Ascension Chamber loot history

The Ascension Chamber raid loot was changed many many times. Usually improved, but sometimes nerfed. This article explains the various versions that exist. Note: Most of these still exist as almost none of these changes were retroactive. The few changes that were retroactive are specifically pointed out.

Breeze

• Initial Version - (Added Module 9) - Quarterstaff (1d6 damage): +5 Enhancement Bonus+5 Enhancement Bonus: +5 enhancement bonus to attack and damage rolls., Telekinetic, Vertigo +6, Paralyzing, DEX used for ATK/DMG mods.
• Update 12 - Item heavily changed: Quarterstaff (1d10 damage, 19-20/x2 expanded threat): +5 Enhancement Bonus+5 Enhancement Bonus: +5 enhancement bonus to attack and damage rolls., ScreamingScreaming: Screaming weapons emit a piercing screech whenever they are used to make a successful attack. This screech does an additional 1 to 6 sonic damage., RoaringRoaring: This weapon causes targets to become shaken (DC 25 Will save negates) and, on a critical hit, does 2 to 12 sonic damage to the target., Telekinetic Telekinetic: Targets that suffer a critical hit from a Telekinetic weapon must make a DC 17 Balance check or be knocked down., Slicing Winds Slicing Winds: This weapon stores the cyclonic might of a windstorm within. When this weapon is used, this power can come to the surface as a series of rushing, cutting winds that deal slashing damage to the target over several seconds., Upgradeable Item (Black Abbot), DEX used for ATK/DMG mods.
  • Upgrade: Telekinetic Telekinetic: Targets that suffer a critical hit from a Telekinetic weapon must make a DC 17 Balance check or be knocked down. → Greater TelekineticGreater Telekinetic: Targets that suffer a critical hit from a Telekinetic weapon must make a DC 28 Strength or Dexterity check or be knocked down. The target will then be forced to make DC 16 Balance checks to recover from this effect., and Greater SiroccoGreater Sirocco: A critical hit with this weapon causes a whirlwind of desert sand to swirl about the target, temporarily blinding it. A successful Reflex save (DC 35) prevents the effect. added.

Circle of Hatred

• Initial Version (Module 5) - Ring: HarmHarm
  Caster level: 11
  Charges: 3 (3/day) — 3 Charges (Recharged/Day:3), Intimidate +13Intimidate +13: Passive: +13 Competence bonus to the Intimidate skill., Resistance +4.
  • Module 5 Patch 2 - Was nerfed to be exclusive - retroactively unlike most changes.
• Module 9 - Harm charges increased to 5/day, Resistance upgraded to +5, Intimidate upgraded to +15.
• Update 12 - Incite 20% Added, Harm charges nerfed back to 3/day and Upgradeable Item (Black Abbot) added.
  • Upgrade: Incite +20 Incite +20: +20% Enhancement bonus to increased threat generation from melee damage → Incite +30 Incite +30: +30% Enhancement bonus to increased threat generation from melee damage, Harm charges increase to 5/day.

Deific Diadem

• Initial Version (Module 5) - Helm: Lesser Heighten (3/day), Wisdom +5 Wisdom +5: This item makes the wearer more in tune with her surroundings, granting a +5 enhancement bonus to Wisdom., Intelligence +5 Intelligence +5: This item focuses the power of the wearer's mind, granting a +5 enhancement bonus to Intelligence..
  • Module 5 Patch 2 - Was nerfed to be exclusive - retroactively unlike most changes.
• Module 9 - WIS and INT upgraded to +6, Lesser Heighten charges increased to 5/day.
• Update 12 - Lesser Heighten charges nerfed back to 3/day. Upgradeable Item (Black Abbot) added.
  • Upgrade: Lesser Heighten charges increase to 5/day, Greater Evocation Focus added.

