Ascend
by fretux
Ascend is a progression mod for Forge and NeoForge that adds leveling, attributes, knowledge and mystical shrines to the game.
What it does
Players climb through Ascend Levels, capped at Ascend Level 20, and every new level brings a fixed pool of 15 points to distribute. Individual attributes can be pushed as high as 100, though returns shrink the further an attribute is invested. Experience comes from slaying creatures with 150 health or more, and the Moonseye Tome hands over a large sum of Knowledge when read.
The character is built from eight attributes, and weapons scale with them through grades that run from E to S. Each weapon's tooltip lists which attributes raise its damage and how strongly it responds to each one. Heavy weapons generally lean on Strength while faster ranged weapons lean on Agility, and some weapons respond to both, which supports specialized hybrid builds. Strength-scaling weapons can penetrate part of an enemy's armor.
Ascend works standalone, and it runs on client and server, so both the server and every player need it. Files are published for Forge and NeoForge, covering 1.20.1 and 1.21.1, under the MIT License as open source. Iron's Spells 'n Spellbooks and Ascend: Mind & Motion are optional integrations and are not required to play.
Key features
Attribute builds
Eight attributes are invested with points from each level, letting players shape a character toward a chosen playstyle.
Knowledge and shrines
Knowledge is a rare progression currency, and Remembrance shrines are found across the world for spending it.
Shrine reset
Spending Knowledge at a shrine resets invested attribute points, so a player can create a new build.
Scaling weapons
Weapons carry attribute-scaling grades from E to S, and tooltips show how each attribute changes their damage.
Gallery
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.
Requirements
Dependencies declared by the latest file for each loader.
Optional 2
Required by 1 mod
Use cases
Who it’s for: Players who want attribute-based character progression in survival worlds, and server owners who run Forge or NeoForge for 1.20.1 or 1.21.1.
How it compares
RPG Attribute System is open source under the Apache License 2.0 and supports Fabric, Forge and NeoForge across 1.16.5 – 26.3, while Ascend covers only Forge and NeoForge for 1.20.1 and 1.21.1. Random Attributes is server-side only, so players join without installing it, and it is published for Forge and NeoForge across 1.20.1 – 1.21.1 under All rights reserved. Ascend requires both sides, which is a different setup from either.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ascend | Forge and NeoForge | 1.20.1 – 1.21.1 | Client and server | 2026-10-08 |
| RPG Attribute System | Fabric, Forge and NeoForge | 1.16.5 – 26.3 | Client and server | 2026-10-10 |
| Random Attributes | Forge and NeoForge | 1.20.1 – 1.21.1 | Server-side only | 2025-09-21 |
Questions
Does Ascend need another mod to run?
Which loaders does Ascend support?
Is the Ascend source code available?
In the catalog
Ascend is one of 19,031 Adventure mods on ModsFinder, and one of 10,478 Adventure mods for Forge. 32,366 mods support Minecraft 1.21.1.
More from fretux
Similar mods
What the author says
Ascend is a soulslike RPG progression mod inspired by Deepwoken and Elden Ring. Ascend works as a standalone mod, with optional integrations for Iron’s Spells ’n Spellbooks and Mind & Motion.
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/ascendcore
- Owner
- fretux
- Published
- 2025-11-12
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2026-10-08
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15