TFT Ao Shin’s Ascent Guide: A Progression-Based PvE Mode
Ao Shin’s Ascent is a new limited-time PvE mode that launched closely after patch 15.5 on September 24th, 2025.
This mode sets the players off on a “roguelite” experience, providing progression-based gameplay filled with various unique challenges.
If that peaks your interest, be sure to give it a try as soon as you can, as it’s planned to go offline as of patch 15.7 on October 21st, 2025.
For a complete breakdown of how to beat Ao Shin’s Ascent, check out our detailed guide here!
How Does Ao Shin’s Ascent Work?
In Ao Shin’s Ascent, players will face off against the AI and attempt to climb the summit, ultimately striving to reach the top!
You’ll traverse through five difficulty “zones” as you progress throughout your run, with each one ramping up the challenge further.
- The Approach
- Slope
- Crest
- Crux
- The Summit
Here’s a quick a look at what you can expect once you’re in the game.
- Normal Rounds: Fight against enemy boards that progressively ramp up their difficulty.
- Augment Rounds: Select an Augment to build around, as per usual in TFT.
- Boss Modifier / Boss Selection: Choose a Boss with interesting modifiers that will certainly shape your decisions moving forward.
- Celestial Challenges: A choice between two options that both strengthen the enemy board in exchange for varying gold payouts.
- Boss Fights: A more challenging fight encountered twice per zone, with the second one scaling in difficulty based on your previous choices.
The Journey Track
Each attempt through Ao Shin’s Ascent will contribute towards your overall goal, regardless of whether you win or lose.
Similar to other games, it uses a meta-progression system that awards permanent perks, helping you during future runs.
There are a total of 80 levels along the track, providing a wide range of bonuses to spice things up and make you significantly more powerful!
Guides
In addition to the more basic bonuses like items, gold, and loot, Ao Shin’s Ascent introduces “Guides” that will join your adventures. Each “Guide” is an existing champion with their own unique ability. Some of these apply in-combat, whereas others assist with your economy and team building.
There are a total of 14 Guides available. When starting off your journey, you’ll begin with only Pantheon unlocked, but will eventually earn up to 11 more as you level-up the track. On top of this, you’ll also unlock two variants of each champion, granting extra effects alongside their existing abilities.
As for the final two Guides, these are unfortunately locked behind cosmetic bundles. So if you want to experience all 14, you’ll have to fork over some RP.
How to Unlock the Ao Shin’s Dragon Dive Portal
This limited-time mode offers players the chance at a free Portal cosmetic, IF they’re willing to put in the time. In order to achieve this, you’ll need to reach the summit with 12 Guides (if you have the bundle, you can choose the 12 of 14), which could certainly prove to be challenging. Best of luck to anyone who decides to take this on!
Thanks for reading! If you’d like to dive back into the competitive side, be sure to check out our latest meta comps.