Enduring Conviction

• Initial Version (Module 5) - Longsword: Banishing, True LawTrue Law: This weapon is infused with the power of True Law. It does an additional 1 to 6 damage to non-lawful targets and can only be wielded by Lawful-aligned characters., Pure GoodPure Good: This weapon is infused with the power of Pure Good. It does an additional 1 to 6 damage to non-good targets and can only be wielded by Good-aligned characters., requires Good alignment or UMD of 30 (no need to be Lawful).
  • Module 5 Patch 2 - Pure GoodPure Good: This weapon is infused with the power of Pure Good. It does an additional 1 to 6 damage to non-good targets and can only be wielded by Good-aligned characters. and True LawTrue Law: This weapon is infused with the power of True Law. It does an additional 1 to 6 damage to non-lawful targets and can only be wielded by Lawful-aligned characters. changed to Greater GoodGreater Good: This weapon is infused with the ultimate power of Good. It does an additional 2 to 12 damage to non-good targets and can only be wielded by Good-aligned characters. and Absolute LawAbsolute Law: This weapon is infused with the ultimate power of Law. It does an additional 2 to 12 damage to non-lawful targets and can only be wielded by Lawful-aligned characters..
• Update 12 - Banishing removed. Evil Outsider Bane and Upgradeable Item (Black Abbot) added.
  • Upgrade: Evil Outsider Bane → Greater Evil Outsider Bane.

Litany of the Dead

• Initial Version (Module 5) - Litany of the Dead - Trinket, Turn the PageTurn the Page
  Charges: 3 (3/day) — 3 Charges (Recharged/Day:3), Taint of EvilTaint of Evil: Good aligned characters equipping this item suffer a temporary negative level until the item is removed., Litany of the Dead - Ability Bonus, Litany of the Dead - Combat Bonus.
  • Module 5 Patch 2 - Was nerfed to be exclusive - retroactively unlike most changes.
• Update 12 - No changes, just Upgradeable Item (Black Abbot) added.
  • Upgrade: Taint of EvilTaint of Evil: Good aligned characters equipping this item suffer a temporary negative level until the item is removed. is removed.

Noxious Embers

• Initial Version (Module 5) - Necklace: Lesser Maximize (3/day), Superior Combustion VII (+50% to level 7+ fire spells), Efficient Metamagic - Enlarge IEfficient Metamagic - Enlarge I: The additional spell point cost for using the Enlarge Metamagic feat is reduced by 1 SP..
  • Module 5 Patch 2 - Was nerfed to be exclusive - retroactively unlike most changes.
• Module 9 - Greater Arcane Lore added, Lesser Maximize charges increased to 5/day.
• Update 12 - Greater Arcane Lore nerfed to Arcane Lore. Superior Combustion VII (+50% to level 7+ fire spells) nerfed to Greater Combustion VII (+40% to level 7+ fire spells), Lesser Maximize charges nerfed back to 3/day. Upgradeable Item (Black Abbot) added.
  • Upgrade: Lesser Maximize charges increase to 5/day. Arcane Lore → Greater Arcane Lore
• Update 14 - Greater Combustion VII (+40% to level 7+ fire spells) retroactively changed to Combustion +78Combustion +78: Passive: +78 Equipment bonus to Fire Spell Power.. Not sure what the old versions with Superior Combustion VII ended up with.
• Update 19 - Arcane Lore and Greater Arcane Lore renamed to Spell Lore III and Spell Lore VI (effects unchanged)

Purging the Pantheon

• Initial Version (Module 5) - Belt: Fortification +75%Fortification +75%: This suit of armor or shield produces a magical force that protects vital areas of the wearer much more effectively. When a critical hit or sneak attack is scored on the wearer, there is a 75% chance that the critical hit or sneak attack is negated and damage is instead rolled normally., Protection +4Protection +4: Passive: +4 Deflection bonus to Armor Class., Quell (spell)Quell (spell)
  Charges: 3 (3/day) — 3 Charges (Recharged/Day:3), Exclusive.
• Module 9 - Protection +4Protection +4: Passive: +4 Deflection bonus to Armor Class. upgraded to Protection +5Protection +5: Passive: +5 Deflection bonus to Armor Class..
• Update 12 - No changes, just Upgradeable Item (Black Abbot) added.
  • Upgrade: Fortification +75%Fortification +75%: This suit of armor or shield produces a magical force that protects vital areas of the wearer much more effectively. When a critical hit or sneak attack is scored on the wearer, there is a 75% chance that the critical hit or sneak attack is negated and damage is instead rolled normally. → Fortification +100%Fortification +100%: This suit of armor or shield produces a magical force that protects vital areas of the wearer much more effectively. When a critical hit or sneak attack is scored on the wearer, there is a 100% chance that the critical hit or sneak attack is negated and damage is instead rolled normally..
• Update ?? (before 17)
  • Upgrade: Quell (spell)Quell (spell)
    Charges: 3 (3/day) — 3 Charges (Recharged/Day:3) → Quell (spell)Quell (spell)
    Charges: 5 (5/day) — 5 Charges (Recharged/Day:5)

