The Test of Will Barya in Path of Exile 2 is a notoriously challenging trial that requires careful strategy and awareness to succeed. Many players struggle due to common mistakes that can be avoided with the right approach. Here’s a breakdown of the top errors to watch out for and tips on how to overcome them.
Top Mistakes to Avoid
1. Poor Honour Management
Honour acts as a secondary health pool that depletes when you take damage and cannot be restored by flasks. One of the biggest mistakes is neglecting Honour conservation—taking unnecessary damage from enemies, traps, or environmental hazards quickly drains it. Avoid reckless play and prioritize dodging attacks, as losing all Honour means instant failure.
2. Ignoring Room Afflictions and Boons
The trial’s map offers multiple paths, each room potentially carrying afflictions (debuffs) or boons (buffs). Many players rush through without carefully considering these modifiers. Choosing rooms with harmful afflictions that don’t suit your build can severely hamper your survivability. Always check room effects before entering and favor boons that restore or protect Honour, increase damage, or disable traps.
3. Underestimating Environmental Hazards
Traps, quicksand pools, and melee enemy ranges are deadly if not respected. Walking onto trap platforms or into quicksand can cause rapid Honour loss. Staying aware of your surroundings and maintaining distance from melee enemies prevents unnecessary damage.
4. Overaggression in Timed Rooms
Some rooms are timed and encourage killing enemies quickly, but rushing can lead to mistakes and damage. Balancing aggression with caution is vital—focus on controlling crowds and avoiding damage rather than speed alone.
5. Poor Preparation for the Boss Fight
The final boss in the Test of Will is a major hurdle. Many players enter unprepared, lacking knowledge of attack patterns or without boons that aid survivability. Learning boss mechanics, conserving Honour, and using boons strategically are key to victory.
6. Mismanaging Retry Limits and Quest Items
The trial has limited retries, and some players waste attempts due to avoidable deaths. Additionally, bugs with quest items like Balbala’s Barya have caused progression issues for some, so be cautious with quest-related actions and save progress when possible.
How to Succeed
Prioritize Honour Preservation: Dodge attacks, avoid traps, and select rooms with Honour-restoring boons. Use temporary invulnerability boons wisely.
Choose Rooms Strategically: Pick paths that align with your build’s strengths and avoid afflictions that cripple your damage or survivability.
Stay Vigilant of Environment: Keep distance from melee enemies, avoid traps, and watch for quicksand pools.
Balance Speed and Safety: In timed rooms, focus on efficient but safe clearing rather than reckless rushing.
Prepare for the Boss: Study attack patterns, maintain Honour, and enter the fight with beneficial boons active.
Manage Resources and Retries: Use retries sparingly and be aware of quest progression to avoid getting stuck.
By avoiding these common pitfalls and adopting a cautious, strategic approach, you can conquer the Test of Will Barya challenge. Mastery of Honour management, room selection, and combat tactics will turn this difficult trial into a rewarding experience that advances your character’s progression in Path of Exile 2.