pieces of the Keystone required to summon the final secret boss, making it a must-do activity for players looking to maximize their endgame progression.
Each Trial of Chaos run consists of multiple wave-based floors, with each floor presenting a unique challenge that must be completed before progressing to the next.
These challenges can include:
Surviving for a set duration – Enemies will continuously spawn, and you must stay alive until the timer runs out.
Defeating a number of enemies – A fixed number of monsters must be eliminated before the trial advances.
Avoiding environmental hazards – Some floors introduce deadly ground effects, traps, or explosions, requiring careful movement and positioning.
After successfully completing a floor, you’re presented with a choice:
A corrupted item – These may have powerful stats but come with downsides, making them high-risk, high-reward. Here's how to make level 21 corrupted gems in PoE 2.
A soul core – These are one of the main reasons to farm the Trial of Chaos, as they can be slotted into rune slots to grant powerful passive bonuses. Some of these are highly valuable in both gameplay and trade value.
At the end of each floor, you can choose to leave with your rewards or push forward for even better loot.
However, each subsequent wave ramps up the difficulty, introducing stronger enemies and tougher mechanics, making deeper runs a high-risk, high-reward strategy for those seeking maximum profit and challenge.
Not all Soul Cores offer the same benefits, but some are exceptionally powerful for both character progression and trade value.
Among the best to farm is Citaqualotl Soul Core, which provides 30% increased elemental damage.
This bonus is huge for elemental-based builds, making it a high-demand item that can be stacked across multiple rune slots for even greater effect.
If you’re farming Soul Cores for currency, keep an eye on trade listings, as certain cores can fetch insane prices.
Some of the most sought-after Soul Cores are currently selling for over 40 Exalted Orbs each, making the Trial of Chaos one of the most profitable endgame grinds.
With the right setup, consistently farming and flipping these valuable cores can become a steady source of wealth, helping you gear up for even tougher content.
Here's how to farm divines and exalted orbs in Trials of Chaos.
Impending Doom – Creates an expanding ground effect that deals damage once fully formed. This modifier is one of the easiest to handle since it leaves a huge safe zone in the center, allowing you to ignore it completely if positioned correctly.
Storm Caller – Places runes on the ground that activate after a short delay. These are highly predictable, meaning as long as you pay attention, you can walk around them effortlessly.
Modifiers that affect enemy skill speed – If your build freezes, stuns, or disables enemies, increased enemy attack speed or cast speed becomes a non-issue, making this a free modifier that won’t impact your run.
Reduced Max Resistances – One of the most dangerous modifiers as it lowers your resistance cap, making elemental damage and DoT effects lethal. This can instantly end your run if you get hit by high-damage burns, shocks, or freezes.
Enemies deal more Critical Damage – Even if you have solid defenses, a few unlucky enemy crits can one-shot you, especially at higher trial levels. Avoid this whenever possible.
Bosses deal increased damage – Boss fights are already tough, and adding even more damage scaling can turn winnable fights into instant deaths, making this one of the worst modifiers to take.
Always choose avoidable mechanics over permanent enemy buffs.
If you can dodge, sidestep, or time your movements to avoid damage, it’s a much better option than something that directly weakens your survivability.
Smart modifier selection is the difference between a smooth run and a frustrating early failure, so choose wisely!
The Trialmaster, the hidden final boss of the Trial of Chaos, can only be summoned by collecting three key fragments.
These fragments drop at the end of a 10-trial run, making this the most challenging and rewarding version of the trial.
The three fragments you need are:
These fragments can be farmed by repeatedly running 10-trial keystone maps, though the drop rate is low, making it a long-term farming goal.
Alternatively, they can be purchased on the trade market, but due to their rarity and demand, they often sell for high prices.
Once you have all three fragments, head to the keystone slot at the very end of the 10th floor.
Inserting them will activate the Trialmaster fight, giving you a chance at some of the best rewards in the Trial of Chaos.
The Trialmaster is a challenging but manageable boss, provided you have good mobility and solid defenses.
His attacks are delayed but powerful, meaning that proper positioning and awareness are key to surviving.
While the fight isn’t mechanically overwhelming, a lack of preparation can quickly turn it into a disaster.
Easier than Simulacrum bosses – Simulacrum encounters throw waves of enemies and unpredictable chaos at you, whereas the Trialmaster’s attacks are more structured and avoidable.
Comparable to early Breachstone bosses – He is on par with lower-tier Breachstone bosses in terms of mechanics and difficulty. If you’ve handled those, this fight should feel familiar.
Much easier than upgraded Breachstone encounters – Unlike high-tier Breachstone bosses, Trialmaster’s abilities are slower and more telegraphed, giving you ample time to react.
If you can successfully clear a 10-trial run, you should have no trouble handling the Trialmaster, making this a worthwhile fight for both loot and experience. If you are suffering from low damage, check out our Highest DPS Builds for all Ascendancies.
The biggest reason to take on the Trialmaster is the chance to obtain Adorned Diamonds, one of the most powerful and valuable jewels in PoE 2.
These jewels are a game-changer for builds that rely on Corrupt Magic Jewels, as they enhance their effects, making them a key component for high-end min-maxed setups.
Adorned Diamonds significantly boost Corrupt Magic Jewels, increasing their bonuses by up to 100%, meaning every stat on these jewels gets amplified massively.
A high-roll Adorned Diamond can turn average gear into top-tier equipment, making it one of the most sought-after items among elite players.
These jewels are also highly profitable, with the best rolls selling for a fortune in trade, making farming the Trialmaster an excellent currency-making strategy.
If your build uses Corrupt Magic Jewels, securing a high-roll Adorned Diamond can skyrocket your overall effectiveness.
Whether you're farming for your own build or looking to flip them for massive profits, investing time in Trialmaster runs could be one of the best endgame moves you make.
If you're looking for something different from standard mapping, the Trial of Chaos is a fun and profitable alternative.
While it may not replace Breachstone farming for raw currency, it provides:
Strong rewards with valuable soul cores.
A secret boss fight with unique loot.
High-value trade items like Adorned Diamonds.
If you're looking to break away from the usual grind and farm high-value items, give the Trial of Chaos a shot. You might just walk away with one of the best jewels in the game!