Ascension(アビリティコール, Abiritikōru?, lit. Ability Call) is a skill tree advancement system in Final Fantasy XV comprised of several trees called Astralspheres, which contain nodes that unlock abilities or enhancements.
AP is used to unlock most nodes. Red nodes are unlocked during the story and do not require AP. Green nodes represent ally Techniques, which can be equipped and initiated by the player in battle. Yellow and purple nodes represent other abilities and enhancements, with yellow favoring combat abilities and purple favoring passive effects and boosts. Each Astralsphere starts out at an empty central point between the starting nodes, marked by a point of light and connecting lines out. Unlocking a node makes immediately connected nodes available.
AP is shared between party members and Astralspheres, allowing the player to spend it however they choose. Learning an ability on the Ascension for the first time earns the New Power achievement/trophy. Activating twenty nodes yields Self-Improved, and activating fifty yields Self-Mastered. Ascension progression carries over if the player uses chapter select or starts a New Game Plus.
New nodes for unlocking character swap were added in a free update in December 2017. However, many story segments must be played as Noctis.
Reduce Armiger bar depletion during Armiger mode by 30%.
Combat
Nexus that boosts Noctis's technique repertory. Activate these nodes for more way to take out enemies.Description
8
Light Phase
99
Experimagic
32
Ultralight Phase
6
Airstep
16
Airslip
52
Airstride
333
Airdance
28
Death Drop
52
Osmostrike
16
Blink
48
Warp Decoy
64
Static Edge
32
Blink Boost
333
Impervious
10
Chained Fury
24
Warp Factor
52
Warp Factor II
333
Point-Blank Warp-Strike
24
Daemon Destroyer
28
Stalker
64
Super Stalker
Name
AP
Effect
Airdance
333
Airstep after attacking an unlimited number of times with a sword or polearm.
Airslip
16
Dodge enemies in midair with the guard button. (Also works in Stasis when used with a shield.)
Airstep
6
Use the left stick and attack button to step once in midair after attacking with a sword or polearm. Costs MP. However, all weapons with an aerial combo of more than one attack airstep by swapping to a sword/polearm mid-combo before swapping back.
Airstride
52
Perform a second Airstep after a second attack with a sword or polearm.
Blink
16
Phase through an enemy attack without using MP by guarding at the last second. Allows one to cancel attack animations into a phase.
Blink Boost
32
Using Blink now restores 5 MP.
Chained Fury
10
Boost the damage of each combo hit by 0.3% when at full HP.
Daemon Destroyer
24
Warp-Strike can break daemon appendages.
Death Drop
28
From afar, use the attack button in midair to warp above the enemy and strike down with a sword or polearm.
Experimagic
99
Increase Noctis' MP by the formula
Impervious
333
Negate damage by guarding immediately after being hit. Allows Noctis to recover from knockback, and works in midair; it can be used to continue an aerial combo. Can also cancel status ailments applied on the attack.
Light Phase
8
Reduce MP cost of phasing by 30%.
Osmostrike
52
Recover MP when an aerial attack connects.
Point-Blank Warp-Strike
333
Eliminate the damage modifier penalty of close-range Warp-strikes.
Stalker
28
Blindside damage increased by 25%.
Static Edge
64
Significantly increase damage dealt while in Stasis.
Super Stalker
64
Blindside damage now increased by 50%.
Ultralight Phase
32
Reduce MP cost of phasing by 51%. Overrides Light Phase.
Warp Decoy
48
Leave a hologram to divert enemies after warping.
Warp Factor
24
Warp-strike damage increased by 25%.
Warp Factor II
52
Warp-strike damage now increased by 50%.
Exploration
18
Angler Action
333
Reel Experience
84
Item Angler
99
Sportfishing
555
Expert Item Angler
20
Happy Camping
48
Happier Camping
99
Fitter Survival
999
Fittest Survival
32
Roadrunning
99
Roadlife
32
Chocobump
99
Chocobonus
32
Chocojockey
99
Chocoracer
18
Aftertaste
99
Lingering Aftertaste
333
Persistent Aftertaste
20
Appetize
12
Snapshot
32
Aperture
Name
AP
Effect
Aftertaste
18
Extends the effects of camp meals to the following sunrise.
Gain 1 AP from cooking a party member's favorite food.
Chocobonus
99
Gain 10 EXP for every ~0.35 miles traveled by chocobo.
