Ascension is a special mode that increases the difficulty in Slay the Spire. There are 20 Ascension levels in total, and each of them adds a special modifier that makes the game harder.
As for me, Ascension levels make the game really harder when you reach level 10+. I've played Slay the Spire for over 150 hours but still didn't beat the 20 Ascension level on all 4 characters. However, I've noticed lots of useful tips that might help you on your way to reach Ascension in Slay the Spire.
So, in this Slay the Spire Ascension guide, I will write about everything you need to know about Slay the Spire Ascension mode: what is it, how to unlock it, and tips to beat all the levels.
How does Ascension work in Slay the Spire?
In Slay the Spire Ascension is a progressive difficulty system that makes the run on each level more challenging. When you play in Ascension mode, you start at Ascension 1 and work your way up through 20 difficult levels.
Each Ascension level adds new modifiers that increase the game's difficulty. These modifiers make enemies stronger, reduce your resources, or add more challenges to each run.
The game modifiers of each Ascension level are added to the previous ones. For example, if you play on Ascension 4, the modifiers of Ascension 1-3 levels will be also added to your game.
Losing a run on any of Slay the Spire Ascension levels will not reset your progress. You will still be able to play your Ascension level. Moreover, you can play any of the Ascension levels you unlocked at any time.
Slay the Spire Ascension List
There are a total of 20 Ascension levels in Slay the Spire. Each level adds a new modifier to the game:
| Ascension Level | Description | Effect |
| Ascension 1 | Elites spawn more often | There will be approximately 60% more Elites spawned on a map |
| Ascension 2 | Normal enemies are deadlier | Normal enemies deal more damage with their attacks |
| Ascension 3 | Elites are deadlier | Elites deal more damage with their attacks |
| Ascension 4 | Bosses are deadlier | Bosses deal more damage with their attacks |
| Ascension 5 | Heal less after Boss battles | Heal for 75% of missing health instead of 100% |
| Ascension 6 | Start each run damaged | Lose 10% health at the start of each run |
| Ascension 7 | Normal enemies are tougher | Normal enemies are harder to take down (more HP, higher Block) |
| Ascension 8 | Elites are tougher | Elites have more HP |
| Ascension 9 | Bosses are tougher | Bosses are harder to take down (more HP, higher Block) |
| Ascension 10 | Start each run cursed | Obtain 1 Ascender's Bane at the start of each run |
| Ascension 11 | Start each run with 1 less potion slot | You will have 2 potion slots instead of 3 |
| Ascension 12 | Upgraded cards appear less often | Upgraded cards are 25% less likely to appear in Act 2 and 50% in Act 3 |
| Ascension 13 | Poor bosses | Bosses drop 25% less gold |
| Ascension 14 | Lower max HP | Characters have less HP (-5 for Ironclad, -4 for others) |
| Ascension 15 | Unfavorable events | Events have less positive outcomes (more HP loss, fewer gold rewards, guaranteed curse) |
| Ascension 16 | Shops are more costly | Everything costs 10% more |
| Ascension 17 | Normal enemies have more challenging movesets and abilities | – |
| Ascension 18 | Elites have more challenging movesets and abilities | – |
| Ascension 19 | Bosses have more challenging movesets and abilities | – |
| Ascension 20 | Double boss | After you defeat the first boss in Act 3, you will enter a battle with another one |
How to Unlock Ascension
In order to unlock Ascension mode (first level), you should first complete a successful run with the character you're playing. That means you need to defeat the boss from Act 3.
Each character unlocks Ascension levels separately, so you should complete a successful run with each character to unlock Ascension mode for all the characters in Slay the Spire.
Once you unlock Ascension 1, completing another successful run at that Ascension level will unlock the next level (Ascension 2), and so on.
If you lose a run in Act 4, it will still unlock the next level of Ascension.
You may also play any of the Ascension levels you have unlocked.