Quiver of Alacrity

• Initial Version (Module 7) - Quiver: Ranged Alacrity 10%Ranged Alacrity 10%: Gain 10% enhancement bonus to Ranged attack speed. Does not stack with the Haste spell., Capacity 1,500 / 3 Slots.
• Update 12 - No changes, just Upgradeable Item (Black Abbot) added.
  • Upgrade: Striding +30%Striding +30%: Makes the wearer more fleet of foot, giving a 30% bonus to run speed. added.

Shroud of the Abbot

• Initial Version (Module 5) - Robe: Armor Bonus +4Armor Bonus +4: This item surrounds the wearer with an invisible but tangible field of force, granting +4 armor bonus to AC, just as though he were wearing armor., Natural Armor +4Natural Armor +4: Passive: +4 Natural Armor Bonus to Armor Class., Boon of UndeathBoon of Undeath: Undead take solace in the hate of others. Every time a character wearing a Boon of Undeath item is struck in combat, an Inflict Light Wounds spell will be cast on the character., Fire Resistance +30Fire Resistance +30: Passive: +30 Enhancement bonus to your Fire Resistance., Major Void Lore, Major Lightning Lore.
  • Module 5 Patch 2 - Fortification +25%Fortification +25%: This suit of armor or shield produces a magical force that protects vital areas of the wearer much more effectively. When a critical hit or sneak attack is scored on the wearer, there is a 25% chance that the critical hit or sneak attack is negated and damage is instead rolled normally. added.
• Update 12 - Fire Resistance +30Fire Resistance +30: Passive: +30 Enhancement bonus to your Fire Resistance. and Fortification +25%Fortification +25%: This suit of armor or shield produces a magical force that protects vital areas of the wearer much more effectively. When a critical hit or sneak attack is scored on the wearer, there is a 25% chance that the critical hit or sneak attack is negated and damage is instead rolled normally. removed, Light Resistance +20Light Resistance +20: Passive: +20 Enhancement bonus to your Light Resistance. and Upgradeable Item (Black Abbot) added.
  • Upgrade: Light Resistance +20Light Resistance +20: Passive: +20 Enhancement bonus to your Light Resistance. → Light Resistance +30Light Resistance +30: Passive: +30 Enhancement bonus to your Light Resistance.. Lesser Arcane Augmentation IXLesser Arcane Augmentation IX: Increases the wearer's caster level when casting ninth level or lower sorcerer or wizard spells by one. added.
• Update 19 - Major Void Lore and Major Lightning Lore renamed to Void Lore VVoid Lore V: Passive: Your Negative Energy and Poison spells gain a 15% Equipment bonus to their chance to critical hit. and Lightning Lore VLightning Lore V: Passive: Your Electricity spells gain a 15% Equipment bonus to their chance to critical hit. (effects not changed)

Staff of the Petitioner

• Initial Version (Module 5) - +5 Quarterstaff: Power StorePower Store: This item collects and stores magical energy. Any spellcaster can use this energy to partially power their spells. All spells cast while using this item receive an enhancement bonus of -10% to their spell point costs., Greater Enchantment Focus, Greater Necromancy Focus.
  • Module 5 Patch 2 - Concentration +5Concentration +5: Passive: +5 Competence bonus to the Concentration skill. added.
• Module 9 - Spell Penetration VIII (+2 Spell Pen to Level 8 and lower spells) added.
• Update 12 - No changes, just Upgradeable Item (Black Abbot) added.
  • Upgrade: Superior Potency VI (+50% to level 6+ spells) added.
• Update 14 - Superior Potency VI (+50% to level 6+ spells) in upgrade retroactively changed to Potency +48Potency +48: Passive: +48 Equipment bonus to each Spell Power.
  • Also adds Spellcasting Implement +15Spellcasting Implement +15: Passive: +15 Implement bonus to Universal Spell Power. when upgraded (probably because all weapons with Potency get that)
• Update 19 - Spell Penetration VIII (+2 Spell Pen to Level 8 and lower spells) effect changed into Spell Penetration III (+3 Spell Pen to all spells) on all items (retroactively)

