The Ascent: All skill point locations

Building up your character in The Ascent is completely open to your own preferences. You’re free to invest your skill points into any skills you like, with no class restrictions to funnel you into any specific play style or role. These skills give you some passive bonuses, such as more health and energy, but also make your abilities stronger at the same time. Shooting may be your primary way of dealing damage, but it’s really your skills that determine how strong you are in this cyberpunk world ready to tear you limb from limb.

Leveling up always nets you three precious skill points to distribute however you please. However, even when you hit max level, you won’t have enough to fully upgrade your character. The alternative way of earning skill points is to find them hidden in the world. There are eight more skill points waiting to be found and collected in various locations in The Ascent, and we’ve pinpointed their locations so you can buff your character as much as possible. Here’s every skill point location on the map.

Further reading

• The Ascent: Beginner’s guide
• The best games on Xbox Game Pass for 2021
• The best Xbox Series X exclusives

Skill Point 1: Cluster 13 – Workout Courtyard

This first skill point can be picked up at the tail end of the very first mission in the game. Once you arrive at Cluster 13, head toward the bar, which will be indicated on your map. Once inside, just head around the back of the bar, past the bartender, and pick up this skill point in the far right corner.

Skill Point 2: Waste Recycling Network

During your second visit to the Waste Recycling Network, the skill point we’re after will be in a chest you can reach after you fight the Papa Feral.

Skill Point 3: Gratitude – Store Room

Once at Gratitude, head to the building to the north, but not so far that you enter No Man’s Land. Look for the locked door that requires at least one Cyberdeck upgrade to hack open, labeled as ICE-1. If you have the hacking skills, crack open the door and grab an easy skill point inside.

Skill Point 4: Grinder – South East of Grinder Station

This skill point is hard to miss. As you wrap up the second main mission in the game and arrive at the Grinder, go to the top right corner of the map. There’s a ton of things to pick up here, but make sure you grab the skill point from the chest before you leave.

Skill Point 5: Gratitude – Cafe

Right after the last skill point and finishing up the second mission, the third mission will take you to a location called the Black Lake Towers. To get there, you will have to go through Gratitude again, but this time keep your eyes open for an abandoned cafe you can enter through a blown-out hole in the wall. Inside near the top is your skill point.

Skill Point 6: Nitroad – BioChoice Pharma Building

Further on during the third mission, you will enter the Nitroad. This area is full of gang members you will have to fight your way through, but take your time and make sure to spot the BioChoice Pharma building. It’s a small, square building lit up in blue. On the desk behind the counter is the skill point.

Skill Point 7: Cosmodrome – Behind the East Desk

We’re still in the third mission for this skill point. Almost at the end, while navigating the Cosmodrome, you will be in a lobby with rows of benches and desks. Along the bottom wall is a kiosk and a skill point on the rear desk between terminals.

Skill Point 8: The Node – Onyx Void Chapter

The last skill point you can pick up is in the mission “Foreign Code.” During this mission, you will enter the Onyx Void Chapter building. Once you enter, go up the stairs and take the first available right turn. Inside this cluttered room is a desk with your last skill point on it.