Ultimatum | PoE Wiki (2024)

The Trials of Chaos, also known as Ultimatum, is a league mechanic introduced with the Ultimatum leagues. It was added to the core game in Version 3.23.0.

Mechanics

The Trialmaster and an altar has an 8% chance to spawn in maps. The altar displays a reward, the objective, and three modifiers to choose from. The player must select a modifiers before beginning the trial.

There are four possible objectives:

• Defeat waves of enemies: Kill enemies to fill up a progress bar.
• Survive: Don't die until the timer runs out. Monsters enrage if left alive for too long.
• Stand in Stone Circles: Stand in each stone circle for a duration until they light up.
• Protect the Altar: Kill enemies to fill up a progress bar without letting the altar be destroyed. The altar recovers part of its life between rounds.

After successfully completing a round, the encounter is frozen in time, and the player is offered two choices: end the trial and receive the accumulated rewards, or aim for more rewards and start the next round by selecting a new modifier to add.

If the player's character dies, stays outside of the circle for too long, or receives 7 stacks of Ruin, the Ultimatum is failed and all rewards will be removed. The Altar being destroyed in "Protect the Altar" encounters also is considered a fail state.

Each trial has 10 rounds. In Tier 14+ maps (area level 81+), upon starting the final round, there is a chance (~3% ^[1]) you will get teleported into the Trial of Ordeals' arena and face the Trialmaster as a boss. Ultimatum Scarab of DuelingUltimatum Scarab of DuelingStack Size: 20Ultimatum Encounters in Area will always lead to a Unique Boss if possibleVictory is meaningless, failure will be mocked.Can be used in a personal Map Device to add modifiers to a Map. guarantees the Trialmaster boss will appear if this condition is met. Allocating the Gruelling Gauntlet keystone or using the Imbued Ultimatum map device craft with an Horned Scarab of AwakeningHorned Scarab of AwakeningStack Size: 20You can select one Imbued crafting option on the Map DeviceThe Atlas can be anything you want... and everything you want.Can be used in a personal Map Device to add modifiers to a Map. increases the maximum rounds to 13, with the former disabling the ability to face the Trialmaster or control the modifiers.

Monsters spawned during Ultimatum encounters do not drop items but do give experience.

Partying

When facing a Trial of Chaos with other players, each player will be offered their own individual set of rewards. When an individual player fails the trial, they will lose their rewards but the trial will continue with the remaining players.

In between waves, the players will vote on which modifier to add to the next wave. The one with the most votes gets added. In case of ties, a mod is randomly chosen between them. Players have a limited time to vote, but the timer is paused if at least one party member is not present in the zone.

Rewards

Ultimatum Encounters offer cumulative rewards. Upon successfully completing or terminating an Ultimatum encounter, each round's rewards are dropped at the altar's location. Failing an Ultimatum encounter forfeits all accumulated rewards in that instance.

Rewards include corrupted rare items and maps, corrupted unique items, divination cards, currency, catalysts, and Inscribed UltimatumInscribed UltimatumCan be used in a personal map device to open portals to the Trialmaster's Domain and attempt his challenge. Portals will close once the challenge begins.s. Rewards appear at or after certain waves:

• Catalysts always appear on Wave 4 and Wave 8
• Inscribed Ultimatums appear on Wave 8+.
• Valuable currencies appear on Wave 8+.

The above wave counts are appropriately affected via Stand Your Ground or Ultimatum Scarab of BribingUltimatum Scarab of BribingStack Size: 20Ultimatum Monsters grant 150% increased Experience
Ultimatum Encounters grant rewards as though you completed 2 additional RoundsA trial is only as incorruptible as its judge.Can be used in a personal Map Device to add modifiers to a Map.'s stats that cause rewards to be granted as though completing additional round(s) (e.g. Catalysts will instead appear on Wave 3/7).

Map item quantity does not scale rewards with the exception of catalysts.

