Monster Train: The Last Divinity DLC Review Summary

DLC mechanics add depth and a fun new clan for good value, but that clan is weak and complex, Pact Shards are poorly balanced, and the final boss is overly difficult.

DLC mechanics add depth: The DLC introduces new mechanics like pact shards, unit merging, and infusions that add significant depth and fun. These mechanics trade increased power for increased difficulty, appealing to players who enjoy complex systems.

New clan praised as fun: Many reviewers find the new Wurmkin clan enjoyable, interesting, and well-designed. It offers fresh strategies and a unique playstyle that makes players think differently.

Pact shards risk-reward praised: Pact shards introduce a risk-reward system where players can gain powerful buffs at the cost of stronger enemies. This mechanic is considered fun, meaningful, and a favorite addition.

Unit merging and fusion fun: The unit merging mechanic, where you sacrifice a unit to buff another, allows for powerful combinations and customization. It is a standout feature that enables clever and broken builds.

Good value for the price: Many reviewers feel the DLC is worth full price due to the amount of content and enjoyment it provides. It offers days of content and extends the game's shelf life.

New clan weak and complex: The Wurmkin clan is frequently criticized as weak, over-complicated, and RNG-dependent, with mechanics like Infuse and Charged Echoes being difficult to utilize effectively. Many find it less fun than existing clans.

Pact Shards poorly balanced: The Pact Shards mechanic significantly increases difficulty and is often frustrating, with many players feeling it forces un-fun decisions and makes runs heavily RNG-dependent. It is poorly explained and can lead to impossible situations.

Final boss overly difficult: The new final boss is exceptionally hard, often requiring near-perfect RNG and specific builds to defeat. Many players report numerous failed attempts, with some never winning even at low covenant ranks.

Forces specific builds: The added difficulty and boss mechanics force players into a few very specific builds, such as heavy DPS or unit merging, reducing strategic variety. Many decks become unviable, and players feel they must rely on overpowered combos.

Added mechanics break balance: The new mechanics like Infuse, Pact Shards, and crystal system are seen as breaking the game's balance, causing power creep and making old cards and units obsolete. Many players report that the game becomes unbalanced and less enjoyable.

Pact Shards increase run difficulty: Pact Shards scale difficulty as they accumulate, strengthening enemies and affecting the entire run rather than just one level. The DLC introduces this mechanic, which adds depth but demands careful planning.

True final boss requires planning: A true final boss, such as Divinity or The Last Divinity, spawns at the end of a run and requires careful planning throughout. It has unique mechanics like immunity to Frostbite and attacks every floor each turn.

Wurmkin clan added in DLC: The DLC introduces a new clan called Wurmkin, featuring two champions to unlock. The Wurmkin clan uses a crystal system where crystal cards provide resources and is more complicated than existing clans.

Covenant 25 difficulty levels: The game includes Covenant difficulty levels up to 25, with each rank increasing the challenge. These levels provide a structured difficulty progression for players.

DLC adds new clan and mechanics: The DLC adds a new clan, new events, new cards, and a new resource system, along with novel mechanics. It also includes new cards for every clan from a previous update.

Laggy performance issues: Players experience significant lag that disrupts gameplay. This performance problem was reported consistently in the feedback.

Recommended for base game fans: Many reviewers recommend the DLC specifically for players who enjoyed the base game, suggesting it is a natural extension. This sentiment appears across multiple clusters with consistent positive framing.

Mixed or negative recommendations: A notable number of reviewers cannot recommend the DLC, citing regrets or advising to stick with the base game. Some mention specific issues like unbalanced mechanics or poor design choices.

Endgame challenge for experts: The DLC is frequently described as designed for expert players who have mastered the base game and seek a tougher challenge. It is not recommended for casual or new players.

Positive must-buy sentiment: A portion of reviewers consider the DLC a must-have for fans, with strong recommendations and even calling it the best DLC they've purchased. This is often tied to love for the base game.

Not for new players: Several reviewers explicitly warn against starting with the DLC or buying it as a new player, advising to first play the base game extensively. It is seen as endgame content requiring mastery.

Community fair range: $20.00 - $25.00.

Endgame: 36.0h.

Early Pact Shard play is reported as punishing and tedious, but players who invest shards effectively and reach the late game describe powerful combos and the mechanic as the game's best late-game addition.

Friction: Pact Shards raise difficulty and punish random/non-meta decks.; A 200 HP enemy can appear mid game or in the first few turns.; Taking shards and the boss fight create a severe difficulty spike.; Unlocking a character's potential becomes tedious after multiple runs.; Covenant 1 presents a skill wall for some players.; Late-game covenant ranks expose flaws and imbalances..

Unlock drivers: Getting full value from every shard spent.; Divine shard buffs opening fun combos.; Infusing more cards in the deck.; Reaching the late game with Pact Shards..

Base-Game Devotee: Dedicated, repeated runs of the base game with deep familiarity of its systems. Motivation: Continuing to enjoy the mastered, well-loved base game loop without disruption. Stance: no buy.

Challenge-Hungry Veteran: Optimized, high-difficulty runs pushing into new expansion mechanics. Motivation: A fresh, harder challenge after fully mastering the base game. Stance: buy.

Casual Time-Constrained Player: Short occasional sessions with little interest in deep meta or progression. Motivation: Quick, low-investment bursts of fun and excitement without a long grind. Stance: sale.

Monetization: The reviews focus on the paid DLC's price-to-content value, difficulty and RNG frustration with the new faction, and positive support for more DLC and free updates. There is no evidence of in-game microtransactions, real-money gacha, loot boxes, paid boosters, or a cash shop. Complaints are limited to traditional DLC pricing and gameplay difficulty, so the monetization profile is fair under the audit criteria.

DLC pricing perceived as high: Reviews frequently mention the DLC is expensive at full price, costing almost half the base game, and suggest it is only worth it at a discount. Some state a fair price would be around $8 or a third of the current price.

High difficulty complaints: Many players struggle with the DLC's difficulty, especially the new final boss Divinity, with some experiencing losing streaks. The skill wall at Covenant 1 is a common complaint.

Compared to Slay the Spire: The game and its DLC are frequently compared to Slay the Spire, with the final boss likened to the heart fight. Some note the DLC brings less content than Slay the Spire's free updates.

Adds significant playtime and content: The DLC provides literal days of content, easily adding 100+ hours of gameplay and new challenges. Reviewers note it expands the base game's replayability.

New final boss Divinity: The DLC adds a true final boss called The Last Divinity, which appears after activation and counts toward covenant progress. It is comparable to Slay the Spire's heart fight in requiring key collection.