Ascendant Venomstones are the late-season upgrade material for Midnight Season 2. They allow players to push eligible endgame gear beyond its normal upgrade limit. Each item upgrade requires 10 Ascendant Venomstones, while the material itself comes from high-level raid, Mythic+, Delve and Nightmare Prey content.
Patch 12.1, titled Curse of Ula’tek, adds the Venomous Abyss raid, the Coiled Isle, the Altar of Fangs dungeon, new Delves and a second Midnight season. Ascendant Venomstones are designed for characters who have already reached the top of the standard Hero or Myth upgrade tracks and want to continue improving selected pieces.
Ascendant Venomstones at a Glance
| Feature | Current information |
|---|---|
| System | Late-season gear upgrade system for Midnight Season 2 |
| Material | Ascendant Venomstone |
| Cost | 10 Ascendant Venomstones per equipment upgrade |
| Primary purpose | Upgrade eligible maxed-out Hero and Myth gear to the next seasonal power tier |
| Raid source | Heroic and Mythic raid bosses |
| Mythic+ source | Mythic Keystone dungeons at +10 or higher |
| Delve source | Tier 11 Bountiful Delves |
| Prey source | Champion gear boxes from Nightmare Prey Hunts |
| Availability | Added as a later Midnight Season 2 progression option; the final live unlock timing requires confirmation |
What Ascendant Venomstones Do
Ascendant Venomstones extend the standard Midnight Season 2 upgrade structure. They are not a replacement for ordinary upgrade materials and do not function as a general currency for every gear track.
The intended use is to upgrade a qualifying piece after it has reached the end of its normal Hero or Myth progression. In practical terms, Venomstones provide an additional step above the regular seasonal ceiling instead of allowing low-level gear to skip directly to the highest item level.
The system is therefore aimed primarily at established Season 2 characters. Fresh characters should first obtain appropriate seasonal gear, unlock the relevant upgrade tracks and spend normal crests or other upgrade materials before using Ascendant Venomstones.
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How Many Ascendant Venomstones Does Each Upgrade Cost?
One eligible gear upgrade costs 10 Ascendant Venomstones. This cost applies per item, so upgrading a weapon, trinket and armor piece requires a separate 10-Venomstone investment for each item.
Because the material is acquired from high-level content and is expected to be limited, players should not treat Ascendant Venomstones as a resource for temporary gear. A replacement item can make an earlier upgrade obsolete, especially when a character is still progressing through the Venomous Abyss raid or higher Mythic+ keys.
The final item-level increase and the complete interface requirements should be checked again when the live Patch 12.1 upgrade panel becomes available. The material cost is documented as 10 Ascendant Venomstones per item, but final seasonal item levels remain subject to live confirmation.
Where to Get Ascendant Venomstones
| Content | How the material is obtained | Best suited for |
|---|---|---|
| Heroic raid | One Ascendant Venomstone from each Heroic raid boss | Raid-focused players progressing through Heroic Venomous Abyss |
| Mythic raid | One Ascendant Venomstone from each Mythic raid boss | Mythic raiders seeking repeated high-end upgrades |
| Mythic+ +10 or higher | One Ascendant Venomstone from qualifying Keystone dungeon completions | Mythic+ players who can consistently complete high keys |
| Tier 11 Bountiful Delves | Venomstone reward from qualifying Tier 11 Bountiful Delve activity | Solo and small-group players using Delves as a progression route |
| Nightmare Prey Hunts | Champion gear boxes from Nightmare Prey Hunts can contain the material | Players combining open-world progression with late-season gearing |
Raid Bosses
Heroic and Mythic raid bosses are direct sources of Ascendant Venomstones. The Venomous Abyss is the primary Patch 12.1 raid associated with this system, although the material is described as a Midnight Season 2 endgame reward rather than as a reward restricted to one specific raid encounter.
Raid acquisition is especially valuable for characters already pursuing raid equipment because the same bosses can provide gear, tier-related rewards and upgrade materials. The material reward should not be confused with a guaranteed equipment drop. A Venomstone reward and a useful item drop are separate outcomes.
Mythic+ Keystone Dungeons
Mythic+ dungeons at +10 or higher are another documented source. This makes Ascendant Venomstones relevant to players who prefer repeatable dungeon content instead of raid progression.
Completing a qualifying key does not guarantee a specific equipment upgrade or a particular item. The Venomstone reward is the important progression component. Players should still use their normal Mythic+ loot, Great Vault selections and upgrade materials according to their character’s actual needs.
Tier 11 Bountiful Delves
Tier 11 Bountiful Delves provide a route for solo players and small groups. The requirement is tied to the Delve tier and the Bountiful status, so ordinary lower-tier Delves should not be assumed to provide the same reward.
Delves also have their own progression systems, including the Delver’s Journey and Bountiful Coffers. Those systems are separate from Ascendant Venomstones. Completing a Tier 11 Bountiful Delve may contribute to more than one progression path, but a Delve reward should not be described as a Venomstone currency cache unless the game interface explicitly shows one.
