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One thing that cyberpunk games do best is unbelievable brutality. The Ascent is no different. The player will make their way to the top of the world’s food chain by any means necessary, namely through the liberal use of firearms and explosives through a long list of missions. Upgrades are an important part of staying on top so it is important to know how to improve these weapons.

Updated on October 28th, 2021 by Hodey Johns: Despite the heavy RPG elements, no decision changes the way the character is built more than upgrading weapons. Having two weapons that take care of every situation is central to being able to beat the game. Many players are getting to that final encounter only to find that their weapons, while fun to use, aren’t capable of beating the game. That’s a tough break for gamers who have invested so much into the game at that point. This guide has been updated with new sections about which guns to upgrade and which ones are better sold for scrap.

No Un-Upgrading

As an important disclaimer, players should know that there is no going back after upgrading a gun. The components used can’t be regained and put toward another weapon. The average player will probably think that’s no big deal, they’ll go harvest more.

Sadly, completionists can scour the entire map and with every single component in hand, there is no way to get more than two weapons maxed out. Plan ahead when using the best singleplayer build, know what weapons to use ahead of time, and don’t spend a single upgrade on anything other than the best.

Worthwhile Weapons

Take a look at the best weapons in the game and pick two to upgrade. The first should be a weapon capable of dealing damage to groups, either with explosive damage or bullet spread. The second should be good against single targets.

Some guns are capable of doing both. Finding the AR Overwhelmer is a great way to turn a rough run into a cakewalk. Also, make sure that at least one of the two guns deals energy damage or has damage high enough to handle mechanical opponents.

Keep The Weapons Topped Off

Players won’t get the components they need to max out a weapon until later in the game, but it doesn’t take much to find two great weapons and get a few ranks in them. Every trip back to the city should include a trip to the Gunsmith and a checkup to make sure the main two weapons are as upgraded as they can be.

Gamers who save upgrading for later will find that beating some of the game’s tough bosses is nearly impossible without the right tools. Upgrades assure that the guns stay relevant and ready regardless of what the game throws at the Indent.

Locate A Gunsmith

Weapon upgrades in the game are handled by NPCs called Gunsmiths. In exchange for different kinds of components, Gunsmiths will upgrade the desired weapon, raising its tier. Players can even use these vendors to change weapon skins. Gunsmiths are marked by a hammer symbol that hangs over their heads and can also be seen on the map.

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Players can find Gunsmiths at Cluster 13, Coder’s Cove, and The Node. If money is an issue, the player can also sell unwanted items to these vendors. It is important to note that Gunsmith’s inventories update after every main mission, so check their stock from time to time.

The Three Component Types

Components are the currency that players will need to upgrade their weapons. There are three types of components: Basic, Advanced, and Superior. As the player upgrades the weapon, the component demand becomes greater and greater.

Players can find components through various means. Some are in locked chests all around the open world, or simply scattered around waiting for someone to pick them up Players may also find them in special Ice Chests that require an upgraded cyberdeck to open. Lastly, they can be gathered through bounties.

Weapon Tiers

Weapons upgrade in tiers, also known as Mk’s. With each tier, the weapon becomes more proficient and deals more damage at a faster rate, useful for getting those overcharge kills. The cost of each tier is as follows:

From Mk. 1 to Mk. 5, the player will pay an increasing amount of basic components, 11 in total. From Mk. 6 to Mk. 8, the player will pay in advanced components, totaling 6. For the last two weapon tiers, the player will use superior components, up to 3.

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All upgrades are permanent for that weapon type. For instance, if a player sells or gets rid of a Mk.5 weapon, every instance of that weapon type that they find later on will still be Mk.5, so no progress is lost.

In Summary

The basic steps for upgrading weapons in The Ascent are summed up below:

Search for Merchants called Gunsmiths to upgrade weapons (look for the hammer icon). Gunsmiths are paid with components, which include Basic, Advanced, and Superior. Components can be found through exploration and bounties. The higher the tier of upgrade, the more components needed, possibly of an increased rarity. The tiers go from Mk. 1 to Mk. 10. Upgrades persist among all weapons of that type.

The Ascent was released on July 29, 2021, and is available on Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC.

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