Chocobump
32
Gain 1 AP for every 0.875 miles traveled by chocobo.
Chocojockey
32
Gain 1 AP from winning a chocobo race.
Chocoracer
99
Gain 50 EXP from winning a chocobo race.
Expert Item Angler
555
Triple items gained from fishing.
Fitter Survival
99
25% chance for Gladiolus to find double items after battle with his Survival skill.
Fittest Survival
999
50% chance for Gladiolus to find double items after battle with his Survival skill.
Happier Camping
48
Increases AP gained from camping to 3.
Happy Camping
20
Increases AP gained from camping to 2.
Item Angler
84
Double items gained from fishing.
Lingering Aftertaste
99
Extends food effects from camp to the sunset of the next day.
Persistent Aftertaste
333
Extends food effects from camp to the sunrise after the next day.
Reel Experience
333
Gain EXP for catching fish (each species has its own value).
Roadlife
99
Gain 10 EXP every 0.54 miles traveled by car (does not apply to flying).
Roadrunning
32
Gain 1 AP every 1.25 miles traveled by car (does not apply to flying).
Snapshot
12
Prompto takes a photo mid-battle. Up to 5 photos can be saved at a time. Photos are saved to auto-snapshots. Critical version takes a selfie. Costs 1 Tech Bar segment.
Sportfishing
99
Gain extra AP for catching big fish (each species has its own value).
Magic
24
Elementalism
48
Magic Level
99
Magic Level II
72
Elementality
99
Enhanced Elementality
48
Elemagnetism
20
Powercraft
99
Extra Powercraft
555
Super Powercraft
999
Ultimate Powercraft
24
Magic Action
333
Bonuspell
999
Bonuspell II
Name
AP
Effect
Bonuspell
333
Gain an extra spell from crafting.
Bonuspell II
999
Gain an additional extra spell from crafting.
Elemagnetism
48
Increases the chance of draining elemental energy from a foe while using an element-absorbing weapon by 50%.
Elementalism
24
Absorb 20% more energy from elemental deposits.
Elementality
72
Elemental deposit absorption bonus increased to 50%.
Enhanced Elementality
99
Elemental deposit absorption bonus increased to 80%.
Extra Powercraft
99
Spell crafting power increase is now 30.
Magic Action
24
Gain 1 AP every time you cast a spell.
Magic Level
48
Increase Magic for each character by the formula
Magic Level II
99
Increase Magic for each character is now
Powercraft
20
Increase power of crafted spells by 10.
Super Powercraft
555
Spell crafting power increase is now 50.
Ultimate Powercraft
999
Spell crafting power increase is now 100.
Recovery
12
Hang In
24
Sprinter
99
Distance Runner
20
Savior's Fortitude
48
Savior's Force
99
Comeback
48
Savior's Vengeance
10
Rapid Regen
24
Prompto: First Aid
99
Prompto: Advanced First Aid
333
Prompto: Expert First Aid
24
Ignis: First Aid
99
Ignis: Advanced First Aid
333
Ignis: Expert First Aid
24
Gladio: First Aid
99
Gladio: Advanced First Aid
333
Gladio: Expert First Aid
Name
AP
Effect
Advanced First Aid
99
Now recover 40% of own HP when using First Aid.
Comeback
99
Taking an ally out of Danger fully restores the ally's HP.
Distance Runner
99
Increase to stamina bar is now 10 seconds.
Expert First Aid
333
Now recover 60% of own HP when using First Aid.
First Aid
24
Recover 20% of own HP when HP is low for the indicated character, after pausing briefly. Has some super armor.
Hang In
12
Increase HP recovery rate while hanging from a warp-point position.
Rapid Regen
10
Raise HP and MP recovery rate by 10% in cover.
Savior's Force
48
Taking an ally out of Danger boosts their Strength by 200 for 30 seconds.
Savior's Fortitude
20
Taking an ally out of Danger boosts their Vitality by 200 for 30 seconds.
Savior's Vengeance
48
Taking an ally out of Danger causes all attacks to be critical for 30 seconds.
Sprinter
24
Increases stamina bar by 5 seconds.
