On this page
- Quick answer
- Quick facts
- The Barya family
- Key properties
- How to get Baryas and Relics
- How to use a Barya and Relics
- Barya and Relic timing
- Pre-use checklist
- Outcomes by goal
- Risk analysis
- Community evidence
- Video walkthrough
- Problems and direct answers
- Connected content
- Patch history
- Sources and verification
- Changelog
Quick Facts
- Item Type
- Family
- Use Cases
- Trial · Ascendancy · Relics
QUICK ANSWER
Quick answer
Balbala's Barya (Act 2 quest) opens the first trial and is returned if you fail; Djinn Barya (drop / trade) opens repeatable runs whose floor count scales with item level.
The Relic Altar has 18 slots, 12 of which unlock by completing floors. The Barya is not consumed until you confirm the relics and start.
Entering or continuing the Trial of the Sekhemas to earn ascendancy points and Unique Relics from Zarokh.
The Relic Altar at the Trial of the Sekhemas — insert the Barya and place Relics before confirming.
Swapping Relics after the run starts, or assuming the quest Barya is lost on failure — it is returned to you.
QUICK FACTS
Quick facts
- Key item
- Barya
- Inserted into the Relic Altar to start or continue a floor.
- Saved progress
- Test Baryas
- Store Sacred Water, Boons, Afflictions and Pacts; tradeable.
- Relic Altar
- 18 slots (12 unlock)
- Relics must be placed before the run starts.
- Floors
- 1 to 4 by Barya iLvl
- Area level 22 / 45+ / 60+ / 75+ map to 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 floors.
- Pinnacle
- Zarokh, the Temporal
- Final boss on the 4-floor (75+ Djinn Barya) version; drops Unique Relics.
ITEM FAMILY
The Barya family
All Sekhemas key items are Baryas. The quest and Djinn Baryas start runs; the four Test Baryas are created by completing a floor and save that exact run so you can continue or trade it.
Quest key
Balbala's Barya
Act 2 quest trialDrops from Balbala, the Traitor in Act 2 Traitor's Passage. Opens the initial 1-floor trial and is returned to you if the run fails.
Repeatable key
Djinn Barya
By item levelRandom drop from Waystone (Tier 1+) maps and tradeable. Its item level sets how many floors the run contains (1 to 4) and whether it grants ascendancy points.
Save & continue
Test of Strength Barya
Floor 1 continueObtained by completing the previous floor; saves the current run (Sacred Water, Boons, Afflictions, Pacts) and continues at Floor 1.
Save & continue
Test of Will Barya
Floor 2 continueObtained by completing the Test of Strength floor; saves progress and continues at Floor 2.
Save & continue
Test of Cunning Barya
Floor 3 continueObtained by completing the Test of Will floor; saves progress and continues at Floor 3.
Save & continue
Test of Time Barya
Floor 4 / ZarokhObtained by completing the Test of Cunning floor; saves progress and continues into the Zarokh floor (Floor 4).
Relic
Normal Relics
Run buffsMagic-rarity relics that drop anywhere in the trial. Placed in the Relic Altar before the run to grant beneficial modifiers; cannot be changed once the run starts.
Relic
Unique Relics
Challenge runsDrop from Zarokh, the Temporal. Each applies a challenge modifier to the run and grants a special reward on completion; destroyed when applied.
PROPERTIES
Key properties
- Relic Altar slots
- 18 total, 12 unlock by floor
- 18 total; 12 unlock by completing trial floors.
- The Djinn Barya is not consumed until you confirm the relics and start.
- Run resources
- Honour + Sacred Water
- Honour equals your Life + Energy Shield and ends the run at 0.
- Sacred Water is a per-run currency spent at merchants and the Keth Forge.
- Floors by Barya iLvl
- 1 to 4 floors
- Area level 22 / 45+ / 60+ / 75+ map to 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 floors.
- Progress saved by
- Test Baryas
- Test Baryas store Sacred Water, Boons, Afflictions and Pacts on the item.
ACQUISITION
How to get Baryas and Relics
Baryas and Relics come from different places depending on whether you are starting the trial or continuing a saved run.
Balbala's Barya (quest)
Defeat Balbala, the Traitor in Act 2 Traitor's Passage; she drops the quest Barya that opens the first trial.
Djinn Barya (drop / trade)
Djinn Barya drops from monsters in Waystone (Tier 1+) maps and is tradeable. Higher item level means more floors.
Test Barya (continue)
Each Test Barya is created by completing the previous floor; it saves your current run so you can resume later or trade it.
Relics (drop / merchant)
Normal relics drop anywhere in the trial (monsters, caches, urns); Unique relics drop from Zarokh. Buy more from Balbala the Merchant inside a run.
USE FLOW
How to use a Barya and Relics
Insert the Barya
At the Trial of the Sekhemas, place a Balbala's / Djinn / Test Barya into the Relic Altar to start or resume a run.
Place Relics first
Before confirming, place your Relics into the Relic Altar. Relics must be set before the run starts — you cannot change them once the run begins.
Confirm and enter
The Djinn Barya is consumed only when you confirm the relics and start. Test Baryas resume the saved run.
Progress the floors
Clear rooms and bosses floor by floor. On success of a floor you may receive the next Test Barya to continue, or finish the run.
Unique Relic challenge (optional)
Apply a Unique Relic at the altar to convert the run into a harder challenge run with a special reward on completion.
