Ascension run

The Ascension Run is the final stage of the game. It begins by collecting the Book of the Dead and ends by ascending (or dying).

Rough phases

• Enter and climb the Wizard of Yendor's tower via the portal in the correct Fake Wizard's Tower, OR, wake the Wizard with a mind flayer mind-blast or the sound of a drum of earthquake from outside his tower.
• Retrieve the Book of the Dead from the wizard, by killing him or stealing it while polymorphed into a nymph.
• Head down to the Vibrating Square.
• Perform the Invocation on the Vibrating Square.
• Retrieve the Amulet of Yendor from the High Priest of Moloch inside the Sanctum by killing him or sicking a covetous monster (like a powerful demon) on him.
• Climb up the dungeon, fighting the Mysterious Force and the Wizard along the way.
• Pass through the Elemental Planes.
• Find the correct altar on the Astral Plane (that's probably the coaligned one, unless using a helm of opposite alignment or escaping in celestial disgrace) and offer the Amulet. But watch out for the Riders!
• Go to #nethack on freenode.net to brag and collect your congratulations.

See also

• Ascension kit -- for things you probably want to bring.
• Ascension, Speed ascension, Notable ascensions, YAFAP, YAAP, SATAP -- for your goals.
• End Game -- for the name of the dungeon branch containing all five planes.