Ascend

Ascend
Sample Card
Info
Type	Spell/Static
Reminder Text	n/a
Introduced	Rivals of Ixalan
Last used	Rivals of Ixalan

Ascend is a spell/static ability that can alter effects of spells and characteristics of permanents.

When a spell with Ascend resolves and you control ten or more permanents, you get the City's Blessing for the rest of the game. Following spells with Ascend can have additional boni. Also, permanents with Ascend already on the battlefield may get boni as soon as you get the City's Blessing -- although they were played in previous turns.

The City's Blessing is not a permanent, token or emblem and therefore can't be removed by any other effect once aquired. The image above simply acts as a reminder.

Expansion Info

Ascend was introduced into Magic Arena with Rivals of Ixalan (closed beta).

Video

Watch this explanatory video to see how this game concept works.

Rivals of Ixalan Spotlight Ascend

Comprehensive Rules

Comprehensive Rules (August 7, 2020)

• 702.130. Ascend
  • 702.130a Ascend on an instant or sorcery spell represents a spell ability. It means “If you control ten or more permanents and you don’t have the city’s blessing, you get the city’s blessing for the rest of the game.”
  • 702.130b Ascend on a permanent represents a static ability. It means “Any time you control ten or more permanents and you don’t have the city’s blessing, you get the city’s blessing for the rest of the game.”
  • 702.130c The city’s blessing is a designation that has no rules meaning other than to act as a marker that other rules and effects can identify. Any number of players may have the city’s blessing at the same time.
  • 702.130d After a player gets the city’s blessing, continuous effects are reapplied before the game checks to see if the game state or preceding events have matched any trigger conditions.

