Anno 117 Prophecies of Ash DLC Review: Is the Volcano Worth It?

Anno 117’s First DLC Brings Fire, Ash, and Obsidian

Six months after the launch of Anno 117: Pax Romana in November 2025, Ubisoft Mainz shipped their first DLC on April 30, 2026 — one week behind schedule after a save-game-breaking bug was caught at the last minute. The delay doesn’t dampen the ambition: Prophecies of Ash introduces a massive volcanic island, a new resource, a new deity, and a cyclical eruption system that reshapes late-game risk management across all of Latium.

After two weeks on the island of Cinis, here is our verdict.

Table of Contents

• Cinis: The Franchise’s Biggest Island
• The Volcano’s Four Phases
• Obsidian and the Vulcan Cult
• Accessibility Options
• Final Verdict

Cinis: The Franchise’s Biggest Island

The centerpiece of Prophecies of Ash is Cinis, presented by Ubisoft Mainz as the largest island ever featured in the Anno series. Six new islands extend Latium northward: three medium-sized, two small, and Cinis itself — a continental-scale volcanic landmass with a distinctly different visual identity from the base game’s Mediterranean provinces. Scorched terrain, smoke columns, and an ochre-tinged sky set it apart immediately.

The new trader Ceacilia arrives with a catalog focused on obsidian and volcanic by-products. Her inventory unlocks progressively with each eruption cycle, integrating her naturally into the economic progression rather than treating her as another generic dock vendor.

The Volcano’s Four Phases

The DLC’s signature mechanic is the volcano and its four sequential phases, which fire at irregular intervals.

Phase 1 — Prelude (Tremors). Light tremors radiate from the volcano and can damage nearby buildings. Alerts come early enough to prepare defenses without forcing constant micro-management.

Phase 2 — Eruption. The summit explodes: flaming rocks rain down, ash blankets every island. Residential districts catch fire. The Vigiles (Roman firefighters) respond automatically, but active management matters — pre-positioning fire stations, evacuating civilians via military units in the most exposed sectors.

Phase 3 — Volcanic Winter. In the days following the eruption, airborne ash cuts farm and livestock productivity across all islands for a duration scaled to the cycle’s intensity. This is the DLC’s economic trial — players need buffer stockpiles or adapted supply chains to weather it.

Phase 4 — Recovery. Post-eruption rain deposits minerals and volcanic nutrients back into the soil. Farms gain a lasting productivity bonus that retroactively rewards the hardship of the first three phases. The destruction → rebound loop is the DLC’s core emotional engine.

Obsidian and the Vulcan Cult

Obsidian is the new signature resource. It collects in Cinis’s mines, pits, and quarries through a passive cycle (1 unit per 20 production cycles) or in larger quantities during eruptions — as lava replenishes deposits after each cycle. Each island has a capped supply: up to 750 units for large ones, roughly 250 for smaller ones. This forces genuine prioritization of extraction sites and planning around the eruption calendar.

Two new production chains process obsidian into refined goods for the patrician and equestrian tiers, slotting cleanly into Anno 117’s existing economic pyramid.

The new deity Vulcan, God of the Forge, expands the religious system with his own divine boons: fire resistance buffs for surrounding buildings and shrines that boost Vigiles efficiency. His blessings are especially valuable during eruption phases, creating a satisfying synergy between religious progression and the volcanic mechanic.

Accessibility Options

Before the first eruption, the game surfaces several settings: tremor intensity, whether falling rocks carry obsidian, and an optional guided tutorial. For players who prefer a calmer building pace, eruptions can be disabled at any time.

Worth noting: without eruptions, soil fertility declines over time (no volcanic nutrients from post-eruption rainfall). The disable option is a genuine accessibility tool, not a sustainable alternative play style.

Final Verdict

Prophecies of Ash is a solid first expansion that delivers exactly the late-game spark Pax Romana needed. The eruption-fertility cycle is well-balanced, never unfair, and the ability to tune the disruption level suits a wide range of players.

What works well:

• The destruction → rebound loop creates narrative tension absent from the base game
• Cinis is visually striking with a distinct atmosphere from the base provinces
• Obsidian refreshes economic management without destabilizing the core formula

Room for improvement:

• Light on content at standalone price (2-3 hours to master the new mechanics)
• Volcanic winter can drag on high-intensity cycles

Our recommendation: Purchased as part of the Year 1 Pass — which also includes The Hippodrome (August 2026) and Dawn of the Delta (November 2026) — this DLC delivers great value. Standalone, wait for a sale or check whether the volcanic disruption suits your play style first.

For a deep dive into the Anno city-builder formula, see our complete Anno 1800 strategy guide.