Stats
10
Health Level
99
Health Level II
333
Health Level III
99
Strength Level
99
Spirit Level
99
Vitality Level
16
Noctis: Accessory Slot
333
Noctis: Accessory Slot
16
Prompto: Accessory Slot
333
Prompto: Accessory Slot
16
Ignis: Accessory Slot
333
Ignis: Accessory Slot
16
Gladio: Accessory Slot
333
Gladio: Accessory Slot
Name
AP
Effect
Accessory Slot
16/333
Grants a character an additional accessory slot. Nodes are listed above prefixed with whom they are for. The first one to unlock is cheap, but the second is one of the most expensive nodes to unlock.
Increase Strength of each character by the formula
Vitality Level
99
Increase Vitality of each character by the formula
Teamwork
8
Link Up
32
Super Link Up
333
Critical Link
999
Limitless Link
16
Deathblow
99
Ultimate Deathblow
6
First Shot
18
Scintilla
64
Ballistic
24
Shock Drop
99
Sharp Shock
6
Analyze
18
Lancet
99
Regenerate
24
Venom Fang
64
Virulent Venom
6
Reflex
18
Engage
64
Intercept
24
Antagonize
99
Acute Antagonism
Name
AP
Effect
Acute Antagonism
99
Increases Antagonize damage modifier to x2.5
Analyze
6
Ignis attempts to inflict Libra on one enemy, using scan time as resistance value. Used as first action when battle starts, sometimes more than once. No weapon requirement. If Ignis's daggers have an innate a status ailment, he can inflict enemies with it with Analyze (doesn't work for Vigilantes' Stop). He still tries to use the ability on enemies that are immune.
Antagonize
24
Gladiolus performs a disruptive kick while Noctis is defending (no weapon requirement). Damage modifier: x1.5
Ballistic
64
Prompto unleashes a firearm barrage when his HP is high, striking multiple enemies in a wide area once. Damage modifier: x0.4 (every hit). Usually makes enemies stagger.
Noctis's allies perform powerful attacks against enemies in vulnerable status (i.e. knocked down). If they have their secondary arms equipped, they will only use them for Deathblows. Gladiolus can slam the ground with his shield, creating a shockwave; Ignis can unleash a pair of devastating downward spear swings; Prompto may fire a barrage of bullets.
Engage
18
Gladiolus performs a powerful pre-emptive greatsword strike. Damage modifier: x2
First Shot
6
Prompto fires a pre-emptive firearm shot that adds 1 segment to the Tech Bar (2 with the Tech Turbocharger equipped). Damage modifier: x1.5
Intercept
64
Gladiolus guards the player character with a shield when his own HP is high. Intercept blocks an attack that was going to hit the player (doesn't matter if the attack was directed at the player specifically or not). Needs to have shield equipped as secondary arm. Gladiolus can use it more than once in battle but not back-to-back.
Lancet
18
Ignis counterattacks with a polearm and drains 100% of the damage when his own HP is low. Damage modifier: x2.5. Can only restore HP once. The attack can miss.
Gladiolus performs a disruptive area of effect greatsword counterattack. Damage modifier: x2. Only uses when current HP is low and just once.
Regenerate
99
Ignis heals an ally with a hidden item when his own HP is high. No weapon requirement. Ignis will use a free item that applies Revitalized for a few seconds and he can use this consecutively. He can still use his Good/Grand Chamberlain accessories in conjunction. He has to be near the _target to activate and the action can be interrupted. Uncommonly, he can apply it to someone in Danger to instantly recover them.
Scintilla
18
Prompto counterattacks with a firearm and inflicts Stop when his HP is low. Damage modifier: x2. Only uses it once.
Sharp Shock
99
Increases Shock Drop damage modifier to x4
Shock Drop
24
Prompto inflicts Shocked for 3 seconds on an enemy Noctis is attacking in mid-air using equipped machinery. Damage modifier: x2
Super Link Up
32
Further boost link-strike damage.
Ultimate Deathblow
99
Increases damage dealt by Deathblows.
Venom Fang
24
When Noctis is performing a combo on the same enemy, Ignis will poison the _target for 60 seconds with daggers. Damage modifier: x1
Take control of Prompto mid-battle. His playstyle is identical to how he is controlled in Final Fantasy XV: Episode Prompto, albeit without his baton and sniper rifle.
Cyclone
18
Gladiolus damages nearby enemies with a shield shockwave. Noctis can point-warp to Gladiolus for a follow-up attack consisting of multiple area-of-effect spins. Gladiolus needs a shield equipped. Costs 2 Tech Bar segments.
