Gemopedia
Card Games🇺🇸United States21st century

Ascension

Officially Ascension: Chronicle of the Godslayer

FAST FANTASY DECKBUILDER by ROBERT DOUGHERTY + DARWIN KASTLE (also Star Realms) + Stoneblade Entertainment, released 2010. First direct successor to Dominion — introduced the CENTER ROW mechanic (6 cards face-up you can buy immediately, refilled from Center Deck) that BECAME STANDARD for post-Dominion deckbuilders. 1-4 players compete to earn HONOR from card acquisition + monster slaying. 4 factions (Enlightened, Lifebound, Mechana, Void). 30 min games. 20+ EXPANSIONS + STANDALONE STANDALONES since 2010. Digital version very popular (iOS/Android/Steam).

📐Small tabletop⏱~30 min🌤indoor

What is Ascension?

ASCENSION is a FAST FANTASY DECKBUILDER designed by ROBERT DOUGHERTY + DARWIN KASTLE (also Star Realms + former MTG Hall of Fame pros) + published by STONEBLADE ENTERTAINMENT (previously Gary Games). Released 2010 — FIRST DIRECT SUCCESSOR to Dominion (2008). Introduced the CENTER ROW mechanic — 6 cards face-up in center; you can buy any of them immediately (vs Dominion where you must draft from 10 preset kingdom piles). Center Deck constantly refills Center Row after purchases. This BECAME STANDARD MECHANIC for post-Dominion deckbuilders (Legendary, Trains, etc.). GAMEPLAY: 1-4 PLAYERS. Start with 10-card deck (8 Apprentices + 2 Militia); each turn draw 5, play cards for RUNES (buy currency) or POWER (combat vs monsters); buy new cards or defeat monsters. 4 FACTIONS: ENLIGHTENED (blue, knowledge + card advantage), LIFEBOUND (green, heal + hero synergy), MECHANA (yellow, construct + persistent bases), VOID (black, void manipulation + return cards). Faction synergy bonuses. Fetch cards + monsters from Center Row for immediate impact. Slay monsters for HONOR (VP) + rewards. Game ends when Honor pool exhausted; count Honor from cards + monsters + trophies. WIN = MOST HONOR. 30 MIN games; fast turns. 20+ EXPANSIONS + STANDALONE releases since 2010: Storm of Souls (2011), Immortal Heroes (2012), Rise of Vigil (2013), Darkness Unleashed (2013), Realms Unraveled (2014), Dawn of Champions (2015), Deliverance (2016), Delirium (2017), Dreamscape (2018), Skulls & Sails (2019), Valley of the Ancients (2020), and many more mini + standalone expansions. Digital version very popular (iOS/Android/Steam) — cross-platform with async multiplayer. Sold 500k+ physical + millions digital.

Quick facts

Category

Card Games

Type

Individual

Players

1–4

Duration

~30 min

Where played

indoor

Field / court

Small tabletop

Country of origin

🇺🇸 United States

Estimated origin

2010 original; 20+ expansions + standalones since 2011

Olympic

No

Popularity

major

How it works

Objective

Earn most Honor (VP) by buying cards + defeating monsters. Game ends when Honor pool exhausts.

Rules

Basic rules

  • Start with 10-card deck (8 Apprentices + 2 Militia)

    Standard starting deck.

  • Each turn: draw 5, play cards for Runes (buy) or Power (combat)

    Similar to Dominion turn.

  • 6-card Center Row (persistent, refills from Center Deck)

    Buy any visible card.

  • Buy cards or defeat monsters for Honor points

    Two paths to VP.

  • 4 factions provide synergy bonuses when combined

    Faction diversity or focus.

  • Game ends when Honor pool exhausted

    Fixed end trigger.

Scoring

Honor-based. Highest Honor at game end wins.

ActionPoints
Buy Hero/Construct cardCard has Honor value + buys
Defeat MonsterHonor + immediate reward + sometimes Trophies
Faction synergy bonusesBonus Honor at game end
Trophy Monsters (from expansions)Big Honor bonus

Win condition · Most Honor when Honor pool exhausts.

Playing area

Called

Small tabletop

Dimensions

Small tabletop (~40cm × 50cm)

Home tabletop or digital app.

Equipment

  • Ascension: Chronicle of the Godslayer ($30 USD)

    Original base game; retail

  • Ascension digital app (FREE with in-app purchases)

    iOS/Android/Steam; excellent adaptation

  • Expansion sets ($20-30 each)

    20+ expansions available

Strategies

  • Commit to 1-2 factions

    Synergy bonuses reward focus.

  • Balance Runes vs Power

    Need both for buys + monsters.

  • Center Row rotates — grab valuable cards fast

    Others will buy them if you don't.

  • Trophy Monsters big Honor swings

    Priority target.

  • Void faction removes cards

    Thinning deck for efficiency.

Terminology

Honor
VP; win condition.
Runes
Buy currency.
Power
Combat vs monsters.
Center Row
6 face-up cards available to buy.
Center Deck
Central deck refilling Center Row.
Hero
Basic buyable card.
Construct
Persistent buyable card.
Monster
Defeatable card for Honor + reward.
Trophy Monster
Big Monster; retained for endgame Honor.
Enlightened / Lifebound / Mechana / Void
4 factions.

Major competitions

  • Ascension digital app tournaments + ladder

    ongoing · worldwide online · since 2011

  • Gen Con + BGG.CON demos

    annual · USA · since 2010

Where it is played

Governing bodies

  • Stoneblade Entertainment (publisher)

    Founded 2010 · Seattle, Washington, USA

  • Robert Dougherty + Darwin Kastle (designers)

    Founded 2010 · USA

Famous names & records

Famous athletes

  • Robert Dougherty + Darwin Kastle (US) — Designers; MTG Hall of Fame

Learn this sport

beginner

  1. 1

    Try Ascension digital app free (iOS/Android/Steam)

    Best entry point.

  2. 2

    OR buy base game ($30)

    Physical version.

intermediate

  1. 1

    Add 1-2 expansions

    More card variety.

advanced

  1. 1

    Play digital tournaments

    Competitive ladder.

Frequently asked

What is Ascension?+

FAST FANTASY DECKBUILDER by ROBERT DOUGHERTY + DARWIN KASTLE (also Star Realms) + Stoneblade Entertainment, released 2010. First direct successor to Dominion — introduced the CENTER ROW mechanic (6 face-up cards to buy) that BECAME STANDARD for post-Dominion deckbuilders. 1-4 players compete to earn HONOR from card acquisition + monster slaying. 4 factions (Enlightened, Lifebound, Mechana, Void). 30 min games. 20+ EXPANSIONS since 2010. Digital version very popular (iOS/Android/Steam).

Ascension vs Dominion vs Star Realms — which deckbuilder?+

ALL THREE ARE EXCELLENT. DOMINION: 2-4 players, 60 min, kingdom-preset variety, no combat, most influential. STAR REALMS: 2 players strict, 15-20 min, combat-based, fastest, free app. ASCENSION: 1-4 players, 30 min, Center Row, Honor-based (VP + monsters), factions. RECOMMENDATION: DOMINION for kingdom variety fans; STAR REALMS for 2-player combat + speed; ASCENSION for factions + monsters + Center Row mechanic + 1-4 players. All three are gateway deckbuilders + can be owned simultaneously.

Sources & provenance

Last verified 2026-08-27.verified