Ascend is one of Link's new Abilities in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom that allows you to dive upwards and pass through solid objects to appear at the top, so long as there is a somewhat flat surface above and below.

This ability is gained during your time on the Great Sky Island, once you reach the Gutanbac Shrine in the snowy area to the east.

With this ability, you can target a roof, platform, or flat object above you that is within range, and a green circle will appear if the conditions are met. Time will pause as Link dives upwards and passes through the solid object to appear on the platform above. While in this mode, you can survey your new surroundings and choose to swim back down before time resumes, or jump out onto the platform.

Ascend has many uses, both in platforming, puzzle-solving, and even in combat. You can use the ability to quickly exit any underground cave or area, reach the rooftops of buildings, or reach the peak of tall places without having to climb up the sides - so long as a flat low ceiling area is placed nearby.

Certain areas within the Depths also feature "lighthouses" that are giant pillars with a recess at the ground floor, allowing you to Ascend all the way up from the Depths to the Surface without having to fast travel out.

You can even raise a flat surface like a wooden board into the air with Ultrahand, freeze it in place using Recall, and swim up to it using Ascend to gain a height advantage. It can also be used to "swim" up through Stone Talus minibosses to reach the top of the monster without having to climb up!

See the guides for Link's other abilities: