Unlocking the Cowardly Fate: A Complete Guide to the Trial of Chaos

What the Trial of Chaos is

A late-campaign, high-difficulty set of rooms that players face to earn Ascendancy points, Soul Cores, and other endgame rewards. Each progression run presents escalating challenges and optional tribulations that modify difficulty and loot outcomes.
Completing the trial grants access to powerful endgame content and often yields items with unique affixes that can influence build power and crafting pathways.

Key mechanics to know

Tribulations: Each trial room exposes you to a set of modifiers that can improve loot or increase challenge. Choosing wisely among tribulations before entering rooms can tilt the difficulty vs loot balance in your favor.
Boss and loot pattern: The trial culminates in a boss fight. Loot drops scale with run difficulty and your success across rooms, including rare drops and potential currency rewards.
Ascendancy points: Successfully navigating the trial grants Ascendancy progression that unlocks powerful class-specific capabilities.

Strategic approach to maximize value

Preparation and scaling: Ensure your build has solid defensive layers, reliable sustain, and clear mechanics for dealing with boss mechanics and room spawns. A well-rounded, moderately tanky approach reduces failure risk and keeps your run smooth.
Tribulation selection: Before entering the trial, choose tribulations aligned with your build strengths. If a tribulation increases enemy density or danger but offers better loot quality or guaranteed souls, weigh the risk-reward balance carefully.
Map and loot awareness: Throughout the run, monitor potential loot quality versus time spent. If a given run drags and loot looks uncertain, reassess your strategy or consider stopping early to bank progress rather than pushing for a volatile payoff.
Exit strategy: Have a plan for what you’ll do with souls and loot from the trial—whether you’ll convert them into Ascendancy progression, currency, or crafting resources. Clear exit paths prevent wasted effort.

Tactical tips for success

Practice the boss mechanics: The final boss often requires pattern recognition and precise execution. Learn the boss’s attack windows, telegraphs, and movement phases to minimize damage and maximize uptime.
Maintain resource discipline: Conserve flasks, skill charges, and minimal downtime between rooms. Efficient movement and target prioritization reduce overall run time and fatigue.
Team play (if mixed modes): When playing with others, designate roles (damage, tank, support) and coordinate tribulations to optimize group performance and loot distribution fairness.

Post-run steps

Loot review: Quickly inventory what you earned, separating Soul Cores, currency, and gear with strong upgrade potential.
Plan next run: Decide whether to pursue another trial run, focus on crafting, or shift to other endgame activities based on what you gained and your current goals.
Documentation: If possible, note patterns from successful runs (which tribulations worked well, which bosses dropped better loot) to refine future attempts.