Which DLC?

[Frost_Surveyor]

Just got the game and was wondering which DLC is "mandatory" to purchase to have a better experience in the game?

[jerrypocalypse]

Nothing is really mandatory, but would personally recommend Federations, Utopia, and the Distant Stars Story Pack to start out.

Beyond that, any of the story packs are good as they add more events, and any of the species DLCs that you think you'd enjoy (I personally like Lithoids and Aquatic). I recently started a MegaCorp empire and that DLC has been fun.

[PrinceRising]

Utopia is megastructures, Leviathans is always nice, Apoc gives you some more fun things to play with and the others that jerry recommended, past that really you can just grab mods like Gigastructures and not worry too much about dlcs

[HappySack]

Only Utopia, it regularly goes for $5 or less depending on where you buy it.

[jerrypocalypse]

Originally posted by HappySack:

Only Utopia, it regularly goes for $5 or less depending on where you buy it.

Speaking of, most of the DLC still might be 50% over on Humble

[lonetrav]

Originally posted by jerrypocalypse:

... any of the species DLCs that you think you'd enjoy...

Species DLC offer 1 or 2 origins, civics and eye candy. And for some of them (aquatics, for example), the Steam store page says: "Some features may require content sold separately", without saying which features.
Not really motivating (for me), although the new origins and civics may open nice opportunities to play differently.

[jerrypocalypse]

Originally posted by lonetrav:

Originally posted by jerrypocalypse:

... any of the species DLCs that you think you'd enjoy...

Species DLC offer 1 or 2 origins, civics and eye candy. And for some of them (aquatics, for example), the Steam store page says: "Some features may require content sold separately", without saying which features.
Not really motivating (for me), although the new origins and civics may open nice opportunities to play differently.

They're also fairly cheap, and often on sale for 50% off. You can see the exact features of each on the paradox wiki. What you mention about "may require content sold separately" is in regards to a very small amount of extra cross-over combinations with some content. Some also add additional traits and different ways to play. Necroids being fairly game changing, for example (though personally not for me).

[Quark]

Check this out for an overview of what you get in most of the DLC's. It may help you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSYlOKLHs3g

[Yhvh10]

Utopia is a must have. After that, depends on what you like.

[Old Ben]

Leviathans Story Pack, Utopia, Synthetic Dawn, Distant Stars. I normally play as a machine empire, these DLCs are the only one I've every gotten and I also use about 50 mods to fill in the other content.

[MOITA]

Utopia is the only one "mandatory" because adds several hours of fun by building the megastructures and habitats wich permit the "tall" gamestile. But it's content that you enjoy in the late game and after you've mastered the basics. Federations, Megacorps, Nemesis are pretty optional and in most of my campaigns I don't miss them. Overlord is the last expansion (I can't say but seems cool)

If I were starting now I would particulary take it in this order considering the learning curve / utility:

1. LEVIATHANS STORY PACK (Add leviathans events)
2. Ancient Relic (add relics )
3. DISTANT STARS (Add L-cluster. Its like a pandora box)
4. Utopia ( add megastructures and habitats)
5. Federations
6 Overlord (Improve vassalization system)
7. Apocalypse (add Titan and Colossus ships)
8. Megacorp
9. Nemesis (very complex and good for multiplayer only. You need to understand the game mechanics to stop nemesis, so i wont recomend to take this one)
10. Species packs only if you intend to play with them.

[Bloodartist]

Originally posted by Necrocycle:

Just got the game and was wondering which DLC is "mandatory" to purchase to have a better experience in the game?

Start with Utopia since it gives you ascension paths.

Most DLC are worth it. Overlord is still a bit sus because high amount of bugs and "features".

[VoiD]

Originally posted by Bloodartist:

Originally posted by Necrocycle:

Just got the game and was wondering which DLC is "mandatory" to purchase to have a better experience in the game?

Start with Utopia since it gives you ascension paths.

Most DLC are worth it. Overlord is still a bit sus because high amount of bugs and "features".

Wait, they are part of the DLC?

Wow, I was so used to them that I never even considered it, damn, yeah, Utopia isn't optional, it isn't DLC, it's mandatory and should be part of the base game, don't get Stellaris if you don't get at least Utopia as well.

[jerrypocalypse]

Originally posted by VoiD:

Originally posted by Bloodartist:

Start with Utopia since it gives you ascension paths.

Most DLC are worth it. Overlord is still a bit sus because high amount of bugs and "features".

Wait, they are part of the DLC?

Wow, I was so used to them that I never even considered it, damn, yeah, Utopia isn't optional, it isn't DLC, it's mandatory and should be part of the base game, don't get Stellaris if you don't get at least Utopia as well.

It just adds the genetic, synthetic, and psionic perks.

[Elitewrecker PT]

Originally posted by VoiD:

Originally posted by Bloodartist:

Start with Utopia since it gives you ascension paths.

Most DLC are worth it. Overlord is still a bit sus because high amount of bugs and "features".

Wait, they are part of the DLC?

Wow, I was so used to them that I never even considered it, damn, yeah, Utopia isn't optional, it isn't DLC, it's mandatory and should be part of the base game, don't get Stellaris if you don't get at least Utopia as well.

Not all of them. The ascension paths, and maybe some others are. Previously it was all of them.

[VoiD]

Originally posted by Elitewrecker PT:

Originally posted by VoiD:

Wait, they are part of the DLC?

Wow, I was so used to them that I never even considered it, damn, yeah, Utopia isn't optional, it isn't DLC, it's mandatory and should be part of the base game, don't get Stellaris if you don't get at least Utopia as well.

Not all of them. The ascension paths, and maybe some others are. Previously it was all of them.

That's still a very hard one to pass then.

Those and the megastructures are the 2 things that probably should be a part of any build, with any race, and any ethics, everything else is kinda optional.