The Disciple of Varashta is a Sorceress Ascendancy class in Path of Exile 2 built around commanding powerful, invulnerable Djinn through active command skills. Instead of passive minion gameplay, this Ascendancy rewards deliberate timing, cooldown management, and positional awareness.
Each Djinn functions like an extension of your spellcasting, unleashing devastating effects only when you command them. This Ascendancy blends high spell damage, critical burst windows, and strong defensive layers through Energy Shield, Mana, and Armour interactions.
1. What Is the Disciple of Varashta?
Disciple of Varashta Ascendancy Gameplay
Disciple of Varashta allows the Sorceress to bind and command Djinn, powerful elemental entities that act only when ordered. These Djinn are invulnerable, cannot be targeted by enemies, and do not behave like traditional minions. Instead, they respond to command skills, which function as active spells with cast times and cooldowns.
1.1 Core Mechanics
Each Djinn begins with a base summon skill and can unlock up to three additional command skills through Ascendancy investment. This structure allows for deep customization and multiple viable setups.
- Djinn only act when commanded
- Commands are affected by cast speed and cooldown recovery
- You may run one, two, or all three Djinn, depending on your build
- Ascendancy passives directly modify Djinn’s effectiveness and your defenses
- Designed for intentional, high-impact gameplay, not button spam
2. Djinn Overview and Roles
The Disciple of Varashta Ascendancy revolves around three distinct Djinn, each fulfilling a unique combat role. You can specialize in one Djinn or combine multiple for a hybrid setup.
2.1 Ruzhan, the Blazing Sword
Ruzhan is the primary offensive Djinn, specializing in large-scale fire damage and wide-area spells. He automatically strikes enemies when you use damaging skills, but his true power comes from command abilities that unleash explosive fire effects.
Ruzhan excels at clearing packs and dealing consistent boss damage, making him ideal for fire-focused spellcasters.
2.2 Kelari, the Tainted Sands
Kelari focuses on critical strike burst damage and corpse-based mechanics. His kit rewards precise timing, setup, and execution. Kelari is especially effective against rares and bosses when his commands are synchronized correctly.
This Djinn is best suited for players who enjoy burst windows and active corpse manipulation.
Navira is a support and sustain Djinn, providing Energy Shield recovery, flask generation, and defensive utility. Unlike the other Djinn, Navira only acts when commanded, making her abilities extremely impactful when used at the right moment.
Navira is essential for survivability in high-damage encounters and synergizes strongly with Energy Shield–based Sorceress builds.
3. How to Unlock Disciple of Varashta
Disciple of Varashta Gameplay
Unlocking the Disciple of Varashta Ascendancy requires completing two campaign-based Ascendancy Trials. These trials grant the first four Ascendancy Skill Points and allow you to choose Disciple of Varashta.
3.1 Act 2 – Trial of the Sekhemas
The Trial of the Sekhemas is the first Ascendancy Trial available in the campaign and is required to unlock your initial Ascendancy choice. This trial introduces trial mechanics and tests positioning, survivability, and resource management.
- Travel to Traitor’s Passage during Act 2 progression
- Locate and defeat Balbala the Traitor, a mandatory boss encounter
- Upon defeat, Balbala drops Balbala’s Barya, the item required to access the trial
- Use Balbala’s Barya at the Trial entrance to open the Trial of the Sekhemas
- Complete the trial by surviving its encounters and mechanics
- Finishing the trial grants Ascendancy Skill Points 1 and 2
- Choose the Disciple of Varashta Ascendancy from the Sorceress Ascendancy options
At this stage, you gain access to your first Djinn summon and can begin shaping your build around command-based gameplay.
3.2 Act 3 – Trial of Chaos
The Trial of Chaos is the second mandatory Ascendancy Trial and expands your Ascendancy progression by granting two additional points. This trial is more demanding and emphasizes sustained combat, crowd control, and reactionary play.
- Progress through Act 3 until you reach the Vaal Jungle
- Locate the Temple of Chaos, a key story area tied to Ascendancy progression
- Defeat Xyclucian, the Chimera, a powerful boss guarding the trial
- Upon defeat, obtain the Chimeral Inscribed Ultimatum
- Use the Ultimatum to enter the Trial of Chaos
- Complete the trial’s encounters and conditions
- Finishing the trial grants Ascendancy Skill Points 3 and 4
With four total Ascendancy points, you can unlock additional Djinn commands or begin investing in defensive and utility passives.
3.3 Additional Ascendancy Points
Beyond the campaign, additional Ascendancy Skill Points are earned by completing higher-tier Trials using advanced Baryas or Inscribed Ultimatums found in endgame content. These trials are more challenging and are intended for fully developed builds.
4. Disciple of Varashta Passive Skills
Disciple of Varashta Passive Skill nodes
The Disciple of Varashta Ascendancy tree provides Djinn summons, command skills, and powerful defensive conversions. Each cluster unlocks new tools that significantly change how the Sorceress plays.
4.1 Ruzhan, the Blazing Sword
Ruzhan is the primary fire-based damage Djinn, excelling at wide-area destruction and sustained offensive pressure. His kit is designed to clear packs quickly while still delivering powerful burst against bosses.
