Introduction To Factions

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Revision as of 08:55, 30 March 2021 by Elven (talk | contribs)


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



Loyalists is a faction of humans and mermen. They have mighty knights, powerful mages and multiple proven units for every situation.
Good faction for beginners. There is a complete guide on How to play Loyalists.

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  • Loyalists are great on flat plains outside of deserts.
  • Loyalists are lawful (stronger during day).
  • They have both quick and slow, powerful units, and they can fight with first strike and charge and have access to leadership, healing and skirmish.



Rebels is a faction of elves, mages, woses and mermen. Many of them master the bow.
Good faction for beginners. There is a complete guide on How to play Rebels.

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  • Rebels fight great in forests, but they are fragile outside of them.
  • Elves are neutral (same strengh any time), mages, woses and mermen are lawful (stronger during day).
  • They manage ranged combat very well, they can fight with slow and marksmanship and have access to healing, leadership, ambush and regeneration.



Northerners is a faction of orcs, trolls, goblins and nagas. They can fight in superior numbers compared to others.
Best for experienced players. There is a complete guide on How to play Northerners.

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  • Northerners are cheap, close-range warriors and they can advance easily.
  • Northerners are chaotic (stronger during night), with exception of nagas which are neutral (same strengh any time).
  • They are resilient, they can fight with poison, slow and marksmanship and have access to regeneration and leadership.



Undead is a faction of numerous undead creatures immune to poison and plague, dark mages and bats.
Best for experienced players. There is a complete guide on How to play Undead.

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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 dangerous, they can fight with plague, poison, drain life and backstab and have access to submerge, nightstalk, skirmish and feeding.



Knalgan Alliance is a faction of dwarves, gryphons and human outlaws.
Best for experienced players. There is a complete guide on How to play Knalgans.

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  • Dwarves moves on difficult terrains as fast as on flat plains. They are strong but slow, outlaws are quick.
  • Dwarves and gryphons are neutral (same strengh any time), outlaws are chaotic (stronger during night).
  • They are strong in difficult terrain, especially mountains, they can fight with backstab or as berserk and have access to steadfast and skirmish.



Drakes is a faction of drakes and saurians, who differ in many ways but are very strong together. Drakes are quite expensive and their losses are painful.
Best for experienced players. There is a complete guide on How to play Drakes.

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  • Drakes are the most mobile faction and they can cross difficult terrains easily. They have the largest number of flying units.
  • Drakes are lawful (stronger during day), saurians are chaotic (stronger during night).
  • They can quickly attack and retreat, they can fight with firststrike and marksmanship and have access to skirmish, leadership and healing.



Dunefolk is a relatively new faction with sand people, who chose to not use magic at all, and nagas.
Best for experienced players. There is a complete guide on How to play Dunefolk.

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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 during dusk and dawn), nagas are neutral (same strengh any time).
  • They are very versatile, they can fight with marksmanship, first strike, charge and slow and have access to healing, skirmish and regeneration.

Factions of the Default Era

Description: LoyalistsRebelsNorthernersUndeadKnalgan AllianceDrakesDunefolk
How to Play: LoyalistsRebelsNorthernersUndeadKnalgan AllianceDrakesDunefolk