Temptation StepTemptation Step
Shagreen BootsEvasion: (486-756)Requires Level 55, 97 Dex(170-250)% increased Evasion Rating
+(19-29)% to Chaos Resistance
15% increased Damage for each Poison on you up to a maximum of 75%
10% increased Movement Speed for each Poison on you up to a maximum of 50%
Poison you inflict with Travel Skills is Reflected to you if you
have fewer than 5 Poisons on youThe High Priests ensured the loyalty of their slaves by habituating them to narcotic stimulants with lethal withdrawals., GamblesprintGamblesprint
Hydrascale BootsArmour: (212-305)
Evasion: (212-305)Requires Level 59, 56 Str, 56 Dex+(30-40) to Dexterity
(100-150)% increased Armour and Evasion
+(20-40)% to Lightning Resistance
When Hit, gain a random Movement Speed modifier from 40% reduced to 100% increased, until Hit againAll your tomorrows lie ahead of you,
unknown and snarled tot he very last., and Relic of the PactRelic of the Pact
Sage WandWand
Physical Damage: 23-42
Critical Strike Chance: 8.00%
Attacks per Second: 1.20Requires Level 30, 119 Int(17-21)% increased Spell DamageGrants Level 1 Blood Sacrament Skill
Your Critical Strike Chance is Lucky while on Low LifeCrush your enemies with your essence, so that you may drink of theirs. can exclusively be obtained randomly as rewards.

The Trialmaster

The Trialmaster also has his own set of exclusive drops, including Tainted CatalystTainted CatalystStack Size: 10Applies a random quality type and amount of quality to a Corrupted ring, amulet or belt
Replaces other quality typesRight click this item then left click a Corrupted ring, amulet or belt to apply it. The maximum quality is 20%.s and several unique items:

• Ixchel's TemptationIxchel's Temptation
  Gold RingRequires Level 20(6-15)% increased Rarity of Items found+(10-15) to all Attributes
  Adds (7-10) to (15-18) Chaos Damage to Attacks
  Adds (9-12) to (19-22) Fire Damage to Spells
  +(15-20)% to Global Critical Strike Multiplier
  +(80-100) to Armour
  +(80-100) to Evasion Rating
  +(30-35) to maximum Energy Shield
  +(25-30) to maximum Life
  +(20-25) to maximum Mana
  +(8-10)% to all Elemental Resistances
  (6-8)% increased Attack and Cast Speed
  Maximum Quality is 200%CorruptedChaos offers possibility, not outcome.
  Our own imaginations ensnare us.
• Glimpse of ChaosGlimpse of Chaos
  Vaal MaskEvasion: (207-239)
  Energy Shield: (37-43)Requires Level 62, 79 Dex, 72 Int<Can roll a special implicit when corrupted>Can be modified while Corrupted
  (30-40)% increased maximum Life and reduced Fire Resistance
  (30-40)% increased maximum Mana and reduced Cold Resistance
  (30-40)% increased Global maximum Energy Shield and reduced Lightning Resistance
  Chaos Resistance is ZeroCorruptedMan retains sanity and strives toward civilisation
  only under the blessed veil of ignorance.
• Yaomac's AccordYaomac's Accord
  Vaal SceptreSceptre
  Physical Damage: 37-70
  Critical Strike Chance: 6.00%
  Attacks per Second: 1.40
  Weapon Range: 1.1 metresRequires Level 64, 113 Str, 113 Int32% increased Elemental Damage(80-120)% increased Damage with Vaal Skills
  (8-6)% reduced Soul Gain Prevention Duration
  Gain an Endurance Charge, Frenzy Charge, and Power Charge when you use a Vaal Skill
  Shepherd of SoulsTheir three serpentine heads found unity in balance.
• Mahuxotl's MachinationMahuxotl's Machination
  Steel Kite ShieldChance to Block: 26%
  Armour: (146-167)
  Energy Shield: (30-35)
  Movement Speed: -3%Requires Level 46, 60 Str, 60 IntCorrupted Soul
  Divine Flesh
  Eternal Youth
  Everlasting Sacrifice
  Immortal Ambition
  Vaal PactThe Banished Architect sought to employ all the
  darkest secrets of the Vaal... at the same time.
• HateforgeHateforge
  Ancient GauntletsArmour: (338-432)Requires Level 72, 68 StrSocketed Gems are Supported by Level 30 Rage
  (120-150)% increased Armour
  (25-10)% reduced Rage Cost of Skills
  Vaal Attack Skills you Use yourself Cost Rage instead of requiring Souls
  You cannot gain Rage during Soul Gain PreventionThe first Karui born on the fringes of the Vaal empire developed a blood fever born of corruption.

