Do you play Ascension or Keys mode?

[Imhotep]

After completing the game, there are two new game modes - Ascension and collecting Keys. Collecting keys does not help with Ascension, so it would make sense to treat them as separate game modes.

So far, I've only been playing Ascension and haven't properly tried collecting Keys mode yet.

It seems to me that, playing Ascension, there will come a point where it might become too hard, and runs will increasingly end in defeat.

So the collecting Keys game mode, when played without added Ascension difficulty, would seem to act as a more challenging game mode than the regular game, but, I presume, will result in more frequent victory than higher-level Ascension.

So I can maybe see myself moving from Ascension to Keys mode when unsuccessful Ascension runs become the norm, and then maybe trying the odd higher-level Ascension game when I'm feeling masochistic.

Is this a likely playing trajectory?

[Zu]

Here's a crazy idea: Do both together.

[Khor]

Originally posted by Zu:

Here's a crazy idea: Do both together. :slimeamazed:

[LHGreen]

Originally posted by Khor:

Originally posted by Zu:

Here's a crazy idea: Do both together. :slimeamazed:

:shockedhero::shockedhero::shockedhero:

[mldb88]

Keys aren’t so much a new mode and more just how to reach the true end. Personally I shift into Act 4 if I feel like my run can handle it. If I get a lot of relics that work against the Act 4 boss or have a really strong deck going then I’ll start pathing towards it usually.

[Imhotep]

Originally posted by mldb88:

Keys aren’t so much a new mode and more just how to reach the true end. Personally I shift into Act 4 if I feel like my run can handle it. If I get a lot of relics that work against the Act 4 boss or have a really strong deck going then I’ll start pathing towards it usually.

Why do Keys mode/Act 4 if playing Ascension mode? Surely, it will greatly reduce of completing the Ascension run?

Also, how hard is Keys mode/Act 4, with Ascension off, compared to regular Ascension? Roughly what sort of Ascension level is comparable in terms of challenge level?

[Zu]

Originally posted by Imhotep:

Originally posted by mldb88:

Keys aren’t so much a new mode and more just how to reach the true end. Personally I shift into Act 4 if I feel like my run can handle it. If I get a lot of relics that work against the Act 4 boss or have a really strong deck going then I’ll start pathing towards it usually.

Why do Keys mode/Act 4 if playing Ascension mode? Surely, it will greatly reduce of completing the Ascension run?

Also, how hard is Keys mode/Act 4, with Ascension off, compared to regular Ascension? Roughly what sort of Ascension level is comparable in terms of challenge level?

It's less impactful than you'd think. The worst part is missing out on an upgrade. But yes, there's no point in collecting keys if all you care about is climbing.
I suppose it's to get more out of strong runs. You still climb if you die in act 4, so w/e.

As for what ascension does to act 4:

A3: Spear shield damage+. Spear hits 4 times.
A4: Heart single hit damage +5. Multi hit 15 times.

A8: Spear shield hp+.
A9: Heart hp +50.

A18: Spear shield artifact +1.
Shield attack gains 99 block, not equal to damage dealt.
Spear puts burns on top of your draw pile.
A19: Beat of death +1. Invincible -100.

[mldb88]

Originally posted by Imhotep:

Originally posted by mldb88:

Keys aren’t so much a new mode and more just how to reach the true end. Personally I shift into Act 4 if I feel like my run can handle it. If I get a lot of relics that work against the Act 4 boss or have a really strong deck going then I’ll start pathing towards it usually.

Why do Keys mode/Act 4 if playing Ascension mode? Surely, it will greatly reduce of completing the Ascension run?

Also, how hard is Keys mode/Act 4, with Ascension off, compared to regular Ascension? Roughly what sort of Ascension level is comparable in terms of challenge level?

If I’m confident my run is going to be able to clear act 4, it’s usually good enough to manage the act 3 boss 90% of the time. As you do more act 4 runs you’ll start to get a feel for if and when to start considering going for it. Just clearing act 3 is enough to clear the ascension even if you lose to the act 4 boss anyway so as long as your run is strong enough to clear act 3 you’re good.

As for comparing it, it’s a very unique act so it’s hard to really compare to an ascension level, and it also scales with ascension too just like everything else. It’s definitely the biggest challenge the game throws at you though, and takes some preparinf throughout a run to deal with.

[Zammy]

Well...
Without keys you get : Victory ?
With keys you get : Victory !

Which do you think is actually winning?

[Obamenau]

A20 act4 is the game at its peak in my opinion.

[Cle]

Originally posted by Zu:

Here's a crazy idea: Do both together. :slimeamazed:

U're mad XD

[Vengyr]

Originally posted by Zammy:

Well...
Without keys you get : Victory ?
With keys you get : Victory !

Which do you think is actually winning?

Whichever gets me to the next difficulty.

I am not a fan of doing Heart runs, it's always the same challenge. I'd rather play on increasingly higher general difficulties.

[Kal]

Collecting the keys will give you a better score even if you don't beat the heart. I don't see why you wouldn't try.

[curry124242]

I view collecting keys is a must while climbing Ascensions, it just feel like cheating to avoid the keys.

It is also more challenging and more fun i believe.

[TowerWizard]

I think they made a mistake having the keys not affect ascension. At least they should have to be needed every 5 ascencions. I mean you don't win unless you defeat the act 4 boss, so why would they make it increase the ascenstion level if you only beat the act 3 boss?

[mldb88]

Originally posted by TowerWizard:

I think they made a mistake having the keys not affect ascension. At least they should have to be needed every 5 ascencions. I mean you don't win unless you defeat the act 4 boss, so why would they make it increase the ascenstion level if you only beat the act 3 boss?

With how difficult the higher ascensions are just trying to clear normally without shooting for the Act 4 boss let alone with it combined with the need for a a more specialized strategy just to even stand a chance against it (which you may not even be offered ways to get around some of the more nasty mechanics), personally would have to hard disagree here. Hell, once you hit A20 it’s not even a guarantee an Act 4 clear is even possible on every single run so it’d just make the whole thing even more frustrating to deal with.