All gear except trials/prison maxes at 36 light, or lvl32. Ascending adds 6 light per piece. So to get to 33 you ascend 2 pieces, and to get 34 you ascend a complete set. Also ascending is easier on exotics, as it doesn't require the new material. So if you have 3 characters you will have to ascend 9 legendaries and 3 exotics total to be 34. Everyone on the forums is freaking out about upgrading fatebringer and other guns, but for me anyways gear comes first. I bet a lvl 34 wielding a 300 fatebringer is more powerful than a 33 worth a 365 one.