Pathfinder: WotR Through the Ashes DLC Overview Impressions – In this Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous Through the Ashes DLC Overview Impressions, we’re going to discuss the new features and mechanics of this expansion. Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous is an isometric and fantasy CRPG, which is inspired by the Pathfinder 1st Edition Ruleset of the same name. So far, developer Owlcat Games has released a Season Pass comprised of the first story campaign known as the Inevitable Excess, Through the Ashes, and an upcoming 3rd DLC, which features a rogue-like mode that synergizes with the base game. You can also check out our Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous Review if you want to know more about the main campaign!

Pathfinder: WotR Through the Ashes DLC Overview Impressions

Ever since Pathfinder: WotR’s launch last September 2021, Owlcat Games has been working on releasing consistent updates to fix bugs, developing it for consoles, and sharing additional lore on Races such as the Aasimar and Tieflings. The main campaign alone is a monumental achievement because the storytelling is intriguing and all throughout, the players have agency in terms of steering the direction of the entire party.

In Through the Ashes, you’ll notice nuances as well as familiar creatures that grace the land of Golarion as a result of the demonic invasion. This is the second story expansion so you can expect to see Pathfinder painted in a different yet nostalgic light. The ultimate goal is to reach the Defender’s Heart Tavern to join the crusade against these demons. There are no new Classes for you to experiment with nor are there updates on the Crusade Mode but it does provide a less hectic pace and linear experience that’s worth trying out, especially if you’re a fan of Pathfinder: WotR. Let’s first talk about the DLC’s campaign.

Pathfinder: WotR Through the Ashes DLC – The Campaign

Pathfinder: WoTR Through the Ashes DLC – Story and Setting

The events in Through the Ashes take place at the same time as the base game. This means that the story starts in Kenabres as the demons have started to invade the city. Unlike the main campaign, you play as one of its ordinary citizens without any Mythic Abilities. What’s interesting in this iteration of Pathfinder is you’re not the hero per se. You build your character from the ground up without the expectation that you’ll eventually save the world of Golarion.

You then interact with the common folk to get to know them better and to establish relationships or build walls against some of them. In this DLC, you’re able to walk in their shoes and understand their perspective, which is fascinating.

From the game’s menu, you have the option to immediately begin a playthrough of Through the Ashes even if you haven’t played or finished the main story. It’s a beautiful touch for those who are already familiar with WotR in the sense that comparatively, this DLC is more straightforward than the base game because the focus is on the choices you make as well as your interaction with the environment rather than on amassing immense power to become godlike.

Choosing to play Through the Ashes first will still result in selecting a pregenerated character or customizing your very own. As mentioned earlier, there are no new Classes nor Subclasses but this isn’t an issue at all given that there are 25 Classes with more than 5 Archetypes each. This is a huge number, especially since multiclassing is an option in WotR. However, it’s worth noting that the DLC’s tutorials are truncated.

Similar to Solasta’s Lost Valley DLC, you won’t be introduced to the intricacies of Pathfinder’s combat mechanics, which would be difficult if you haven’t had prior experience with this ruleset. As such, I highly recommend that new players experience a couple of hours of the main story first before trying Through the Ashes. This should grant sufficient guidance to tackle encounters in the DLC.

Next, the expansion’s campaign is linear, which means that you won’t be choosing the areas you’ll be visiting via an overworld map so there’s no Crusade Mode either. When you finish a set of objectives in a certain location, you’ll move on to the next. This isn’t jarring in any way although it’s a major departure from the exploration structure of the base game. It definitely simplifies the story’s flow so you can focus on the other features of the DLC instead.

Right from the get-go when you meet your character in a dark and dilapidated theater, you’ll notice an air of nostalgia as your surroundings are brimming with ramshackle walls of despair together with victims lying on the floor. They’ve unfortunately met their demise at the hands of the demon worshippers who seek to eradicate humanity. Thankfully, you’re one of the lucky ones who have managed to survive. The environment in Through the Ashes is similar to the one we see in the main campaign, which is pretty cool given how polished the textures and overall design are. You’ll also come across familiar enemies like the Cultists, Schirs, and Dretch, to name a few.

Pathfinder: WoTR Through the Ashes DLC – Choosing Your Own Adventure

The strength of this DLC is the dialogue and the choices you make because the latter determines who you’ll form alliances with, save, and even turn your back on. The writing continues to be superb and enticing but it’s not that intricate. And the reason for this is probably the shorter campaign length at around 7-10 hours depending on the difficulty.

Through the Ashes revolves around “Choosing Your Own Adventure” in the sense that it values and supports your decisions, from having a say in how you wish to proceed in missions to deciding the best ways to divert the cultists’ attention. Because of this, your Skills play an integral part such that it improves your chances of success.

Even if you’re not the hero this time around, you still have an impact on those around you since the fate of your party continues to rest in your hands. The DLC aims to answer the questions about your survival as well as the few (or the many) that you wish to save. These are critical because the NPCs or Companions who join you on your quest will consequently alter parts of your experience of the game. For instance, if a certain character were sick, then they won’t be able to clear a roadblock for you. Instead, you’ll have to figure out another way to do so.

