Sekhemas: engagement friction for otherwise endgame-ready players

I’ve been playing since release and usually take characters through the campaign and into early endgame (around T10 maps).

I can consistently complete the second Sekhemas trial, but I don’t enjoy it — it’s long and very punishing in a way that feels out of step with the rest of the game. Because of that, I’ve found myself stopping a lot of characters in mid-endgame instead of pushing them further, since I can get most of the way there without the second trial. That feels unfortunate, because otherwise I’d keep investing in those builds.

Chaos Trial is also punishing, but it feels fair and build-aware in comparison. Sekhemas feels more like an execution test than a build check.

I have a different impression of the trials:
Chaos trial feels random: I can get bad punishments and that can mess up my run. Also I find many of it's added mechanics pretty annoying to deal with.

Sekhema feels like good execution is rewarded: if I can play it well, I'm more or less guranteed to complete it. It's focused on dodging and learning the enmies pattern which I like. There are other aspects I don't like about it, e.g. that many Sekhema rooms encourage running around and not fighting monsters and that a 4 trials Sekhema start with too many easy rooms.

I would like the game to be more about "execution" and less about "stat checks" or build checks how you call them.

Got unwavering stance, can not dodge roll, can not sprint, here is a challenge for "streamer abusers" to do sekemas.

Are you using mouse and keyboard or controller? On controller sekhamas is pretty enjoyable (for me at least). I consider it some of the best content in the game. BUT it is a execution test far more than a gear test. If you can execute well it's a breeze. If you can execute well and have gear, it's trivial.

However if you're playing on M & K, I sympathize. You do need to be able to move and change direction really quickly and very often.