Ascension
Ascension is a game mechanic which starts by defeating all bosses and re-summoning them. This will make the game harder.
Effects
- Previously defeated Bosses return.
- Enemies appear earlier in runs.
- Bosses become faster, inflict more damage, and have more health.
- After ascending for the first time, Bosses no longer drop
Gold on the floor, and will drop instead a gold Chest, which prevents the player from using items like 
Golden Kernels. - Bosses no longer drop Thorium.
How to access
To ascend the player must defeat Selt, Queen of Sand, Mortar, Charged Golem, Noori, Spectre of Darkness, Ponzu, Scaled Assembly, and Seer, World's Heart. After killing the fifth boss, a portal opens into a room called the Endroom where Death's Hand will be seated. The 
Summoning Stone in the middle of the room can be picked up to start ascending. All gold acquired this run is kept.
Skipping bosses
Finishing the run while skipping one or more bosses prevents the player from ascending. Instead of the Summoning Stone, the 
Stone of the Recreant appears. The player must kill all bosses in order to ascend. All gold acquired this run is kept. The ascension happens normally if the player were to kill all other bosses.
Trivia
Taking the summoning stone before speaking to Death's Hand will not trigger its dialogue, though this does not affect the run or the ascension.