Pathfinder: WoTR Through the Ashes DLC – Companions

When it comes to companions, you’ll be able to recruit 2 major NPCs who go by the names of Rekarth and Sendri. Rekarth is a Tiefling Rogue who vigilantly believes that banding together with the right people will help him immediately reach the Defender’s Heart. As such, he’s somewhat brash and resistant to helping others since it further delays the journey. Sendri, on the other hand, is the opposite. He’s a Gnome Sorcerer who is bubbly and eager to assist individuals with their plight even if you occasionally have to stop what you originally intended to do.

Moreover, you’ll have the chance to add 3 more characters to complete your party of 6 when you meet Venrad in the Catacombs. Here, you’ll choose between creating custom ones from scratch or taking pregenerated teammates with the following classes – Cleric, Fighter, and Slayer. It’s usually better to pick set characters if you’re still learning the ropes of Pathfinder since their respective Ability and Skill Points as well as Feats have all been carefully selected unless you want to play the other available classes.

In addition to these companions, you’ll be in the company of NPCs who will do the heavy lifting (literally in some cases) when it comes to exploring caverns, for example. But you have to be wary of whatever trap you’re possibly sending them into because they can fall ill and catch a disease.

A disease is comprised of several stages with Stage 1 indicating that a character has been infected. This can progress to Stages 2, 3, and 4, the latter of which causes death. Hitting Stage 2 will prevent the NPC from helping you in any way whereas if they reach Stage 3, they must receive urgent healing using a Scroll of Remove Disease or Potion of Restoration. Given how scant these resources are, you’ll have to take chances by fighting enemies who may possess such loot. What’s more is every time you rest, these diseases will all progress to the next stage so you also have to manage your party’s health. Rest too much and you may end up killing some of your people.

Pathfinder: WotR Through the Ashes DLC – Gameplay Mechanics

Pathfinder: WoTR Through the Ashes DLC – Interacting with the Environment

Through the Ashes DLC highlights the importance of interacting with the environment and the objects around you. For instance, you can push a closet to trample enemies you would have otherwise fought. You can also pour a barrel of oil on the ground in order to reduce their movement speed and trap them into taking Attacks of Opportunity. However, it’s not all fun and games because some interactions can literally kill the party so be sure to pay close attention to what you’re clicking! Remember to look for any relevant object before an encounter starts because you won’t be able to interact with it afterward.

You’ll also be able to grab ropes and tools, which will help you traverse high cliffs and walls while breaking down roadblocks by yourself, respectively. But these are scarce together with food that can be cooked in the camp and HP potions. Furthermore, you’ll be solving several puzzles to move forward in the narrative. It’s a fun and satisfying aspect of the game rather than focusing solely on tough combat to get by.

Pathfinder: WoTR Through the Ashes DLC – Milestone Experience and Combat

Unlike the main campaign, you won’t gain as much XP in encounters so slaughtering enemies won’t necessarily level up your party any faster. Instead, reaching milestones, discovering a different location by choosing your own adventure, and solving puzzles will reward you with just as much. So try your best to look for alternatives rather than rushing blindly into combat. But of course, when there’s no other way and pesky enemies are blocking your path to acquire loot, then it’s best to fight them to the death!

Additionally, combat is a bit more challenging in the sense that you don’t immediately gain access to a lot of Equipment. It, therefore, takes a lot of time, exploration, and looting to build your characters.

Pricepoint

Pathfinder: WotR’s Through the Ashes DLC costs USD 12.99 or USD 28.99 if you purchase the Season Pass. This also includes the previous Inevitable Excess DLC and the upcoming rogue-like mode. Regardless of what you end up choosing, it’s worth noting that the second DLC is a fun and engaging experience if you prefer to have a good time as opposed to seriously experimenting with the Builds of your characters.

More focus is placed on the story, the choices you make, and the way you interact with the world around you. So if you enjoy these specific RPG features, then Through the Ashes is a sure buy! There was a cosmetic issue in terms of labeling key locations but apart from this, I didn’t encounter framerate issues or any major bugs.

Final Thoughts

Pathfinder: WotR has always been a CRPG that’s rife with adventures and memorable characters. There’s a surplus amount of content, which keeps pulling players back in, and Through the Ashes DLC is no exception. Not only are the NPCs heavily involved in your journey but you also have alternatives to facing enemies by interacting with the environment. Meanwhile, the visuals, voice acting, and music continue to be commendable like before because of how instrumental they are in creating a dreadful atmosphere to show the horrors of the demonic invasion.

If you enjoy making critical choices, controlling the fate of the party by engaging in their respective side missions, solving puzzles, finding secrets as an alternative to outright combat, and exploring the other side of Kenabres as an ordinary citizen, then I highly recommend purchasing the Through the Ashes DLC. It’s a unique and unforgettable experience in the Pathfinder space as you get to focus more on the game’s storyline!

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Be sure to check out our Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous Wiki and Twitch Channel if you have questions about the game. You can also check out our Builds and Companion Guides. We also have a Beginner Guide if you’re new to Wrath of the Righteous. What did you think of this Through the Ashes DLC overview? Will you be playing DLC soon? Let us know in the comments below!