Dawnhammer
8
Gladiolus leaps, delivering a powerful greatsword slash. Can miss agile enemies. Costs 2 Tech Bar segments.
Enhancement
18
Ignis casts Flameboost, Frostboost, or Stormboost on Noctis, depending on the _target's weakness, also boosting his Strength. Noctis must not be incapacitated. Effects can be combined and don't immediately wear off after battle. Its critical version extends the duration of the buff. Re-applying the same buff won't reset the duration length. Costs 1 Tech Bar segment.
Gravisphere
18
Prompto shoots a sphere of energy from that sucks in enemies and deals constant magic damage. Prompto needs a machine equipped. Costs 2 Tech Bar segments.
Impulse
72
Gladiolus pauses for a couple seconds before unleashing a powerful frontal-sweep attack covering a large radius that hits twice. Excels at breaking limbs. Costs 3 Tech Bar segments.
Limit Break
999
Allow character's techniques to break the damage limit. They are prefixed above with who they belong to. All are simply called "Limit Break."
Overwhelm
18
Ignis orders the party to focus attacks on one enemy. Noctis retains normal attacks with his equipped weapon (will do nothing with magic or the Ring of the Lucii). Allies also attack with Deathblows if they're unlocked, and will use secondary weapons if equipped. Party is invincible throughout duration. The critical version always deals critical hits. Less effective against highly mobile or hard-to-reach _targets. Ends prematurely if the _target perishes. Costs 2 Tech Bar segments.
Quick Tech
333
All Tech Bar replenishment increased by 10%.
Recoil
18
Prompto deals heavy, small area-of-effect damage to a single enemy with machinery. Excels at breaking limbs. Can inflict Burnt. Prompto needs a machine equipped. Costs 2 Tech Bar segments.
Regroup
8
Ignis summons the party to him, almost entirely restoring everyone's HP. Does not restore Max HP. Rescues any allies in Danger status. Poisoned or Downed allies won't be healed, though Poisoned allies still recover from Danger with 25% HP. The critical version also yields the Stalwart buff. Costs 2 Tech Bar segments
Royal Guard
18
Calls Gladiolus to protect Noctis with a shield, preventing damage and providing the Serene status to Noctis, increasing HP and MP recovery. Lasts for a short period of time, or until Noctis initiates the follow-up attack. Cannot bring Noctis out of Danger. Gladiolus needs a shield equipped. Costs 1 Tech Bar segment.
Sagefire
72
Ignis charges forward, dealing three devastating area-of-effect Fire attacks with daggers. Excels at breaking limbs. Costs 3 Tech Bar segments.
Starshell
8
Prompto draws enemy attention in a wide radius with a firearm. Can inflict Threatened or Enervated, depending on the enemy. Costs 1 Tech Bar segment.
Tech Damage
99
Adds to the Tech Bar as Noctis takes damage with the formula
Tech Strike
48
Adds to the Tech Bar when Noctis lands attacks.
Trigger-Happy
72
Prompto fires two separate bullet volleys on a _target before finishing with a powerful single shot. Excels at breaking limbs. Each shot utilizes the passive effect of his equipped gun. The critical version fires twice as many bullets, all critical strikes. Costs 3 Tech Bar segments.
Wait Mode
18
Warp-Ambush
99
Warp-Punish
12
Presto Libra
48
Time-Restore
99
Time-Freeze
32
No Mercy
99
Sage
Name
AP
Effect
No Mercy
32
Boost damage inflicted by a scanned enemy's elemental weakness.
Presto Libra
12
Scan enemies even faster when using Libra.
Sage
99
Boost damage inflicted by allies for each enemy scanned.
Time-Freeze
99
Stop the Wait Timer from depleting.
Time-Restore
48
Restore the Wait Timer by defeating an enemy.
Warp-Ambush
18
During Wait Mode, warp-strike an enemy not _targeting Noctis to increase the likelihood of breaking its appendage.
Warp-Punish
99
During Wait Mode, warp-strike an enemy with half or less of its HP remaining to increase damage inflicted.
AP grinding
Because the Ascension Grid takes so much AP to master, some AP grinding tricks can be used to alleviate this. After learning the ability to gain AP from driving, the player can gain passive AP by setting the Regalia to drive in circles by pinning down the controller and letting the game run. This method requires the player to have acquired and equipped the Magitek Generator, which is won from Totomostro, or obtain the Regalia Type-F, both of which will allow the Regalia to drive endlessly without the need to refuel. It may also helps to have the Turbocharger, also won from Totomostro, which allows the Regalia to drive up to 70 mph, since an AP is gained for every 1.25 mile driven.
