Playable Factions

From The Battle for Wesnoth Wiki
Revision as of 16:57, 4 March 2021 by Elven (talk | contribs) (completed)

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.

core%24images%24units%24human-loyalists%24horseman%24horseman.png
  • 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.

core%24images%24units%24elves-wood%24archer.png
  • 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.

core%24images%24units%24orcs%24grunt.png
  • 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.

core%24images%24units%24undead-skeletal%24skeleton%24skeleton.png
  • 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.

core%24images%24units%24dwarves%24fighter.png
  • 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.

core%24images%24units%24drakes%24fighter.png
  • 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.

core%24images%24units%24dunefolk%24soldier%24soldier.png
  • 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