Players have shared many hilarious and memorable mishaps with the Test of Cunning Barya in Path of Exile 2, showcasing how unforgiving and chaotic this trial can be:
- One common funny story involves players instantly dying right after placing the Barya on the Relic Altar, sometimes before even choosing a path. This usually happens because the trial's traps and hazards trigger unexpectedly fast, catching players completely off guard.
- Many players recount getting repeatedly hit by the spike traps or pressure plates, leading to embarrassing quick deaths. The trial’s complex environmental hazards, including quicksand slowing movement and poisonous smoke clouds, often frustrate and confuse players, causing amusing wipe moments.
- The sand worms, especially the leaping variants, are notorious for sudden, surprising kills that leave players laughing (or raging) after failed attempts. Their unpredictable leaps and burrow attacks have ruined countless runs, often right before the final boss.
- The final boss, Ashar the Sand Mother, inspires many dramatic and funny failures. Stories of players trying to "tank" her attacks, repeatedly getting knocked down or chased around the arena, are common. Some players joke about how they ended up circling around in panic rather than fighting effectively.
- In group trials, there are anecdotes of teammates accidentally triggering traps that wipe out the party or cause hilarious mess-ups, highlighting the chaotic nature of the Test of Cunning Barya in multiplayer settings.