Slay the Spire Ascension Tips
There are lots of tips I've noticed while playing Slay the Spire Ascension. Moreover, I've found a brilliant guide from screwyioux on Reddit about the 20 Ascension level. Below I made some takeaways with tips and strategies from my experience, and the guide of screwyioux.
General Tips Across All Acts
- Card Removal: As you progress, focus on removing weaker cards and adding draw or manipulation effects to access your deck's strengths more consistently.
- Adapt Strategy Based on Fights: Tailor your strategy to handle specific threats, such as prioritizing certain enemies or adjusting your playstyle to account for unique boss mechanics.
- Don't Forget to Use Potions: Do not underestimate the value of potions. They can provide advantages in tough fights.
Ascension Tips for Act 1
- Focus on Front-Loaded Damage: Aim to maximize your damage output in the first three turns. Single-target damage is good early on, but having one or two AoE options (or potions) can help with later hallway fights.
- Play Greedy: In Act 1 try to beat as many Elits as possible. You need to take the maximum number of relics and strong cards at this point.
- Focus on Burst Damage: Build your deck with quick burst damage. Avoid adding too many skills if you might face Nob.
Ascension Tips for Act 2
- Shift Focus to AoE and Defense: Ensure you have sufficient AoE damage for enemies with higher health pools. Damage mitigation becomes more critical in this act.
- Prioritize Elite Fights Over Hallway Fights: Elites and question mark events often offer better rewards and are less taxing than the difficult hallway fights.
Ascension Tips for Act 3
- Focus on Damage Mitigation: Your damage capabilities should be well-established, so shift your focus to cards and relics that provide sustained defense, especially for longer fights.
- Beware of Reptomancer: Without sufficient front-loaded AoE or quick-kill potential, avoid elite fights due to the risk of encountering Reptomancer.
- Prepare for All Possible Bosses: Ascension 20 requires preparation for all three potential bosses (Time Eater, Awakened One, Donu and Deca). Tailor your deck to handle each boss's mechanics effectively.
Ascension Tips for Act 4
- Maximize Your Build's Strengths: The Heart fight and the preceding elite fight will test all aspects of your deck. Ensure you have consistent damage output, scaling, and mitigation.
- Prepare for Specific Challenges: The Spear and Shield elite fight can be as challenging as an Act 3 boss. Manage debuffs and maximize your deck's capabilities to handle both the elite and the Heart.
- Keep the Best Potions: Potions are very important in Act 4. Use them strategically to compensate for any weaknesses in your deck.
Ascension Rewards
In Slay the Spire, Ascension mode itself does not provide additional rewards such as new cards, relics, or cosmetic unlocks beyond the base game's unlocks. However, each Ascension level grants a 5% additional score to your rating on the daily challenge leaderboards, up to 100% at Ascension 20 for the following score bonuses:
- Floors Climbed
- Enemies Killed
- Elites Killed
- Bosses Slain
- Champion
- Perfect
- Beyond Perfect
- Overkill
- C-c-c-combo
Conclusion
Ascension is a special mode in Slay the Spire that increases the game's difficulty. There are 20 Ascension levels in total, and each of them adds a new modifier to make the game more difficult.
To unlock the Ascension mode, you need to defeat the boss in Act 3. In the same way, you can unlock the new Ascension levels. Each character has individual progress in Ascension mode.
FAQ
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How many ascension levels are in Slay the Spire?
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What is Ascension in Slay the Spire?
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How to unlock Ascension in Slay the Spire?
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How to beat Ascension 20 in Slay the Spire?
Interested in some additional guides or help? Check out our Slay the Spire page for more useful tips and guides.
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With over 15 years of playing games and 5 years of writing articles, Yaroslav is a CEO and content creator at HermitGamer. Yaroslav regularly plays video games, creates useful guides, and writes reviews with his opinion on new and old titles. His main goal is to make HermitGamer a platform, where each gamer can find the answers.
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