- Ruzhan, the Blazing Sword: Summons Ruzhan, an invulnerable Flame Djinn Minion. Ruzhan automatically strikes nearby enemies whenever you use a damaging skill and serves as the foundation for all his command abilities.
- Ruzhan’s Trap: Commands Ruzhan to hurl his greatsword to a target location, spreading fiery runes across the ground. Enemies that step on the runes trigger erupting fire tornadoes that deal Spell Damage.
- Ruzhan’s Reckoning: Commands Ruzhan to teleport to the targeted area, dealing Spell Damage on arrival before slamming his blade into the ground, releasing a wide wave of lava that damages enemies.
- Ruzhan’s Fury: Commands Ruzhan to conjure and fire multiple volleys of flaming embers forward. The embers explode on impact, dealing heavy Fire Spell Damage in a cone.
Navira is a support-focused Water Djinn built around sustain, battlefield control, and recovery. She plays a critical role in keeping the Sorceress alive during prolonged encounters.
- Navira, the Last Mirage: Summons Navira, an invulnerable Water Djinn Minion. Navira does not act automatically and will only perform actions when commanded.
- Navira’s Fracturing: Commands Navira to fracture nearby Chilled Ground that has enemies standing on it, dealing high Spell Damage with extremely strong Freeze potential.
- Navira’s Oasis: Commands Navira to transform nearby Chilled Ground into a mirage oasis that grants Flask charges and recoups damage as Life and Mana for you and your allies.
- Navira’s Well: Commands Navira to immediately begin Energy Shield recharge and grants increased Energy Shield Recharge Rate for a short duration.
4.3 Kelari, the Tainted Sands
Kelari is a critical-damage and corpse-interaction Djinn, specializing in burst windows and explosive setups. His skills reward preparation and precise execution.
- Kelari, the Tainted Sands: Summons Kelari, an invulnerable Sand Djinn Minion. Kelari only acts when commanded and excels at swift, high-critical hits.
- Kelari’s Malediction: Passively consumes corpses in your presence, spawning Corpse Beetle Minions that follow you. When commanded, the beetles rush enemies and explode.
- Kelari’s Judgment: Channels alongside you, creating blades that hover over the target location. The longer the channel, the more blades are created. Upon release, the blades plunge down, creating damaging shockwaves.
- Kelari’s Deception: Commands Kelari to unleash a blast at the target location and leave behind a clone. Reusing the skill while a clone exists causes it to explode, dealing additional Spell Damage.
4.4 Defensive and Utility Passives
These passives enhance survivability and enable hybrid defensive builds.
- The Fourth Teaching: Reduces Energy Shield Recharge delay and grants increased Recharge Rate while on Low Energy Shield.
- Sacred Rituals: Adds 60% of current Energy Shield to Armour for Physical Damage Reduction.
- Varashta’s Intuition: 100% of Elemental Damage is taken from Mana before Life.
- Instruments of Power: Allows equipping a Focus while wielding a Staff, with reduced Focus bonuses.
- Baryonic Leylines: Increases the radius of non-Unique Time-Lost Jewels.
5. Disciple of Varashta Base Class
Disciple of Varashta Navira’s Passive Skills
The Disciple of Varashta Ascendancy belongs exclusively to the Sorceress base class. Sorceress characters are Intelligence-focused spellcasters who specialize in elemental damage, battlefield control, and high burst potential.
While traditionally fragile, Disciple of Varashta allows the Sorceress to offset this weakness through Energy Shield manipulation, Mana defenses, and Djinn-based sustain, creating a more balanced but still aggressive playstyle.
5.1 Class Mechanics
Class mechanics define how the Sorceress functions in combat and how the Disciple of Varashta Ascendancy enhances core spellcasting systems. These mechanics shape damage scaling, resource usage, and the flexibility that allows Sorceress to adapt to different combat situations.
- Fire, Cold, and Lightning spell damage scaling
- Large-scale Area of Effect clearing
- Weapon swapping to change active spell loadouts mid-combat
- Mana-efficient spellcasting through wands and staves
- Using Spirit for curses, auras, and defensive utility skills
Sorceress players who enjoy tactical spellcasting, resource management, and layered mechanics will feel comfortable and effective with the Disciple of Varashta Ascendancy.
6. Playstyle Tips for Disciple of Varashta
Disciple of Varashta Command Skills
Disciple of Varashta rewards intentional gameplay and precise execution rather than constant casting. Your Djinn commands are powerful but limited by cooldowns, making timing the most important skill to master.
- Treat Djinn commands as high-impact, cooldown-based spells, not filler abilities
- Save Kelari’s commands for elite packs and boss burst windows
- Use Navira defensively to stabilize Energy Shield after heavy hits
- Allow Djinn to control and hold packs while you prepare your rotation
- Keep Navira’s Energy Shield recharge buff active whenever possible
- Use Sacred Rituals to convert Energy Shield into Armour for physical damage mitigation
- Build up corpse beetles through Kelari’s passive effects, then detonate them strategically
- Walk with your Djinn instead of rushing ahead to maintain control
- Use your core spells for clearing, and reserve Djinn commands for rares and bosses
