What is Ascend ability in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom?

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom introduces players to a host of new abilities, including Ascend. Here’s what the Ascend ability does and how to use it.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is finally here and players are discovering everything that one of 2023’s most anticipated games has to offer.

Prior to The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom’s May 12 launch, Nintendo revealed several gameplay features including the various abilities that Link will be able to wield in the sequel to Breath of the Wild. One of the new features that players will grapple with is called Ascend.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Ascend ability in Tears of the Kingdom.

Tears of the Kingdom Ascend ability explained

The Ascend ability in Tears of the Kingdom will allow you to vertically pass through any structure with a ceiling.

This solves a major pain point for players who spent countless hours scaling mountains in Breath of the Wild.

To use the Ascend ability in Tears of the Kingdom, you must stand below a structure with a ceiling. Then, you’ll press L to activate Ascend, followed by the A button to rise up and pass right through the ceiling.

While Ascend will surely make traveling across Hyrule a much less troublesome task, the ability can be used for more than just exploration.

As Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma explains: “What’s great about this ability, is that as long as there’s a ceiling, you can use it anywhere.”

Ascend is necessary to complete certain tasks and challenges, but its utility for speedily reaching the top of a mountain peak is also invaluable to Tears of the Kingdom players.

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For more on Tears of the Kingdom, check out some of our other guides:

What is Recall ability in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom? | When is The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom set? | Do you play as Zelda in Tears of the Kingdom? | Will there be DLC for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom? | The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom amiibo rewards & unlocks | How to cook food items in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Recipe guide