Inscribed Ultimatum

Inscribed UltimatumInscribed UltimatumCan be used in a personal map device to open portals to the Trialmaster's Domain and attempt his challenge. Portals will close once the challenge begins. can be obtained as rewards for completing Ultimatum rounds, or randomly in maps that contain Ultimatum encounters. Inscribed Ultimatums come in four varieties:

1. Sacrifice unique item for another unique item
2. Double a stack of currency
3. Double a half stack of divination cards
4. Mirror a rare item

Each Inscribed Ultimatum lists a random Ultimatum encounter type and list of modifiers for that challenge. Inscribed Ultimatums can used in a map device to access the Utzaal Arena, which only contains an altar. The required item must be placed on the altar to start the trial.

Unlike a regular Ultimatum encounter, which takes place in a circular area, Inscribed Ultimatum encounters take place within the entire arena and consists of a single wave that lasts significantly longer.‎

Modifiers

Modifier	Image	Tier	Effect
Ailment and Curse Reflection			Curses and Non-damaging Ailments you apply are Reflected Monsters are unaffected by Curses
Blistering Cold		I	Frozen pustules will periodically appear and explode when you approach
		II	Many frozen pustules will periodically appear and rapidly explode when you approach
		III	Many frozen pustules will periodically appear, chill you, and rapidly explode when you approach
		IV	Many frozen pustules will periodically appear, chill you, and rapidly explode when you approach, freezing if they hit
Blood Altar		I	A ring of Blood surrounds the Altar, dealing heavy Physical Damage over time
		II	A large ring of Blood surrounds the Altar, dealing heavy Physical Damage over time
Buffs Expire Faster			Buffs expire five times faster on players
Choking Miasma		I	A cloud that deals Chaos Damage over Time will follow you
		II	A large cloud that deals Chaos Damage over Time will follow you
		III	A large and fast cloud that deals Chaos Damage over Time will follow you
		IV	A large and very fast cloud that slows you and deals Chaos Damage over Time will follow you
Deadly Monsters			Monster Hits are always Critical Strikes
Dexterous Monsters			Monsters Suppress Spell Damage and gain 500% increased Evasion Rating
Drought			Cannot gain Flask Charges
Escalating Damage Taken			For the remainder of the encounter, damage taken will slowly increase by 2% per second, up to 50%
Escalating Monster Speed			All Monsters gain 5% increased attack, cast, and movement speed per second they are alive, up to 50%
Hindering Flasks			Using a Flask Hinders you by 50% for 4 seconds
Less Cooldown recovery			Cooldowns take five times longer to recharge
Lessened Reach			Players have 60% less Area of Effect and Projectile Speed
Lightning Damage from Mana Costs			Take 1000% of Mana costs as Lightning Damage
Lethal Rare Monsters			Rare Monsters have 2 additional Modifiers
Limited Arena			The encounter area will be much smaller
Occasional Impotence			You and your Minions deal no damage for 2 seconds every 8 seconds
Overwhelming Monsters			Monster Hits Overwhelm all Physical Damage Reduction
Precise Monsters			Monster Hits cannot be Evaded
Prismatic Monsters			Monsters gain 50% of Physical Damage as Extra Damage of each Element
Profane Monsters			Monsters deal 80% of Physical Damage Added as Chaos Damage
Raging Dead		I	Skulls will appear that spit Fire if you remain near them
