diff --git a/src/simulator/crates/mc-magic/src/ascension.rs b/src/simulator/crates/mc-magic/src/ascension.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c891cfa4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/simulator/crates/mc-magic/src/ascension.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,184 @@
+//! Arcane Ascension victory path — second victory condition alongside domination.
+//!
+//! Scaffold only: defines the requirement config (parsed from `ascension.json`),
+//! the runtime state machine, and a pure detection function. Turn-processor
+//! integration and UI wiring come in follow-up tasks.
+
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+
+/// Ritual lifecycle. Transitions:
+/// `Inactive -> RequirementsMet -> Channeling -> (Complete | Failed)`.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[serde(rename_all = "snake_case")]
+pub enum AscensionPhase {
+    Inactive,
+    RequirementsMet,
+    Channeling,
+    Complete,
+    Failed,
+}
+
+/// Data-driven thresholds parsed from `ascension.json`.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+pub struct AscensionRequirements {
+    pub school_wonders_built: u32,
+    pub schools_maxed: u32,
+    pub mana_accumulated: u32,
+    pub high_archon_alive: bool,
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub required_tech: String,
+}
+
+impl Default for AscensionRequirements {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            school_wonders_built: 5,
+            schools_maxed: 5,
+            mana_accumulated: 500,
+            high_archon_alive: true,
+            required_tech: "arcane_ascension".to_string(),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// Per-player ascension tracking. Mutated each turn once the ritual is active.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+pub struct AscensionState {
+    pub phase: AscensionPhase,
+    pub wonder_count: u32,
+    pub schools_maxed: u32,
+    pub mana_accumulated: u32,
+    pub high_archon_alive: bool,
+    pub has_required_tech: bool,
+    pub channel_turns_remaining: u32,
+}
+
+impl Default for AscensionState {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            phase: AscensionPhase::Inactive,
+            wonder_count: 0,
+            schools_maxed: 0,
+            mana_accumulated: 0,
+            high_archon_alive: false,
+            has_required_tech: false,
+            channel_turns_remaining: 0,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// Pure check: do the current inputs satisfy the ritual requirements?
+pub fn requirements_met(state: &AscensionState, req: &AscensionRequirements) -> bool {
+    state.wonder_count >= req.school_wonders_built
+        && state.schools_maxed >= req.schools_maxed
+        && state.mana_accumulated >= req.mana_accumulated
+        && (!req.high_archon_alive || state.high_archon_alive)
+        && (req.required_tech.is_empty() || state.has_required_tech)
+}
+
+/// Advance the phase based on current inputs. Returns the new phase.
+/// Call once per turn during Phase 7 victory evaluation.
+pub fn evaluate(state: &mut AscensionState, req: &AscensionRequirements) -> AscensionPhase {
+    match state.phase {
+        AscensionPhase::Inactive => {
+            if requirements_met(state, req) {
+                state.phase = AscensionPhase::RequirementsMet;
+            }
+        }
+        AscensionPhase::RequirementsMet => {
+            if !state.high_archon_alive && req.high_archon_alive {
+                state.phase = AscensionPhase::Failed;
+            }
+        }
+        AscensionPhase::Channeling => {
+            if !state.high_archon_alive && req.high_archon_alive {
+                state.phase = AscensionPhase::Failed;
+            } else if state.channel_turns_remaining == 0 {
+                state.phase = AscensionPhase::Complete;
+            } else {
+                state.channel_turns_remaining -= 1;
+            }
+        }
+        AscensionPhase::Complete | AscensionPhase::Failed => {}
+    }
+    state.phase
+}
+
+/// Short stable tag for the victory-event payload.
+pub fn victory_type_str() -> &'static str {
+    "arcane_ascension"
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    fn maxed_state() -> AscensionState {
+        AscensionState {
+            phase: AscensionPhase::Inactive,
+            wonder_count: 5,
+            schools_maxed: 5,
+            mana_accumulated: 500,
+            high_archon_alive: true,
+            has_required_tech: true,
+            channel_turns_remaining: 0,
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn default_requirements_parse_from_canonical_json() {
+        let raw = include_str!(
+            "../../../public/games/age-of-dwarves/data/ascension.json"
+        );
+        let v: serde_json::Value = serde_json::from_str(raw).expect("ascension.json parses");
+        let req: AscensionRequirements =
+            serde_json::from_value(v["requirements"].clone()).expect("requirements parse");
+        assert_eq!(req.school_wonders_built, 5);
+        assert_eq!(req.mana_accumulated, 500);
+        assert_eq!(req.required_tech, "arcane_ascension");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn requirements_not_met_when_any_input_short() {
+        let req = AscensionRequirements::default();
+        let mut state = maxed_state();
+        assert!(requirements_met(&state, &req));
+
+        state.mana_accumulated = 499;
+        assert!(!requirements_met(&state, &req));
+        state.mana_accumulated = 500;
+
+        state.high_archon_alive = false;
+        assert!(!requirements_met(&state, &req));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn evaluate_transitions_inactive_to_requirements_met() {
+        let req = AscensionRequirements::default();
+        let mut state = maxed_state();
+        assert_eq!(evaluate(&mut state, &req), AscensionPhase::RequirementsMet);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn channeling_counts_down_to_complete() {
+        let req = AscensionRequirements::default();
+        let mut state = maxed_state();
+        state.phase = AscensionPhase::Channeling;
+        state.channel_turns_remaining = 2;
+        assert_eq!(evaluate(&mut state, &req), AscensionPhase::Channeling);
+        assert_eq!(state.channel_turns_remaining, 1);
+        assert_eq!(evaluate(&mut state, &req), AscensionPhase::Channeling);
+        assert_eq!(state.channel_turns_remaining, 0);
+        assert_eq!(evaluate(&mut state, &req), AscensionPhase::Complete);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn high_archon_death_during_channel_fails_ritual() {
+        let req = AscensionRequirements::default();
+        let mut state = maxed_state();
+        state.phase = AscensionPhase::Channeling;
+        state.channel_turns_remaining = 5;
+        state.high_archon_alive = false;
+        assert_eq!(evaluate(&mut state, &req), AscensionPhase::Failed);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/simulator/crates/mc-magic/src/lib.rs b/src/simulator/crates/mc-magic/src/lib.rs
index 9a35fbc8..211bff19 100644
--- a/src/simulator/crates/mc-magic/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/simulator/crates/mc-magic/src/lib.rs
@@ -1 +1,13 @@
-// TODO: mana economy, spells, Archons, enchantments, Ascension
+//! Magic subsystem: mana economy, spells, Archons, enchantments, Ascension.
+//!
+//! Scaffold stage — only the Ascension victory path is materialised here.
+//! Other modules (mana, spells, archons, enchantments) follow in subsequent
+//! tasks per CLAUDE.md's atomic-porting protocol.
+
+pub mod ascension;
+
+pub use ascension::{
+    evaluate as evaluate_ascension, requirements_met as ascension_requirements_met,
+    victory_type_str as ascension_victory_type_str, AscensionPhase, AscensionRequirements,
+    AscensionState,
+};