The Ascent: Character development The Ascent guide, tips

This page of the guide to The Ascent describes elements related to character development. Advancing your hero, using modules and the best skills for beginners.

Last update: 05 August 2021

Developing characters in The Ascent allows you to defeat increasingly stronger enemies and go through the next locations. On this page of the guide, we cover all aspects of improving the hero. We suggest how to earn skill points, describe what each skill is for, and which ones are best for beginners. We have also included informatio about the modules providing passive bonuses.

• Leveling up and earning skill points
• Description of all skills
• Best skills for beginners
• Using modules

Leveling up and earning skill points

Leveling up in The Ascent does not differ from the systems used in most other games. After earning the right number of experience points, the character obtains the next level and receives three skill points. Experience is gained by killing enemies and completing missions.

Besides leveling up, skill points can also be found in the game world. They are scattered in different locations - they are even in locations without opponents. Remember to carefully explore the places you visit and look at the minimap - all valuable things (including skill points) are marked on it with a chest icon.

Description of all skills

Points can be distributed among eight different skills. They affect the level of health or the speed of reloading weapons. In addition, each skill belongs to a specific attribute that affects the augmentations.

1. Tactical Sense (Cybernetics attribute) - determines the amount of tactical charge received for dealing damage. You spend tactical points when throwing grenades and using other tactical weapons. This skill is useful when you rely heavily on tactical weapons.
2. Critical Hit Rate (Cybernetics attribute) - increases the chance of a critical hit. Useful for any type of character, because more critical hits equal more damage.
3. Weapon Handling (Motorics attribute) - determines the speed of reloading and changing weapons. Faster reloading can save lives in a fight against large groups of enemies.
4. Aiming (Motorics attribute) - reduces the spread of weapons, increasing the percentage of hitting the target. Even a direct hit on the enemy does not mean that all the projectiles fired at them will hit. Developing this skill reduces the number of missed shots.
5. Balance (Frame attribute) - determines the resistance to stun, knockback, and stagger, and is also responsible for the movement speed while shooting. The skill is useful in the later stages of the game when opponents use attacks with these effects.
6. Evasion (Frame attribute) - determines the dodge cooldown. Dodges allow you to escape from enemies, avoid some of the shots and move faster on the map.
7. Vital Signs (Biometrics attribute) - determines the maximum level of health. An easy-to-use skill that increases your chance of survival.
8. Body Battery (Biometrics attribute) - determines the maximum amount of energy. Energy is used for augmentations.

The attributes mentioned (and written next to each skill) affect the augmentations slots. For example - the Cybernetics attribute affects the Spiderbots augmentation (it increases the number of spiders), so developing Tactical Sense and Critical Hit Rate will affect the Spiderbots performance on the battlefield. In turn, developing skills related to the Motorics will increase the damage of Hydraulic Slam, which is the first augmentation you get in the game. See the Augmentations window for information about which Attribute affects them. Attributes can also be improved by armor parts.

Best skills for beginners

The skill that every novice player should be interested in is Vital Signs. Develop this skill to increases the chance of surviving the dangerous world of The Ascent - extra health is helpful in any situation. You should also try to develop the Critical Hit Rate quickly because it affects your damage. Later, you can allocate a few points into Weapon Handling for faster reloading, and Aiming to increase the effectiveness of hits.

Using modules

In addition to developing the abilities, in The Ascent, you can also improve the character by using augmentations, that is special items providing passive bonuses. You can use two augmentations at a time, and their slots can be found in the Augmentations window. You can get the upgrades while exploring the world or purchase from the trader with the blue DNA icon - you will meet him in any friendly location. For example, an augmentation can increase the maximum level of health or replace dodges with something like teleportation.