Playable Factions

There is 7 playable factions in Battle for Wesnoth. Here is a short guide to them, with links to longer articles.

Loyalists is a faction of multiple humans, mages and mermen. They have mighty knights and multiple units for every situation.
Good faction for beginners.

• Loyalists are great on flat plains with their cavalry and supporting units
• Loyalists are lawful (stronger during day)
• they are fast and have access to healing, leadership and charge
• learn more about Loyalists or visit guide on How to play Loyalists

Rebels is a faction of elves, woses, mages and mermen. Most of them have ranged attack.
Good faction for beginners.

• Rebels fight great in forests, but they are fragile. Very effective in ranged combat.
• Rebels are both neutral (same strengh any time) and lawful (stronger during day)
• they are fast and have access to healing, leadership and ambush
• learn more about Rebels or visit guide on How to play Rebels

Northerners is a faction of orcs, trolls, goblins and nagas.
Best for experienced players.

• Northerners are cheap, close-range warriors and they can advance easily.
• Northerners are mostly chaotic (stronger during night)
• they are resilient and have access to regeneration, poison and slowing
• learn more about Northerners or visit guide on How to play Northerners

Undead is a faction of numerous undead creatures and dark mages.
Best for experienced players.

• Undead have resistances to commons attacks, but are vulnerable to more specific ones.
• Undead are chaotic (stronger during night)
• they are deadly and have access to leech life, poison and plague
• learn more about Undead or visit guide on How to play Undead

Knalgan Alliance is a faction of dwarves, gryphons and human outlaws.
Best for experienced players.

• Knalgans moves on difficult terrains as fast as on flat plains. Dwarves are strong, outlaws are quick.
• dwarves are neutral (same strengh any time), outlaws are chaotic (stronger during night)
• they are balanced and have access to backstab, steadfast and berserk
• learn more about Knalgan Alliance or visit guide on How to play Knalgans

Drakes and saurians are the opposites, yet they are very strong together.
Best for experienced players.

• Drakes are the fastest faction and they can also cross water and other obstacles. Three units have wings.
• Drakes are lawful (stronger during day), saurians are chaotic (stronger during night)
• they can quickly attack and retreat and have access to skirmisher, first strike and healing
• learn more about Drakes or visit guide on How to play Drakes

Dunefolk is a new faction with sand people and nagas.
Best for experienced players.

• Dunefolk is well adapted to sand terrain and they can heal their warriors
• Dunefolk are lawful (stronger during day) or liminal (strong at dawn and dusk)
• they command infandry and cavalry with access to healing, skirmisher and charge
• learn more about Dunefolk or visit guide on How to play Dunefolk