Ascendant is a Subclass of Cipher in Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire. Subclasses are a specialization of a main Class, and can be mixed for Multiclassing. The name of the resulting mix will be the same as it would have been for the primary class, regardless of the subclass you have taken.
"Ascendant ciphers train to use their powers when they are at full Focus. This can make their powers devastating when they are finally unleashed, but leaves them underpowered in other circumstances. Whether earned or not, ascendants have a reputation for being cocky and overconfident."
Ascendant Subclass Information
Bonus:
- Max focus is increased by 5. Reaching Max focus grants "Ascended" effect temporarily, increasing power level and reducing power focus cost to 0.
- Soul Whip does not turn off while Ascended and provides more bonus damage during Ascended.
Penalty:
- While not Ascended, receive a penalty to Cipher's Power Level (-1).
- While not Ascended Soul Whip does much less damage, but generates more Focus.
- When Ascended fades, Focus is reduced to 0.
Ascendant Tips & Notes
- See Builds for ideas on how to create strong characters
- Ascendant has the most max Focus and fastest Focus gain, making it a powerful spell-caster.
- Because Ascendants don't gain Focus when casting spells, it is advised that if they Multiclass, they do it with a class that has some Weapon Abilities.
- The difference of Focus gain and max Focus can be seen in the following table:
| Stat | No Subclass | Ascendant | Beguiler | Soul Blade |
| Soul Whip Effect | +20% Damage with weapons | +10% Damage with weapons +50% Focus Gain |
+20% Damage Full Soul Whip bonus only applies to Sneak Attack vulnerable targets. |
+20% Damage with weapons |
| Biting Whip Effect | +40% Damage with weapons | +30% Damage with weapons +50% Focus Gain |
+30% Damage Full Soul Whip bonus only applies to Sneak Attack vulnerable targets. |
+40% Damage with weapons |
| Draining Whip Effect | +20% Damage with weapons +100% Focus Gain |
+10% Damage with weapons +150% Focus Gain |
+10% Damage +100% Focus Gain against Flanked, Body Afflicted and Mind Afflicted targets, Full Soul Whip bonus only applies to Sneak Attack vulnerable targets. |
+20% Damage with weapons +100% Focus Gain |
| Starting Focus | 7 | 12 | 7 | 2 |
| Max Focus | 30 | 35 | 30 | 25 |
| Starting Focus Increase | +3 (even levels) +2 (odd levels) |
+8 (even levels) +2 (odd levels) |
+3 (even levels) +2 (odd levels) |
+3 (even levels) +2 (odd levels) (-5 at certain levels) |
| Max Focus Increase | +10 (every level) | +15 (even levels) +10 (odd levels) |
+10 (every level) | +10 (every level) (-5 at certain levels) |
| Subclasses |
|---|
Ancient ♦ Animist ♦ Arcane Archer ♦ Assassin ♦ Beckoner ♦ Beguiler ♦ Bellower ♦ Berath ♦ Berserker ♦ Black Jacket ♦ Bleak Walkers ♦ Blood Mage ♦ Conjurer ♦ Corpse-Eater ♦ Darcozzi Paladini ♦ Debonaire ♦ Devoted ♦ Enchanter ♦ Eothas ♦ Evoker ♦ Forbidden Fist ♦ Fury ♦ Fury Shaper ♦ Ghost Heart ♦ Goldpact Knights ♦ Harvester of Gaun ♦ Helwalker ♦ Illusionist ♦ Kind Wayfarers ♦ Lifegiver ♦ Mage Slayer ♦ Magran ♦ Nalpazca ♦ Psion ♦ Rymrgand ♦ Sharpshooter ♦ Shattered Pillar ♦ Shifter ♦ Skaen ♦ Skald ♦ Soul Blade ♦ Stalker ♦ Stormspeaker ♦ Streetfighter ♦ Tactician ♦ The Shieldbearers of St. Elcga ♦ The Steel Garrote ♦ Transmuter ♦ Trickster ♦ Troubadour ♦ Unbroken ♦ Wael ♦ Watershaper ♦ Wild Mind ♦ Woedica |
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