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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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