If you’ve been logging hours in 2026’s hit open-world crime title Mafia: The Old Country, you’ve almost certainly seen the mafia the old country soldato pack pop up in the in-game store or featured on community forums. It’s one of the first major DLC drops for the game since its launch in January 2026, and opinions online are split between players who say it’s pay-to-win and those who call it a great quality of life upgrade for casual players. I picked up the pack the day it dropped last month, and after testing it across three separate playthroughs (one story mode, one multiplayer, one roleplay run), I can say it’s easily worth the price tag if you’re looking to skip some early grind or unlock exclusive roleplay options most players won’t get access to. This guide breaks down exactly what’s included, how to use each item to your advantage, and common mistakes to avoid so you don’t waste any of the pack’s limited resources.
What the 2026 Mafia the Old Country Soldato Pack Actually Includes
Unlike many low-effort DLC packs that throw in random cosmetic items with no real value, this pack comes with a mix of functional upgrades and exclusive cosmetic content that adds actual value to any playthrough. There’s no hidden content or surprise locks, and every item is listed clearly in the store description before you buy. The full contents of the pack are:
Unlike other low-value DLC packs for open world crime games, the mafia the old country soldato pack doesn’t lock any core story content behind a paywall, so you won’t miss out on any plot beats if you skip buying it. All the included items are purely optional upgrades, and none of them give you an unbeatable advantage in online PvP matches, which is a big relief for players who don’t want to spend extra money to compete. I was worried the custom weapons would be overpowered, but they only do 30% more damage than the best non-DLC weapons you can unlock at rank 6, so they’re balanced pretty well for all play styles.
How to Use Your Soldato Pack Bonuses to Speed Up Early Game Progression
The biggest draw of the pack for most players is the chance to cut down on the tedious early game grind, where you’re stuck running small errands for low pay for 10+ hours before you can access the fun, high-stakes missions. Many new players assume the mafia the old country soldato pack only works for single player, but all the content carries over to online mode too, which is a huge bonus if you play with friends regularly.
First off, invest 70% of the starting 10,000 lira in a small smuggling ring near the Palermo docks – I did that in my first playthrough and was making 2,000 lira a day by hour 3, which is way faster than doing odd jobs for the local faction. Don’t blow the cash on fancy clothes or unnecessary weapons right away, because the passive income from the smuggling ring will cover all your early purchases with no extra work. Second, save the armored sedan for high-risk contract runs where you’re likely to be shot at by rivals or chased by cops. I made the mistake of driving it around the city for casual trips my first week, and I got pulled over by the cops 3 times in one day because the car is flagged as a high-interest vehicle in their system. It’s also a target for thieves, so you’re better off using a cheap regular car for daily trips.
Third, don’t claim the rank boost until you’ve completed the first 3 main story missions. If you claim it too early, you’ll miss out on small tutorial rewards that add up to an extra 2,000 lira and a free weapon skin that you can’t get anywhere else. Wait until after you finish the mission where you meet your faction boss for the first time, then claim the boost to jump straight to rank 5 and unlock all the high-paying contracts.
Pros and Cons of Buying the Soldato Pack in 2026
If you’re on the fence about picking up the mafia the old country soldato pack, weighing these pros and cons against your play style will help you make the right call. First, the pros: it cuts down early game grind by 10-12 hours, which is perfect for players who only have a few hours a week to play and don’t want to spend months unlocking endgame content. All the exclusive items are balanced, so you won’t feel like you’re cheating or ruining the game for other players in online mode. The custom suit skins also let you access exclusive VIP areas in the downtown casino and waterfront hotel that regular players can’t get into until rank 10, which opens up a ton of fun roleplay opportunities for players who love immersive play.
Now the cons: the rank boost can make some early story missions feel too easy if you claim it too soon, because your character will have higher health and better weapons than the missions are designed for. The armored sedan can only be repaired at specific faction shops which are hard to find in rural areas, so if you crash it outside the city, you might have to drive 20 minutes to get it fixed. Also, the pack isn’t included in the base game pass, so you have to buy it separately even if you pay for the premium subscription, which feels a little cheap given the game’s $70 base price. I also noticed that if you play online, other players will often target you if they see you driving the custom sedan, because they know you have extra resources on you, so you’ll have to be extra careful in public multiplayer lobbies.
Common Mistakes to Avoid With Your Soldato Pack Content
Even if you’ve bought the pack, it’s easy to waste its value if you don’t use the items strategically. After testing it across three playthroughs, these are the most common mistakes I see new players make all the time. First, don’t waste the 25 included health kits on small street fights. Save them for the big boss battles in chapter 5 and 7, where you can’t restock mid-mission and you’ll take way more damage than regular fights. I wasted 10 of mine on random brawls my first playthrough, and I had to restart the chapter 5 boss fight 3 times because I ran out of health kits halfway through.
Second, don't sell the custom melee weapons for quick cash – they do 30% more damage than regular weapons you can buy in stores, and they never break, so they’re way more valuable to keep long term. I’ve seen players sell them for 1,500 lira early on, and then complain when they can’t find a better weapon 10 hours later. Third, don't use the faction rank boost if you’re playing a no-upgrade challenge run, it’ll disqualify you from most community leaderboards for 2026 playthroughs. Most leaderboard moderators explicitly ban players who use the pack’s rank boost for challenge runs, so you’ll waste your time if you try to submit a run that uses it. If you want to check the latest official rules for pack content eligibility for online tournaments and community leaderboards, you can read the full 2026 guideline document on the official Mafia: The Old Country support page.
Fourth, don’t assume the pack content will carry over to a friend’s account if you share the game via family share. The pack is tied to the account that purchased it, so your friend won’t get access to any of the items unless they buy it themselves, even if you share your game library with them.
At the end of the day, the mafia the old country soldato pack is a great pick for anyone who wants to cut down on tedious early grind or get access to exclusive roleplay and multiplayer content they can’t find anywhere else in the 2026 release. It’s not a must-buy for players who love grinding their way up from the bottom and savoring the slow progression of the early story, but if you’re short on time or planning to play a lot of online multiplayer this year, it’s easily one of the best value DLC packs the devs have released so far. Just follow the tips we laid out above, and you’ll get way more out of your purchase than the average player, whether you’re here for the story, the PvP, or the roleplay community.
