Sword of the Stars: The Pit - Necromancer is a single-player strategy RPG and roguelike expansion that introduces a new playable character to the core dungeon-crawling experience. Players take on the role of Azraeus the Defiler, a necromancer servant of The Immortal, one of the ancient Suul'ka. The character begins raised from the dead with a mission to clear The Pit and obtain a cure for the Xombie plague. This DLC adds distinct mechanics centered on undead control and psychic abilities while maintaining the turn-based exploration and combat loop of the base game.
Gameplay
The core loop involves descending through procedurally generated levels of The Pit, managing resources, engaging enemies in turn-based combat, and collecting items to progress. Azraeus stands out with abilities focused on summoning and commanding undead minions to assist in fights. Soul Crush lets the character convert defeated enemies into fuel for psychic powers. Immunity to poison, disease, and hunger removes certain survival pressures that affect other characters, shifting focus toward careful management of psionic power. When psionic reserves run out, the run ends. New recipes expand crafting options, while additional weapons, items, and monsters increase variety in encounters and loadouts. Achievements tied to the new character provide extra goals for repeated runs.
Game Modes
The experience centers on single-player roguelike runs through The Pit. Each attempt features permadeath and procedural generation, encouraging experimentation with the necromancer's unique toolkit across multiple attempts. No separate multiplayer or cooperative modes exist. Progression relies on unlocking and mastering the new character's powers alongside the expanded item and monster pool.
New Content and Mechanics
Beyond the central character, the expansion introduces fresh recipes for item creation, new weapons and equipment suited to psychic and minion-focused playstyles, additional enemy types that challenge the necromancer's strengths, and a set of achievements specific to Azraeus. These elements integrate directly into the existing systems without altering the fundamental turn-based structure or resource loops. Psionic power acts as a secondary resource that must be monitored alongside health and other stats, creating a distinct risk-reward dynamic during longer explorations.
Is It Worth Playing?
This DLC suits players who have already completed the base game on easier difficulties and want to try a specialized character build. The necromancer offers a fresh approach through minion summoning and psychic abilities that differ from standard classes. With only a small number of user reviews available, feedback highlights its appeal as a high-tier addition for those familiar with the title's grind and difficulty curve. The game remains available as a paid expansion on PC with no ongoing seasonal updates or active development. Those who enjoy methodical, single-player roguelikes with character-specific twists will find the most value here, while newcomers may prefer starting with the base experience first.