		II	Many skulls will appear that spit Fire if you remain near them
		III	Many skulls will appear that pursue you and spit Fire when near you
		IV	Many skulls will appear that pursue you and quickly spit a large wave of Fire when near you
Razor Dance		I	Blades will periodically appear and fly at you, applying Corrupted Blood on Hit
		II	Many blades will periodically appear and fly at you, applying Corrupted Blood on Hit
		III	Swarms of blades will periodically appear and fly at you, applying Corrupted Blood on Hit
		IV	Swarms of blades will periodically appear and fly at you, applying Corrupted Blood on Hit and leaving a trail of Blood ground
Reduced Recovery		I	60% Reduced Life, Mana, and Energy Shield Recovery Rate
		II	90% Reduced Life, Mana, and Energy Shield Recovery Rate
Resistant Monsters			Monsters have +50% to all Resistances
Ruin		I	A Monster type will apply Ruin with its special ability. Fail on reaching 7 Ruin
		II	A Monster type will apply double Ruin with its special ability. Fail on reaching 7 Ruin
		III	Two Monster types will apply double Ruin with their special abilities. Fail on reaching 7 Ruin
		IV	Two Monster types will apply quadruple Ruin with their special abilities. Fail on reaching 7 Ruin
Shielding Monsters			Monsters have 50% chance to Block Attack and Spell Damage
Siphoned Charges			Lose a Power, Frenzy, and Endurance Charge every second Monsters gain Power, Frenzy, and Endurance Charges on hit
Siphoning Monsters			Monster Hits remove 10% of current Energy Shield and Mana
Stalking Ruin		I	An invulnerable shade stalks you, inflicting Ruin with its Melee Attacks. Fail on reaching 7 Ruin
		II	An invulnerable shade stalks you, gaining speed and inflicting Ruin with Melee Attacks and Spells. Fail on reaching 7 Ruin
		III	An invulnerable shade stalks you, gaining further speed and inflicting Ruin with Melee Attacks and powerful Spells. Fail on reaching 7 Ruin
		IV	An invulnerable shade stalks you, aggressively casting Spells that inflict Ruin while teleporting to random locations. Fail on reaching 7 Ruin
Stormcaller Runes		I	Runes will appear that will call deadly Lightning storms if you remain in them
		II	Large runes will appear that will call deadly Lightning storms if you remain in them
		III	Many large runes will appear that will call deadly Lightning storms if you remain in them
		IV	Many large runes will appear that will call deadly Lightning storms if you remain in them for a short amount of time
Totem of Costly Might			An invulnerable Totem will appear that imbues both its allies and its enemies with Speed and powerful Physical Damage benefits, but causes enemies to take 10% of their maximum Life and Energy Shield as Physical Damage per second (Mutually exclusive with Totem of Costly Potency)
Totem of Costly Potency			An invulnerable Totem will appear that imbues both its allies and its enemies with Speed and powerful Elemental Damage benefits, but causes enemies to take 15% of their maximum Life and Energy Shield as Fire Damage per second (Mutually exclusive with Totem of Costly Might)
Treacherous Auras			Your Auras that affect Allies also affect Enemies
Unlucky Criticals			Your Critical Strike Chance is Unlucky Monsters take 50% reduced Extra Damage from Critical Strikes
Unstoppable Monsters			Monsters cannot be Slowed or Stunned

‎

Strategy

Builds that can consistently successfully fully clear Ultimatums typically have solutions for most or all Ultimatum modifiers, reducing the chance for bad RNG:

