Ascendancy skill tree
The Ascendancy skill tree is a small skill tree that a character has access to when the Labyrinth has been completed. Each Ascendancy class has its own tree. It functions similarly to the larger passive skill tree; the player earns Ascendancy skill points, which can be spent on allocating nodes granting passive bonuses. The Ascendancy skill tree is shown on the regular passive skill tree, in a tab near the character's starting location.
Layout
Ascendancy passive skills are significantly more powerful than regular passive skills, and will heavily impact the way a character is played. A character can only spend a maximum of eight points on the tree; however, the last two points are not available until significantly later when end-game maps can be cleared. The skill trees - disregarding the Ascendant's - also follow a certain format. There are 12 passive skills in each tree, and each potent "notable" skill is gated by generic, lesser node, so it takes two points to reach them. Certain notables require the player to allocate another notable first, so they take up four points. A character will only be able to have one four-pointer skill until the endgame Labyrinth is cleared.
The Ascendant follows a different format: each Ascendancy Class passive takes 3 point to reach, gated by an attribute passive then a free skill point, and obtaining a second starting point requires 5 points to reach, which is gated by a free skill point. As a result, the Scion can either have up to 2 Ascendancy Class passives or 1 Ascendancy Class passive and its base class's starting point plus an additional attribute passive. Consequently, the Ascendant does not reach a power spike until Cruel and cannot start allocating points from another class's starting point until Merciless. After the endgame Labyrinth is cleared, the Ascendant can either have two Ascendancy skills plus one class's starting point or two Ascendancy skills, a skill point, and an attribute passive. The Ascendant can gain up to 2 free skill points after Merciless Labyrinth, or a maximum of 4 after the endgame Labyrinth if they opt not to take a new starting point.
Refunding
Refunding one Ascendancy skill point requires five regular refund points. When all points are refunded, you can use the Altar of Ascendancy at the end of the Labyrinth to change your Ascendancy class for free.