Managing a Roman province is about to get significantly more volatile. Ubisoft has pulled back the curtain on the "Prophecies of Ash" DLC for Anno 117: Pax Romana, introducing a high-risk, high-reward volcanic cycle to the island of Cinis. While lava might seem like a pure disaster, it is the gateway to Obsidian—a precious new resource that fuels high-tier production chains.
The core of this expansion is the Volcano Eruption Cycle, which moves through four distinct phases: Tremor, Eruption, Volcanic Winter, and Bloom. The Volcanic Winter is particularly brutal, hitting your farms with a 75% debuff. Strategy fans will need to stockpile food or diversify their supply lines to survive the frost, but the payoff comes during the Bloom phase, where the mineral-rich soil offers unique growth opportunities.
Obsidian is the prize for braving the heat. This resource allows players to craft new luxury goods like Statuettes and Latrunculi Sets. If you aren't interested in manufacturing, you can trade the raw glass with the NPC Caecilia to acquire powerful fertility specialists. These specialists are game-changers for optimizing island output and maintaining a competitive edge in late-game economy management.
To help manage the chaos, the update introduces Vulcan, a new deity. Building a shrine to Vulcan isn't just for flavor; it provides tangible buffs to mountain slot productivity and workforce efficiency. It also unlocks unique research paths, such as advanced coal mine tech. Perhaps the best news for builders who prefer a relaxed experience is that the entire volcano mechanic is a toggle—you can engage with the disaster management or keep your city-building stress-free.
Prophecies of Ash is scheduled to arrive on April 23rd, 2026. This DLC integrates directly into existing campaigns, so there is no need to restart your current save to begin harvesting Obsidian on Cinis. Whether you're playing on PC, PS5, or Xbox Series X|S, the meta for resource management is about to get a lot more interesting.
Soren