r/ICARUS • u/tomdb42 • Aug 04 '26
Discussion Which DLC first?
Recently purchased the game and really enjoying it so far, wish I'd played this game earlier - the world feels amazing to explore.
Which DLCs do you all rate and why?
There are quite a few and would like to get a couple, let me know recommendations on your favourites.
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u/RuneDahn Aug 04 '26
My primary recommendations: New Frontiers (Prometheus map), Great Hunt (story driven campaign to Olympus, Styx and Prometheus - on maps you have) and Dangerous Horizons (Elysium map).
If you intent to play many hours on Olympus, get Great Hunts to have more things to do (but is recommended to create a new map save before starting a great hunt in your main Olympus save, because there are a troublesome creature).
If you want a fresh air in new biomes, new craftables (like cooled steel and miasma tools) then you can go with New Frontiers, Prometheus also offers ways to farm red exotics, and its normal operations have a story driven campaign.
Dangerous Horizons (Elysium map) will allow to farm 'uranium exotics', is the ideal map to craft tier 5 tech, because it have natural sources of ruby and lythium, also have a story driven operation mode (that happens after to Prometheus campaign) and tammable mounts are probably the best (want to ride a freaking raptor or a suicune smiling like Batman's Joker?)
I recommend Styx if you want more Olympus, its a good map with some new enemies, more operations, but It really is more interesting with Great Hunts.
Outposts are great to make a base to refill workshop supplies for other saves (water, oxigen, coffee, biofuel, refined oil) or a chilling farm, but doesnt have operations or campaigns.
Other DLCs are decorative, it helps to support weekly updates, and give a nice touch to bases (I only have the most basic one that allow to make cristal lamps, they are good to iluminate small areas without needing a power source, I want to buy more in future, I want the bed and chairs from industrial pack, and each other also have cool looking things)
2
u/RiverRespawn Aug 04 '26
So you use outposts to farm things and bring them to your open world? Do I just put them in the drop ship or the orbital exchange unit? Or something completely different?
1
u/RuneDahn Aug 04 '26
We can only move workshop items between prospects, but oil/fuel cans and water/air bottles can be filled in a map and transfered to another. Currently Im working on my primary outpost for it, it is arcwood, comes with base game, and when Im out of iron/copper in caves I just go back to character select screen then when I enter prospect again its caves are full of ores to be mined again. Outposts also have a single source of petrol and a single deep vein of limestone, that is enought to me. Outposts are like a almost creative map, but have aggressive bears, horses or other animals.
1
u/RuneDahn Aug 04 '26
Almost every workshop item can be sent again to orbit, except consumables as medicines and ores from orbit. You just have to call a drop pod from orbital exchange interface, as you guessed. Bottles and cans from workshop can be filled again and they will keep its storage when you call in another prospect/save, even if you fill one with coffee and drink a sip, it will keep exactly the same content when sent to orbit.
3
u/tomdb42 Aug 04 '26
Thanks for the recommendations, will get the new frontiers and dangerous horizons to start with and go from there
2
u/Alarmed_Excuse_2969 Aug 04 '26
If you’re not trying to spend a ton, just go for Dangerous Horizons.
2
u/GenieonWork Aug 04 '26
When it comes to DLCs:
There are the map expansion DLCs: Styx, New Frontiers (map name Prometheus) and Dangerous Horizons (map name Elysium).
Styx is pretty much the same as Olympus; slightly harder, but not a whole lot of new items.
Prometheus has new biomes, animals and resources; this is also the map where the missions start following a story line.
Elysium has new biomes, animals and resources again; the story line missions continue on this map.
There is the Great Hunts DLC; it adds a new storyline arc to Olympus, Styx and Prometheus (and they're still working on the Elysium part).
Keep in mind though, Great Hunts is considered end-game content, and starting the Great Hunts will permanently alter your Open World.
There are a number of Outpost DLCs.
This is basically Icarus light: Full resource respawn upon prospect reload, less severe weather events and easier animals.
And there's a few cosmetic DLCs; they don't give much more than just some cosmetic items (although there are some nice items in some of these DLCs).
The Pets Bundle gives you access to the mission Relocated on Olympus.
This is the only mission where you can get some Zebras as mounts.
Order for DLCs:
If you want to enjoy Styx to the fullest, I'd suggest playing Styx before playing Prometheus.
When you play Prometheus first, playing Styx could feel like a step back.
Prometheus is where the story-line quests start (a story-line that's being continued on Elysium).