Ascend Card List

25 results
	Arch of Orazca (0) Land Ascend (If you control ten or more permanents, you get the city's blessing for the rest of the game.) : Add . , : Draw a card. Activate this ability only if you have the city's blessing.
	Deadeye Brawler (4) Creature — Human Pirate (2/4) Deathtouch Ascend (If you control ten or more permanents, you get the city's blessing for the rest of the game.) Whenever Deadeye Brawler deals combat damage to a player, if you have the city's blessing, draw a card.
	Dusk Charger (4) Creature — Horse (3/3) Ascend (If you control ten or more permanents, you get the city's blessing for the rest of the game.) Dusk Charger gets +2/+2 as long as you have the city's blessing.
	Expel from Orazca (2) Instant Ascend (If you control ten or more permanents, you get the city's blessing for the rest of the game.) Return target nonland permanent to its owner's hand. If you have the city's blessing, you may put that permanent on top of its owner's library instead.
	Golden Demise (3) Sorcery Ascend (If you control ten or more permanents, you get the city's blessing for the rest of the game.) All creatures get -2/-2 until end of turn. If you have the city's blessing, instead only creatures your opponents control get -2/-2 until end of turn.
	Kumena's Awakening (4) Enchantment Ascend (If you control ten or more permanents, you get the city's blessing for the rest of the game.) At the beginning of your upkeep, each player draws a card. If you have the city's blessing, instead only you draw a card.
	Mausoleum Harpy (5) Creature — Harpy (3/3) Flying Ascend (If you control ten or more permanents, you get the city's blessing for the rest of the game.) Whenever another creature you control dies, if you have the city's blessing, put a +1/+1 counter on Mausoleum Harpy.
	Orazca Relic (3) Artifact Ascend (If you control ten or more permanents, you get the city's blessing for the rest of the game.) : Add . , Sacrifice Orazca Relic: You gain 3 life and draw a card. Activate this ability only if you have the city's blessing.
	Pride of Conquerors (2) Instant Ascend (If you control ten or more permanents, you get the city's blessing for the rest of the game.) Creatures you control get +1/+1 until end of turn. If you have the city's blessing, those creatures get +2/+2 until end of turn instead.
	Radiant Destiny (3) Enchantment Ascend (If you control ten or more permanents, you get the city's blessing for the rest of the game.) As Radiant Destiny enters the battlefield, choose a creature type. Creatures you control of the chosen type get +1/+1. As long as you have the city's blessing, they also have vigilance.
	Resplendent Griffin (3) Creature — Griffin (2/2) Flying Ascend (If you control ten or more permanents, you get the city's blessing for the rest of the game.) Whenever Resplendent Griffin attacks, if you have the city's blessing, put a +1/+1 counter on it.
	Secrets of the Golden City (3) Sorcery Ascend (If you control ten or more permanents, you get the city's blessing for the rest of the game.) Draw two cards. If you have the city's blessing, draw three cards instead.
	Serra Ascendant (1) Creature — Human Monk (1/1) Lifelink (Damage dealt by this creature also causes you to gain that much life.) As long as you have 30 or more life, Serra Ascendant gets +5/+5 and has flying.
	Simic Ascendancy (2) Enchantment : Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature you control. Whenever one or more +1/+1 counters are put on a creature you control, put that many growth counters on Simic Ascendancy. At the beginning of your upkeep, if Simic Ascendancy has twenty or more growth counters on it, you win the game.
	Skymarcher Aspirant (1) Creature — Vampire Soldier (2/1) Ascend (If you control ten or more permanents, you get the city's blessing for the rest of the game.) Skymarcher Aspirant has flying as long as you have the city's blessing.
	Slippery Scoundrel (3) Creature — Human Pirate (2/2) Ascend (If you control ten or more permanents, you get the city's blessing for the rest of the game.) As long as you have the city's blessing, Slippery Scoundrel has hexproof and can't be blocked.
	Snubhorn Sentry (1) Creature — Dinosaur (0/3) Ascend (If you control ten or more permanents, you get the city's blessing for the rest of the game.) Snubhorn Sentry gets +3/+0 as long as you have the city's blessing.
	Spire Winder (4) Creature — Snake (2/3) Flying Ascend (If you control ten or more permanents, you get the city's blessing for the rest of the game.) Spire Winder gets +1/+1 as long as you have the city's blessing.
	Storm Fleet Swashbuckler (2) Creature — Human Pirate (2/2) Ascend (If you control ten or more permanents, you get the city's blessing for the rest of the game.) Storm Fleet Swashbuckler has double strike as long as you have the city's blessing.
	Tendershoot Dryad (5) Creature — Dryad (2/2) Ascend (If you control ten or more permanents, you get the city's blessing for the rest of the game.) At the beginning of each upkeep, create a 1/1 green Saproling creature token. Saprolings you control get +2/+2 as long as you have the city's blessing.
	Tilonalli's Summoner (2) Creature — Human Shaman (1/1) Ascend (If you control ten or more permanents, you get the city's blessing for the rest of the game.) Whenever Tilonalli's Summoner attacks, you may pay . If you do, create X 1/1 red Elemental creature tokens that are tapped and attacking. At the beginning of the next end step, exile those tokens unless you have the city's blessing.
	Timestream Navigator (2) Creature — Human Pirate Wizard (1/1) Ascend (If you control ten or more permanents, you get the city's blessing for the rest of the game.) , , Put Timestream Navigator on the bottom of its owner's library: Take an extra turn after this one. Activate this ability only if you have the city's blessing.
	Twilight Prophet (4) Creature — Vampire Cleric (2/4) Flying Ascend (If you control ten or more permanents, you get the city's blessing for the rest of the game.) At the beginning of your upkeep, if you have the city's blessing, reveal the top card of your library and put it into your hand. Each opponent loses X life and you gain X life, where X is that card's converted mana cost.
	Vona's Hunger (3) Instant Ascend (If you control ten or more permanents, you get the city's blessing for the rest of the game.) Each opponent sacrifices a creature. If you have the city's blessing, instead each opponent sacrifices half the creatures they control, rounded up.
	Wayward Swordtooth (3) Creature — Dinosaur (5/5) Ascend (If you control ten or more permanents, you get the city's blessing for the rest of the game.) You may play an additional land on each of your turns. Wayward Swordtooth can't attack or block unless you have the city's blessing.