Test of Time Barya vs. Other Sekhemas Coins: What to Use When

[Eric554]

When deciding between the Test of Time Barya and other Sekhemas Coins in Path of Exile 2’s Trial of the Sekhemas, it helps to understand the unique effects and strategic uses of each coin to choose the best one for your goals and playstyle:

Test of Time Barya​

• Adds time-limited rooms where you must complete objectives quickly.
• Excellent for players with fast, high-mobility builds who can clear areas rapidly under tight timers.
• Increases trial difficulty by imposing time constraints but rewards quick, efficient play.
• Requires strong Honour management and survivability balanced with speed.
• Ideal if you want a skill-intensive, speed-focused challenge and faster completion of Ascendancy unlocks.

Other Common Sekhemas Coins and Their Uses​

• Test of Will Barya
  Emphasizes raw perseverance and endurance. This coin is suited for players who prefer a more straightforward combat challenge without time pressures, focusing on survivability and sustained fighting.
• Test of Strength Barya
  Focuses on brute force and tankiness. This is ideal if you want to prioritize defensive stats and damage absorption during the trial, often suited for tanky builds.
• Test of Cunning Barya
  Centers around agility and perception, often with an emphasis on traps and tactical navigation. Pick this if your build or playstyle excels in dodging, positioning, and dealing with environmental hazards.
• Djinn Barya
  This is the basic or repeatable coin type that opens the Trial, mainly required to enter and retry it. Usually does not add significant modifiers but is necessary for progression.

What to Use When​

• Use Test of Time Barya if your goal is to push for speed, clear the Trial quickly, and you have a build optimized for fast movement and AoE damage.
• Choose Test of Will or Strength Barya if you want a more traditional, combat-heavy trial experience without strict time limits, favoring durability.
• Opt for Test of Cunning Barya when your build and approach shine in handling traps, puzzles, and tactical challenges rather than direct combat.
• Use Djinn Barya primarily for access and retries without extra challenge modifiers.

Each Sekhemas Coin modifies the Trial experience differently, catering to various player skills and build strategies. Test of Time Barya stands out for adding a time pressure layer that rewards fast, efficient gameplay, setting it apart from the others focused more on combat style or survivability. Your choice depends on your build’s strengths and how you want to approach the Trial of the Sekhemas, whether with intensity and speed or endurance and tactical prowess.