Despite ascendri bolts having a higher damage bonus than ascension bolts, in combat they actually do not hit higher. This is because ammunition damage is capped at the level of the bow. Ascendri bolts are level 94 in strength, but the highest-level crossbow in the game, the ascension crossbow, is only level 90 so the bolts deal level 90 damage, or less if using a lower-level crossbow. This may be observed by swapping bolts and reading the damage in the Loadout screen.