VALID TARGET MATRIX
Barya and Relic timing
Barya types decide which floor you enter and whether the run is new or a saved continuation. Relics must be placed before the run starts.
| Target | Starts new run | Continues saved run | Relics placeable | Relics locked | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balbala's / Djinn Barya | Yes | No | Yes | No | Start a run |
| Test Barya (saved) | No | Yes | Yes | No | Continue saved run |
| Relic placement window | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Before confirm only |
PRE-USE CHECKLIST
Pre-use checklist
| Done | Check | Why it matters | Quick fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right Barya for goal Pick Balbala's / Djinn for a new run; pick the matching Test Barya to continue a saved run. | Wrong Barya starts the wrong floor or a fresh run. | Check the tooltip's floor and Sacred Water. | |
| Relics placed first Place all Relics in the altar before confirming. | Relics cannot be changed after the run starts. | Plan your Relic loadout beforehand. | |
| Honour Resistance capped Aim for 75% Honour Resistance from Relics before attempting higher floors. | Higher floors drain Honour fast. | Add Honour Resistance relics. | |
| Quest Barya is safe The quest Balbala's Barya is returned if you fail. | You can retry the campaign trial without losing the key. | Use it to learn the mechanics. |
OUTCOME ANALYSIS
Outcomes by goal
| Scenario | Benefit | Risk | Audience | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First ascendancy | Pick your ascendancy class | Low (quest Barya returned on fail) | Act 2 players | Low Use Balbala's Barya; learn the rooms |
| Points 3 to 6 | Level 60+ / 75+ Djinn Barya (3 to 4 floors) | Medium | Mid-game | Medium Stack Honour Resistance relics |
| Zarokh (points 7 to 8) | Final 2 ascendancy points + Unique Relic | High | Endgame | High 75% Honour Resistance and movement-speed relics |
| Relic farming | Time-Lost Jewels / relics | Medium | Farmers | Medium Optimize Sacred Water spend at the Merchant |
RISK ANALYSIS
Risk analysis
| Scenario | Gain | Loss | Risk | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enter without Honour Resistance | Faster start | Honour drains to 0, run fails | High | Cap Honour Resistance at 75% via relics |
| Wrong Barya floor | — | Wasted Barya / wrong progression | Medium | Read the tooltip floor before inserting |
| Unique Relic challenge | Special reward (e.g. Against the Darkness) | Much harder run; relic destroyed on apply | High | Only apply when your build can clear it |
| Trade a saved Test Barya | Skip floors for a price | Costs currency; wrong floor if mismatched | Low | Verify floor and saved progress before buying |
COMMUNITY EVIDENCE
Community evidence
Why did Balbala's Barya disappear after I failed?
Players think the quest Barya is consumed on failure.
The quest Balbala's Barya is returned to the player if the challenge is failed, unlike a Djinn Barya which is consumed on entry. Failing the campaign trial does not cost the key.
The quest Barya is returned on failure; a Djinn Barya is consumed on entry.
Can I buy someone's Barya saved to floor 4?
Players ask whether saved Test Baryas are tradeable.
Test Baryas save the current run and are tradeable, so you can buy a Barya already progressed to a later floor. Verify the saved floor and Sacred Water before purchasing.
Test Baryas are tradeable and preserve saved progress (Sacred Water, Boons, Afflictions, Pacts).
Why is the Relic Altar locked after I start?
Players expect to swap Relics mid-run.
Once the run starts the altar is inaccessible until the run is completed, failed, or forfeited. Relic bonuses are visible bottom-left of the trial map but cannot be changed.
Relics are locked once the run begins; place them before confirming.
video
Video walkthrough
YouTube
ULTIMATE Beginners Guide to Trial of the Sekhemas | Path of Exile 2 0.5 — z3r0pointflux
Current 0.5 walkthrough covering Relics, rooms, afflictions, and all four floors up to Zarokh.
Open source ↗PROBLEMS & DIRECT ANSWERS
Problems and direct answers
Relic Altar locked mid-run
Direct answer: Relics are locked the moment the run starts; you cannot swap them until the run ends.
- Place all Relics before confirming the Barya.
- If you forgot one, complete or fail the run and re-place next time.
Quest Barya 'gone' after fail
Direct answer: The quest Balbala's Barya is returned to you on failure; a Djinn Barya is consumed on entry.
- Check your inventory / quest items; it should be there.
- Only the Djinn Barya is lost on entry.
Wrong floor started
Direct answer: You inserted the wrong Barya. Balbala's / Djinn start fresh; Test Barya continues a saved floor.
- Read the Barya tooltip for its floor and saved progress before inserting.
Can't reach Zarokh
Direct answer: Zarokh is on the 4-floor version, which needs a Level 75+ Djinn Barya (Number of Trials: 4).
- Use a 75+ Djinn Barya for the 4-floor run.
- Or continue via a Test of Time Barya.
PATCH HISTORY
Patch history
Honour, Sacred Water, Boons / Afflictions and the Relic Altar system established for the Trial of the Sekhemas.
Trial of the Sekhemas moved into the new endgame storyline; Djinn Barya drop from Waystone maps; area-level-to-floor mapping standardized (22 / 45+ / 60+ / 75+).
Unique Relic challenge rewards (Against the Darkness, Temporalis, etc.) remain the Zarokh drop path; relics continue to be placeable only before the run.
SOURCES & VERIFICATION
Sources and verification
PoE2 0.5.0 Patch Notes — Trial of the Sekhemas endgame integration.
PoE2Wiki — Barya family, Relic Altar slots and Trial of the Sekhemas mechanics.
Mobalytics — Zarokh, the Temporal boss guide (drops Unique Relics).
Reddit — r/PathOfExile2 Sekhemas questions (UI symptoms).
changelog
Changelog
- Initial family reference for Sekhemas Baryas and Relics: Barya family table, Relic Altar, saved-run progress, and Unique Relic challenges. Marked pending-pc pending in-game verification.
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