Nightmare Prey Hunts
Nightmare Prey Hunts can provide Ascendant Venomstones through Champion gear boxes. The box is a reward container, not the Venomstone system itself, so the material should be treated as a possible reward from the box rather than as a guaranteed direct currency payment unless the live tooltip states otherwise.
This source connects outdoor Season 2 activities with the late-season upgrade system. It is useful for players who participate in Prey content but do not regularly raid or run high Mythic+ keys.
Who Should Use Ascendant Venomstones First?
The best use depends on how often you replace each item and how much the upgrade improves your character. A practical priority is to spend the first Venomstones on pieces that remain valuable across several upgrades and are difficult to replace.
- Weapons: Weapon upgrades often provide a large direct performance increase, especially for classes whose damage or healing scales strongly with weapon damage or weapon stats.
- Powerful trinkets: A strong trinket that remains part of your character’s setup is a better target than a temporary trinket waiting to be replaced.
- High-value jewelry: Rings and necklaces can be worthwhile when they have excellent secondary stats or an important class interaction.
- Tier pieces: Upgrade tier items only when the piece is already part of your intended set and is unlikely to be replaced by another tier item.
- Rare or difficult-to-replace drops: A special raid item or unusually well-itemized piece can justify an early investment.
Do not interpret this as a universal best-in-slot order. Class, specialization, content type and available loot all affect the value of an upgrade. A weapon is usually a strong candidate, but a character may gain more from upgrading a key trinket or a special-effect item.
Ascendant Venomstones and Standard Upgrade Materials
Ascendant Venomstones complement the ordinary Midnight Season 2 upgrade system rather than replacing it. Standard upgrades still determine whether an item reaches the required starting point for the late-season enhancement.
| Resource or system | Role | How it differs from Ascendant Venomstones |
|---|---|---|
| Normal gear upgrades | Increase an item through its ordinary track | Used before the late-season Venomstone step |
| Hero gear track | Supports high-level seasonal equipment | Venomstones extend eligible maxed Hero items further |
| Myth gear track | Represents the highest standard seasonal progression | Venomstones provide an additional late-season upgrade option |
| Ascendant Venomstones | Push qualifying equipment beyond the normal ceiling | Costs 10 per item and comes from high-end Season 2 activities |
| Great Vault | Offers weekly choices from raid, Mythic+ and Delve activity | Provides gear opportunities, not a substitute for Venomstone farming |
Do You Need to Finish the Curse of Ula’tek Campaign?
Curse of Ula’tek continues the Midnight campaign and introduces the Coiled Isle, the Venomous Abyss raid, the Altar of Fangs dungeon and additional endgame activities. The campaign and zone unlocks are important for accessing the wider Patch 12.1 ecosystem.
However, Ascendant Venomstones are an endgame reward tied to raid, Mythic+, Tier 11 Bountiful Delves and Nightmare Prey content. Do not assume that completing the campaign alone grants the material or unlocks the upgrade for every character. The final character and account requirements should be checked in the live upgrade interface and Season 2 quest flow.
A sensible preparation order is:
- Complete the Patch 12.1 campaign requirements that unlock the new seasonal content.
- Establish your preferred gearing route through raid, Mythic+, Delves or Prey Hunts.
- Reach the end of the ordinary Hero or Myth upgrade track on the item you intend to keep.
- Confirm that the item is eligible in the upgrade interface.
- Spend 10 Ascendant Venomstones only after comparing the item with your realistic replacement options.
Common Ascendant Venomstone Mistakes
Spending on gear you will replace immediately
Do not upgrade an item merely because it is currently equipped. Compare it with upcoming raid drops, Great Vault choices, tier pieces and items with stronger effects.
Confusing the material with a standard currency
Ascendant Venomstones are an upgrade material with a specific use. They are not the same as ordinary crests, raid currencies, Delve resources or the gear contained in a Champion box.
Ignoring the starting item requirement
The Venomstone step is intended for appropriately upgraded endgame gear. A low-track item should not be saved for a shortcut that the upgrade panel does not support.
Assuming every source gives the same reward
Heroic raids, Mythic raids, Mythic+ +10 or higher, Tier 11 Bountiful Delves and Nightmare Prey Champion boxes use different reward structures. Check the activity’s loot panel instead of assuming that every completion pays a direct Venomstone.
Using all materials on armor before securing core upgrades
Armor upgrades can be worthwhile, especially for tier pieces, but weapons, trinkets and exceptional jewelry often have a longer useful lifespan. Prioritize the item that improves your character and is least likely to be replaced.
Recommended Late-Season Plan
Players entering Midnight Season 2 late should first build a complete functional set rather than immediately chasing Ascendant Venomstones. Use accessible Season 2 activities to replace outdated gear, then focus on the content level that matches your character and group availability.
Once you can complete the qualifying activities, combine your weekly raid, Mythic+, Delve and Prey opportunities. There is no need to force every source if one route is substantially more practical for your character. The important goals are to acquire eligible items, reach their standard upgrade limit and reserve Venomstones for pieces that will remain useful.
For alts, verify whether any unlock or upgrade access is account-wide before planning a shared farming route. The material itself should not be assumed to transfer between characters unless the live currency interface or item tooltip confirms that behavior.