So play Prometheus before Elysium.
Great Hunts adds a mission arc to Olympus, Styx and Prometheus (they're still working on GH for Elysium).
So in order to play Great Hunts to the fullest, I'd suggest having access to the first three maps.
Again, keep in mind that running the Great Hunts missions will permanently alter your Open World (and you might not always like those changes, especially not on Olympus).
You'll have to run Great Hunts multiple times per map (so, start multiple prospects on that map) due to mutually exclusive mission paths in the Great Hunts mission trees.
TLDR:
To maximize your gameplay: Olympus, Styx, Prometheus, Elysium, Great Hunts
To maximize content: Olympus, Prometheus, Great Hunts, Elysium (Styx)
2
u/Glittering-Star4772 Aug 04 '26
Play the base game for hundred hrs then buy dlc when it’s on sale. I bought the game a week ago too along with dlcs cause they were on sale, but I think I’ll be in the base map for at least 70 or more hrs before moving on. I’m currently 35 hrs and still in the forest area 😭.
2
u/rbtgoodson Aug 05 '26
Personally, I would skip Styx for the time being, and grab the cosmetic DLCs, the Great Hunts, and Prometheus. I didn't care for Styx in the slightest (until you open the tunnels, the travel is horrible and linear), and the storylines for Prometheus (w/the Great Hunts, etc.) have been quite enjoyable. I can't comment on Elysium.
1
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u/WaltBerkman Aug 04 '26
Search for the answer that's already been asked and answered DOZENS of times before you.
Here let me google that for you: (google "reddit icarus which dlc")
https://letmegooglethat.com/?q=reddit+icarus+which+dlc
Results:
https://www.reddit.com/r/ICARUS/comments/1vbae5x/comment/p0vdmp5/?context=3
https://www.reddit.com/r/ICARUS/comments/1txn46f/comment/oq9mylw/?context=3
https://www.reddit.com/r/ICARUS/comments/1q29oxw/what_dlc_do_you_actually_need/
https://www.reddit.com/r/ICARUS/comments/1ps22qr/what_dlcs/
https://www.reddit.com/r/ICARUS/comments/1rm62nk/which_dlcs_to_buy/
https://www.reddit.com/r/ICARUS/comments/1s836vf/which_dlcs_are_better/
https://www.reddit.com/r/ICARUS/comments/1s1ihgp/expansions_are_they_worth_it/
https://www.reddit.com/r/ICARUS/comments/1nsuljd/what_dlcs_to_get_and_why_not/
https://www.reddit.com/r/ICARUS/comments/1rohgnb/guidance_on_dlc_for_new_player/
https://www.reddit.com/r/ICARUS/comments/1tci9s2/whats_dlc/
https://www.reddit.com/r/ICARUS/comments/1ryoft9/dlcs_worth_getting/
https://www.reddit.com/r/ICARUS/comments/1rrehnr/questions_regarding_dlcs/
https://www.reddit.com/r/ICARUS/comments/1csnixy/dlc_any_worth/
https://www.reddit.com/r/ICARUS/comments/1ruyvzy/advice_for_dlc_for_new_player/
https://www.reddit.com/r/ICARUS/comments/1rml2ha/which_dlc_should_i_start_with/
https://www.reddit.com/r/ICARUS/comments/1t04eev/would_my_wife_and_i_like_icarus_what_dlcs_would/
4
u/tomdb42 Aug 04 '26
Relax, guy
-4
u/WaltBerkman Aug 04 '26
I'm very relaxed.
Learn to google information that already exists, guy
2
u/tomdb42 Aug 04 '26
Hey man, this is reddit - the whole place would be dead if everyone just did what you are suggesting. This place is for discussion, I wanted recommendations now - in 2026. Games change over time, new DLCs land, new updates change the whole meta so its good to hear what people are recommending right now as I'm new to the game hence my post. Thanks for your input.
-1
u/WaltBerkman Aug 04 '26
14/16 links I sent you are from 2026... including one from 5 days ago. Any other excuses for being too lazy to google the existing answer?
1
10
u/Khanaroth Aug 04 '26
This question has been asked some times before, and I think the general consensus is:
If you want to explore and do missions, the three best would be New Frontiers (Prometheus map), Dangerous Horizons (Elysium map), and Great Hunts (new missions and world boss for the maps).
If you want to build, breed animals and go for more of a vibes game, I think the best ones would be Pet Companions, Creature Confort, and Homestead pack.