• Over 100% uncapped elemental resistances to mitigate Exposure effects from some monsters
• Ruin: Evasion, spell dodge, and non-Glancing Blows block can all prevent Ruin from being inflicted.
• Spell suppression for Raging Dead, Blistering Cold, Stormcaller Runes, and Razor Dance
• High Chaos resistance/Chaos Inoculation for Choking Miasma and Profane Monsters
• Movement speed is generally valuable for avoiding hazards such as Raging Dead or enemies, as well as countering Hinder
• Phasing is useful for Limited Arena and Stand Your Ground
• Blink skills such as FrostblinkFrostblinkSpell, Movement, Duration, Cold, Travel, Blink, AoE
  Level: (1-20)
  Cost: (12-22) Mana
  Cooldown Time: (3.00 sec-2.60 sec)
  Can Store 1 Use(s)
  Cast Time: Instant
  Critical Strike Chance: 5.00%
  Effectiveness of Added Damage: 250%Requires Level 4Teleport to a location, damaging enemies and leaving Chilled ground in an area at both ends of the teleport. Shares a cooldown with other Blink skills.Deals (9-1144) to (14-1716) Cold Damage
  Base duration is 3.00 seconds
  +(0-0.3) metres to radius
  (15-19)% increased Cooldown Recovery Rate for each Normal or Magic Enemy in Area
  (80-99)% increased Cooldown Recovery Rate for each Rare or Unique Enemy in Area
  (0-38)% increased maximum travel distance

  Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality:
  (0.5-10)% increased maximum travel distance

  Place into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket. or DashDashSpell, Movement, Travel, Blink
  Level: (1-20)
  Cost: (4-16) Mana
  Cooldown Time: 2.50 sec
  Can Store 1 Use(s)
  Cast Time: 0.15 secRequires Level 4Performs a series of quick teleports towards a targeted location. If using the "Attack in Place" option, the direction is reversed. Shares a cooldown with other Blink skills.(0-19)% increased Cooldown Recovery Rate
  (0-57)% increased travel distance
  This Spell's Cast Speed cannot be modified

  Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality:
  (0.5-10)% increased Cooldown Recovery Rate

  Place into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket. to escape tight packs or Mana Siphoner circles
• Chill immunity or increased/minimum action speed for Blistering Cold
• Freeze immunity for Blistering Cold IV
• Ailment immunity/curse effect reduction for Ailment and Curse Reflection
• Corrupted Blood immunity for Razor Dance
• Cannot be Hindered for Hindering Flasks
• Physical damage taken as elemental/chaos for Overwhelming Monsters
• Crit damage reduction/prevent enemy crits for Deadly Monsters
• Attack Mastery for Shielding Monsters

If opting to take Ruin modifiers, avoid using blue-coloured skills or microtransactions, as it can reduce visual clarity of Ruin-inflicting enemy skills.

Related Atlas passive skills

Related Scarabs

Item	Effect(s)
Ultimatum ScarabUltimatum ScarabStack Size: 20Area contains an Ultimatum EncounterA challenge may be requested at any time.Can be used in a personal Map Device to add modifiers to a Map.	Area contains an Ultimatum Encounter
Ultimatum Scarab of BribingUltimatum Scarab of BribingStack Size: 20Ultimatum Monsters grant 150% increased Experience Ultimatum Encounters grant rewards as though you completed 2 additional RoundsA trial is only as incorruptible as its judge.Can be used in a personal Map Device to add modifiers to a Map.	Ultimatum Monsters grant 150% increased Experience Ultimatum Encounters grant rewards as though you completed 2 additional Rounds
Ultimatum Scarab of CatalysingUltimatum Scarab of CatalysingStack Size: 20Ultimatum Encounters in Area will only offer Catalysts as RewardsMost regret finding out how the powder is made.Can be used in a personal Map Device to add modifiers to a Map.	Ultimatum Encounters in Area will only offer Catalysts as Rewards
Ultimatum Scarab of DuelingUltimatum Scarab of DuelingStack Size: 20Ultimatum Encounters in Area will always lead to a Unique Boss if possibleVictory is meaningless, failure will be mocked.Can be used in a personal Map Device to add modifiers to a Map.	Ultimatum Encounters in Area will always lead to a Unique Boss if possible
Ultimatum Scarab of InscriptionUltimatum Scarab of InscriptionStack Size: 20Ultimatum Encounter rewards in Area offering Catalysts will offer Inscribed Ultimatums insteadThere is always a wager to be made... if you can afford it.Can be used in a personal Map Device to add modifiers to a Map.	Ultimatum Encounter rewards in Area offering Catalysts will offer Inscribed Ultimatums instead

Version history

References