Unwavering Ardency

• Initial Version (Module 5) - +2 Longbow (2d12 damage): Immunity to FearImmunity to Fear: The wearer of this item is immune to all fear effects., CursespewingCursespewing: On Vorpal Hit: Your enemy is cursed with a -4 morale penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, and skill checks. This painful curse also causes the victim to take 1d6 damage every two seconds for a duration of twelve seconds. Additional vorpal strikes while the curse is active will extend the duration by another twelve seconds., Slowburst Slowburst: This weapon has an image of a snail worked into its hilt or grip, and it feels cold to the touch. Whenever you score a critical hit with this weapon, the target is slowed for 30 seconds. A DC 15 Will save negates this effect..
  • Module 5 Patch 2 - Upgraded to +3.
• Update 12 - Item heavily changed: +3 Longbow (2d12 damage, 19-20/x3 expanded threat): Immunity to FearImmunity to Fear: The wearer of this item is immune to all fear effects., Flaming BurstFlaming Burst: This weapon is sheathed in fire, and deals 1 to 6 fire damage each hit. Critical hits deal an additional 1 to 10 fire damage for weapons with a x2 critical multiplier, 2 to 20 for a x3 multiplier and 3 to 30 for a x4 multiplier., Smoke ScreenSmoke Screen: You are surrounded by wisps of concealing smoke, giving opponents a 20% concealment chance to miss you., Upgradeable Item (Black Abbot).
  • Upgrade: Blinding Embers Blinding Embers: This weapon sheds tiny embers that can impair a creatures sight. If you roll a 20 when attacking and confirm the critical hit, the target will become blinded by a burst of fiery sparks. added.

Vile Blasphemy

• Initial Version (Module 5) - Gloves: Power DrainPower Drain
  Charges: 3 (3/day) — 3 Charges (Recharged/Day:3), Dexterity +5 Dexterity +5: This item makes the wearer more nimble and dexterous, granting a +5 enhancement bonus to Dexterity., Use Magic Device +3Use Magic Device +3: Passive: +3 Competence bonus to the Use Magic Device skill..
  • Module 5 Patch 2 - Was nerfed to be exclusive. Oddly these were the only ones not changed retroactively in 5.2.
• Module 7 - Minor description change to display the duration, and no longer exclusive.
• Module 9 - Dexterity +5 Dexterity +5: This item makes the wearer more nimble and dexterous, granting a +5 enhancement bonus to Dexterity. upgraded to Dexterity +6 Dexterity +6: This item makes the wearer more nimble and dexterous, granting a +6 enhancement bonus to Dexterity..
• Update 12 - Power DrainPower Drain
  Charges: 3 (3/day) — 3 Charges (Recharged/Day:3) nerfed to Power DrainPower Drain
  Charges: 1 (1/day) — 1 Charges (Recharged/Day:1) and Upgradeable Item (Black Abbot) added.
  • Upgrade: Power DrainPower Drain
    Charges: 1 (1/day) — 1 Charges (Recharged/Day:1) → Power DrainPower Drain
    Charges: 3 (3/day) — 3 Charges (Recharged/Day:3)
• Update 12 Patch 2 - Greater Dispelling GuardGreater Dispelling Guard: This item is infused with a power that purges out the magical energies of those that strike the wearer. When the wearer is hit in melee it will apply a Greater Dispel Magic effect to the attacker, stripping away its protective spells. added to upgraded version.