In the Windows and Royal Editions, the Old Wall bosses in the expanded Insomnia yield a total of 300 AP, and can be killed repeatedly by defeating Ardyn or using Chapter Select.
A trick utilizing the beast whistle to continually summon sabertusks has since been nerfed via a patch, but the Timed Quest in patch v1.06 for sabertusks and other numerous small enemies can be taken advantage of in a similar manner, by simply holding the Warp button and quickly felling enemies with warp-strikes or Gladiolus's Glaive Arts. The player can get a torrent of sabertusks and flexitusks in short period (e.g. more than 350 _targets in a 10 minute period). Timed Quests can be repeated and the player can get the quest they want by manipulating the console's clock. In patch v1.20, the Timed Quest becomes offline-based and caps the limit of the _targets to 50 and typically cannot be completed in under 10 minutes; hence, no longer offers a good return on time invested. Instead, fighting a group of sabertusks in normal battles repeatedly using the beast whistle while equipping Warrior's Fanfare, Blitzer's Fanfare, and attacking with Shield of the Just earns more AP with less effort in the same amount of time (around 95~100 AP for about 10 minutes of gameplay). The player can also use the other Timed Quests for farming, and convert 700 QP earned from the quests into 300 AP. The player can manipulate the console's clock to get a desirable Timed Quest.
Each party member has unique ways to rack up AP from kills: Noctis's warp-strikes (particularly with weapons such as daggers for quickness, or the Shield of the Just for its wide area-of-effect warp-strike) as well as parries and linked attacks, Gladiolus's glaive arts (including Earthshatter), Ignis's High Jump technique and Total Clarity skills, and Prompto's crackshots.
Descension
In Final Fantasy XV: Episode Ardyn, the player can improve Ardyn's parameters via Descension. Unlike the main game's Ascension menu, any node can be activated in Descension at any time without needing to trigger other nodes first. Ardyn gains AP exclusively by daemonifying enemies.
There are four branches in Ardyn's Descension tree. The first gives Ardyn access to his combat abilities, with four nodes. The second improves Ardyn's shadowstep and ability to daemonify, with seven nodes. The third consists of five Power Up nodes, which improve Ardyn's maximum HP and MP. The fourth consists of Techniques for Ifrit, with three nodes. Ardyn has 4 of 19 nodes unlocked by default.
0
Royal Arms
16
Spectral Charge
32
Dark Tornado
32
Cerberus-0
0
Daemonification
0
Shadowstep
8
Phantom Fade
16
Daemonification II
8
Counterosmosis
16
Rising Phantom
64
Mug
4
Power Up
8
Power Up II
8
Power Up II
16
Power Up III
16
Power Up III
0
Firaga
16
Meteor Strike
32
Flames of Rage
Name
AP
Description
Royal Arms
0
Conjure spectral weapons to wield in battle. Press to attack, or use + to sideswipe your foes.
Spectral Charge
16
Press to convert all remaining MP into spectral energy.
Dark Tornado
32
Hold to conjure a swirling whirlwind of dark energy. Use to aim, then release to unleash the blast.
Cerberus-0
32
Press to summon a sniper rifle, then fire with . Hold to hone your precision (costs MP).
Daemonification
0
Press when the marker displays to daemonify a vulnerable enemy.
Shadowstep
0
Hold to dematerialize and swiftly move around the field.
Phantom Fade
8
Press after jumping to leap again in midair.
Daemonification II
16
Absorb more particles when daemonifying an enemy.
Counterosmosis
8
Recover MP after parrying an attack and landing a successful counterstrike.
Rising Phantom
16
Press + after stringing together a 100-hit combo to wipe out all enemies in the surrounding area.
In Final Fantasy XV: Pocket Edition all of the nodes are on the same screen, and are color-coded as to what aspect of gameplay the node affects, with some aspects returning from the console and PC editions, and some aspects being completely different.
Gallery
Etymology
[view·edit·purge]Ascension is a belief held to be true by multiple religions. Since death is the normal end to an individual's life on Earth and the beginning of the afterlife, entering Heaven without dying first is considered exceptional and usually a sign of God's special recognition of the individual's piety.