Crimson Moon Angels: Aegis, Sunder & Angel Ascension
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The two Sigils
Aegis — Sigil of the Warrior
"An angelic form specialising in direct battlefield combat and overwhelming force." The default form: you have it from the Prologue. Its upgrade line is Angel Fire, Lv. 1 at character level 6 and Lv. 2 at 12.
Sunder — ranged arcane
"Specialises in ranged Arcane combat, smiting foes with elemental blasts while possessing the ability to outmanoeuvre targets with ease." Unlocks at level 5; its Angel Frost line arrives at 7 (Lv. 1) and 13 (Lv. 2).
The wiki's Sunder art file is named after Azrael, but the form is called Sunder in the level table and everywhere else — we use the in-game name.
Unlock and upgrade timeline
| Level | Unlock | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Start | Aegis — the Sigil of the Warrior | Direct battlefield combat and overwhelming force |
| 5 | Sunder Angel unlocked | Ranged Arcane combat, elemental blasts, high mobility |
| 6 | Aegis: Angel Fire Lv. 1 | — |
| 7 | Sunder: Angel Frost Lv. 1 | — |
| 12 | Aegis: Angel Fire Lv. 2 | — |
| 13 | Sunder: Angel Frost Lv. 2 | — |
Charging the meter
- Parries. A perfect parry — timed just before the hit lands — staggers the attacker and fills the Ascension meter "by a small amount". It is high-risk: a failed parry costs you the hit and the stamina.
- Executions. Deal near-lethal damage to an Elite, wait for the execute icon, walk up and press the prompt. Executions cannot be interrupted and fill up to half a stage.
- Boons. Font of Light gives +15% Angelic Grace recovery; Wrathful Smite returns 3 Grace on a fully charged heavy; Graceful Strike returns 1 Grace per light hit on a Marked enemy; Divine Endurance doubles recovery below 40% health.
Three stages means you can trigger early for a short burst or bank the full bar for a boss. The transformation also cleanses all negative effects, which makes it a panic button against Burning and Poison stacks.
Boons that scale Angel Ascension (9)
| Boon | Effect |
|---|---|
| Angelic Strength | While Angel Ascension is active, your Weapon Attacks gain +20% Bonus Attack Power. |
| Divine Endurance | While your health is at or below 40%, you gain a 100% Bonus to Angelic Grace Recovery. |
| Divine Mandate | When you Enter or Exit Angel Mode, all enemies within 7 meters of you are Marked. |
| Divine Reprieve | If you kill 3 or more enemies while in Angel Ascension, you restore a Health Flask when you exit |
| Font of Light | +15% Angelic Grace Recovery. |
| Graceful Strike | When you hit a Marked enemy with a Light Attack, you recover 1 Angelic Grace. |
| Guardian Angel | Entering Angel Ascension creates a zone where players inside gain 30% Resistance to all damage. |
| On a Pale Horse | When you Enter Angel Ascension, Poison all enemies within 5 meters, Weapon Attacks in Angel Ascension apply 250 Poison. |
| Wrathful Smite | When you hit an enemy with a fully Charged Heavy Attack, you recover 3 Angelic Grace. |
Every Boon whose wiki text mentions Angel or Angelic Grace. Full list with families on the Boons page; several are also available as trinkets (Amulet of Angelic Strength, Amulet of Divine Mandate, Amulet of the Guardian Angel, Teardrop of Mercy, The Relict of Recovery, The Cup of Grace).
Lore: who the Angels are
The Nephilim were created during Cain's Rite of Desolation, when the Watchers — "a category of Angel tasked with watching over humanity" — failed in their duty. The Angelic Choir itself is led by the archangel Maedrael, to whom Sanctus Clypeus was once dedicated. A Sigil carved into a Nephilim decides which praeter-human intelligence they channel; the two documented Sigils are the forms above. More on the story and lore page.
Angel questions
How do I activate Angel Ascension?
Fill at least one of the three stages of the Ascension meter, then trigger it. Parries add a small amount; executing a staggered Elite adds up to half a stage. The higher the meter, the longer the angelic form lasts.
What does Angel Ascension actually do?
Heightened power and defence, a cleanse of all negative effects, and your two Weapon Arts are replaced by abilities specific to your Guardian Angel. Several Boons add on top — Angelic Strength gives +20% attack power while it is active, Divine Mandate marks every enemy within 7 metres when you enter or exit.
Can I switch Angels?
Yes, but only between hunts. You "choose an Angel to accompany you into battle" at the Loadout Station before deploying, alongside your gear and consumables. Both forms have their own upgrade track at the hub.
Is there an Angel tier list?
There are only two Angels and no published numbers for either, so no. The documented difference is role: Aegis is melee force, Sunder is ranged arcane. Sunder unlocks at level 5, which is why most launch-week footage shows Aegis.
Sources
Sigil descriptions and Watcher lore: the Nephilim and Factions pages of the Crimson Moon Wiki (crimsonmoon.wiki.gg). Meter stages, parry and execution charging, cleanse and Weapon Art swap: the ProbablyMonsters support article "Angel Ascension: Executions and Transformation Abilities". Unlock levels: the wiki's Level Unlocks page. Angel choice at the Loadout Station: the Steam post "How Builds Work in Crimson Moon". Unlock percentage: Steam global achievement stats, 2 Sep 2026.