Wretched Twilight

• Initrial Version (Module 5) - Cloak: Ghostly, Superior Nullification VI (+50% to level 6+ negative energy spells), Stealth Strike.
• Module 9 - Sneak Attack Bonus +4Sneak Attack Bonus +4: Provides a +4 to attack bonus and a +6 to damage for any attack that would qualify as a Sneak Attack, even if the wielder is not a Rogue. added.
• Update 12 - No changes, just Upgradeable Item (Black Abbot) added.
  • Upgrade: Sneak Attack Bonus +4Sneak Attack Bonus +4: Provides a +4 to attack bonus and a +6 to damage for any attack that would qualify as a Sneak Attack, even if the wielder is not a Rogue. → Sneak Attack Bonus +5Sneak Attack Bonus +5: Provides a +5 to attack bonus and a +8 to damage for any attack that would qualify as a Sneak Attack, even if the wielder is not a Rogue.. Major Void Lore added.
• Update 14 - Superior Nullification VI (+50% to level 6+ negative energy spells) retroactively changed to Nullification +72Nullification +72: Passive: +72 Equipment bonus to Negative (Necrotic) and Poison Spell Power.
• Update 19 - Major Void Lore renamed to Void Lore VVoid Lore V: Passive: Your Negative Energy and Poison spells gain a 15% Equipment bonus to their chance to critical hit. (effect is the same)

Other Loot

• +3 Ability tomes (BtC) - release to Update 19
• +3 to +4 Upgrade Ability tomes (BtA) - added in Update 16, +3 tomes have a 25% chance of being +3 to +4 Upgrade tomes instead (and changes from BtC to BtA)
• +2 Ability tomes (BtC) - Update 19 nerfed the base tomes to +2 instead of +3
• +2 to +3 Upgrade Ability tomes (BtC) - Update 19 nerfed the upgrade tomes to +2 to +3 BtC instead of +3 to +4 BtA
• +2 to +3 Upgrade Skill tomes (BtC) - Update 19 turned half the tome drops into Upgrade Skill tomes (note that no base skill tomes drop in raids, only upgrade skill tomes)
• Seal of the Black Abbot (BtA) (Added in Update 12. Drops only on Hard and Elite.)

Brief Raid Changes/Loot added history

This is just a brief overview of the raids history, for a more complete article about this see: Ascension Chamber/Raid History.

• Initial Release (Module 5) - Raid is released with 11 items and +3 tomes dropping.
  • This version was completed many times, as the then-impossible puzzles were optional and it lacked a 3-day timer.
• Module 5 Patch 1 - Patch of doom. Timer fixed. Puzzles became required. Raid essentially became impossible.
  • No one completed this version.
• Module 5 Patch 2 - Minor loot improvements, to motivate players to run it again with some new changes to make it more reasonable to complete.
  • Still took months to complete this version, and it only had a few completions.
• Module 7 - One item added: Quiver of Alacrity.
  • This version they made the puzzles slightly easier, along with a recent level cap increase meant it had many more completions.
• Module 9 - One item added: Breeze.
  • Significant changes have been made to the Black Abbot raid to make it more friendly to pick up group raids. This version saw tons of completions and made the raid fairly popular, even for pick up groups.
• Update 11 - Abbots hitpoints nearly tripled with no patch notes mysteriously.
  • With the major improvements to player gear and levels, it was still reasonably completable.
• Update 12 - Raid loot both nerfed and buffed, and made upgradeable by gather seals which now drop on hard on and elite
  • New Raidloot can now be upgraded with the Fountain of Necrotic Might, existing raidloot could not be upgraded.
  • Abbot's hitpoints on elite nearly tripled yet again (now over 6 times as many as he originally had on elite).
  • Raid loot drop rates broken to 16%/15.52%/14.56% for Normal/Hard/Elite (down from 16%/20%/25% before Update 12)
• Update 12 Patch 2 - Bug where existing raid loot could not be upgraded fixed: Can now be upgraded by placing it along with 5 tapestries in the Fountain of Necrotic Might
• Update 13 - Raid loot drop rate increased to 16%/18%/20% (still much lower than before Update 12)
• Update 16 - 5% +3 BtC Ability Tome chance split to 3.75% +3 BtC Ability Tome or 1.25% +3 to +4 BtA Ability Tome
• Update 19 - 5% Ability Tome chance re-split and nerfed to 0.5% +2 BtC Ability Tome or 2% +2 to +3 BtC Ability Tome or 2.5% +2 to +3 Skill Tome

U12 bug: For all items with clicky charges except the Litany of the Dead and Purging the Pantheon, the altar claims the items gain more charges than they actually gain (the amount of extra charges you don't get is equal to the base amount). This is likely just a display error, but it could be intended that they do gain these charges. Either way, it's a bug.