In The Ascent, a classless twin-stick action RPG, character customization runs deep. The game lets you freely mix and match skills, attributes, and augmentations to build a powerful combatant tailored to your playstyle. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down how skills fuel attributes, which augments to chase, and what builds benefit most from these mechanics.

---

Understanding Skills and Attributes

There are eight core skills in the game, each tied to one of four attributes:

• Cybernetics: Tactical Sense, Critical Hit Rate
• Motorics: Weapon Handling, Aiming
• Frame: Balance, Evasion
• Biometrics: Vital Signs, Body Battery

You gain 3 skill points per level and can find additional points through exploration. Each skill can be maxed out at 20 points. Importantly, skills increase the corresponding attribute, which boosts the effectiveness of augmentations, your active combat abilities. Knowing which augment scales off which attribute is key to optimizing your loadout.

---

Best Cybernetics-Based Augmentations

Cybernetics benefits from boosting Tactical Sense (tactical charge speed) and Critical Hit Rate (chance for crits). It increases the AoE, target count, or strength of augmentations.

Top Cybernetics Augments:

• Joyrun Dragon: Summons a stasis-inflicting dragon. Targets explode when shot while frozen. Great for AoE builds. Found in the Satori Casino.
• Life Transfer: Marks enemies and heals you for damage dealt. Effective for squishy builds. Buy from the Grafter(30,000 YouCreds).
• Mono Defender: Deploys a shielded melee bot to tank damage and distract enemies. Found in DeepStink’s D-Nexus Sluth.
• Mono Ranger: Offensive ranged bot companion. Ideal for open-area fights. Buy from Grafter (29,000 YouCreds).
• Spider Bots: Swarm and explode on contact. Amazing for clearing groups. Rewarded after Data Miner mission or buy from Grafter.
• Volatile: Marks enemies to explode on death. Requires enemy clumping. Found early or via enemy drops.

---

Best Motorics-Based Augmentations

Motorics is enhanced by Weapon Handling (reload/swap speed) and Aiming (spread control and accuracy). Ideal for builds reliant on consistent weapon output.

Top Motorics Augments:

• Homing Mim: Fires auto-locking missiles. Solid mid-range AoE. Buy from Grafter (33,000 YouCreds).
• Hydraulic Slam: Delivers a massive close-range shockwave. Great for melee builds. Grafter (26,000 YouCreds).
• Neutron Beam: A high-damage beam that melts armor. Avoid dodging while active. Grafter (30,000 YouCreds).

---

Best Frame-Based Augmentations

The Frame attribute comes from Balance (resistance to knockbacks, movement penalties) and Evasion (dodge cooldown reduction).

Top Frame Augments:

• Propulsion Leap: Jump and slam into enemies, dealing massive AoE. Great for crowd disruption. Earned from Foreign Code or Dark Horse missions.
• Stasis Stomp: Sends enemies into the air with stasis. Time your shots mid-air for explosions. Reward from Double Charge side quest.

---

Best Biometrics-Based Augmentation

Biometrics increases with Vital Signs (HP) and Body Battery (energy for abilities).

Top Biometric Augment:

• Overclock: Boosts reload, health regen, and tactical regen. Use under 50% HP for max benefit. Rewarded from One More Rep side quest.

---

Synergy Tips & Build Ideas

• Critical Commando (Cybernetics Focus): Use Joyrun Dragon + Volatile for AoE wipeouts. Stack crit rate + tactical sense.
• Shotgun Slammer (Motorics Focus): Combine Hydraulic Slam with Homing Mim. Max reload speed and spread recovery.
• Terminator Tank (Cybernetics + Frame): Mix Spider Bots and Propulsion Leap. Soak damage while dishing out AoE chaos.
• Biotech Support (Biometrics Focus): Equip Overclock + Life Transfer. Stay alive while supporting team damage.

---

Final Thoughts

Every attribute and skill combo has value, but your augmentations define your playstyle. Choose augments that match your strengths and shape your stat investment accordingly. Whether you want a stasis-wielding AoE killer or a high-damage melee disruptor, The Ascent’s flexibility allows you to craft something powerful.

Just remember:

• Skill = Attribute = Augment Power
• Match your gear to your build
• Don’t sleep on support tools like bots or Overclock

Level smart. Build sharp. And dominate Veles your way.