Which Faction Should You Pick in Last Epoch?

Last Epoch’s faction system represents a pivotal gameplay decision that significantly shapes your endgame experience in this acclaimed action RPG. Unlike many ARPGs that force permanent choices, this system offers remarkable flexibility while delivering distinct gameplay pathways. The two available factions—Circle of Fortune and Merchant’s Guild—cater to fundamentally different player preferences and progression styles.

What makes this system particularly engaging is how it addresses core ARPG progression concerns without locking players into irreversible decisions. The ability to experiment with both factions provides valuable insight into which approach better suits your preferred playstyle, whether you’re a solo adventurer focused on personal power or an economically-minded trader seeking market opportunities.

Access to Last Epoch’s faction system becomes available upon reaching Chapter 9, the final story chapter that culminates in the majestic city of Maj’elka. Here, you’ll encounter the pivotal “Merchants and Fortune Tellers” questline, which formally introduces both factions through NPC Zerrick. This narrative moment serves as your gateway to choosing between two fundamentally different endgame progression systems.

The Faction Favor system forms the backbone of both progression paths. This currency accumulates naturally through monster slaying and content completion while aligned with your chosen faction. However, a crucial strategic consideration is that favor doesn’t transfer between factions when switching—any accumulated points remain locked to their respective faction systems.

One of the system’s most player-friendly features is the ability to switch between factions at will. This flexibility allows you to test both systems thoroughly before committing long-term. However, strategic planning is essential since any favor earned with one faction becomes inaccessible when you switch to the other. Many experienced players recommend sampling both factions during early endgame to determine which progression style better complements your build goals and play preferences.

The Circle of Fortune represents a mystical consortium dedicated to uncovering fortune through arcane research and celestial observation. This faction appeals strongly to players who prefer traditional ARPG loot hunting reminiscent of Diablo or Path of Exile systems. Rather than engaging with player trading, Circle members focus on enhancing their direct item discovery rates through a sophisticated prophecy system.

At the heart of this faction lies the prophecy mechanic—special objectives and conditions that, when fulfilled, grant substantial rewards. These prophecies range from defeating specific bosses under certain conditions to completing dungeons with modifiers. Each completed prophecy not only provides immediate loot but also contributes to increasing your faction rank, which progressively enhances your base item discovery rate.

Strategic Insight: Circle of Fortune excels for players running specialized builds requiring specific unique items or legendary potentials. The enhanced item discovery significantly improves your chances of finding these build-defining pieces without relying on market availability or pricing fluctuations. Additionally, group players benefit equally since loot instances are personalized, eliminating competition over rare drops.

Common Pitfall: New players often underestimate the favor cost of high-tier prophecies. Starting with lower-cost prophecies that align with content you’re already farming provides the most efficient favor-to-reward ratio during early progression.

The Merchant’s Guild offers a completely different approach by fully embracing Last Epoch’s player-driven economy. This faction unlocks access to the Bazaar in Maj’elka—an innovative auction house system where specialized stalls each focus on specific item types. This organizational structure creates distinct market segments rather than a single overwhelming marketplace.

Unlike traditional auction houses, the Bazaar’s stall system allows for more targeted trading experiences. Each stall specializes in particular item categories (weapons, armor, accessories, etc.), enabling focused browsing and selling. Listing items requires faction favor, creating a strategic balance between economic activity and character progression.

Advanced Strategy: Successful Merchant’s Guild members often maintain multiple characters to maximize favor generation across different content types. Since favor gain scales with content difficulty and monster density, efficiently farming high-tier content provides the economic capital needed for substantial trading operations.

Economic Consideration: The Merchant’s Guild shines for players who enjoy market dynamics and want to acquire specific items through trade rather than RNG. However, this requires understanding item valuation and market trends—skills that develop over time. Players should monitor popular builds and patch notes to anticipate which items will increase in demand.

For players who enjoy both economic play and direct loot acquisition, a hybrid approach of periodically switching factions can be effective. This allows you to accumulate valuable items through Circle of Fortune enhancements then sell duplicates or non-essential pieces during Merchant’s Guild phases.

Choosing between Circle of Fortune and Merchant’s Guild ultimately depends on your preferred gameplay loop and progression goals. Circle of Fortune delivers a more traditional ARPG experience where time investment directly translates to character power through improved loot discovery. This system benefits players who prefer self-sufficient progression and deterministic farming for specific items.

Conversely, Merchant’s Guild appeals to economically-minded players who enjoy market interactions and want to acquire gear through trade rather than pure RNG. This system rewards market knowledge, timing, and strategic trading more than pure gameplay hours.

Playstyle Recommendations:

• Solo/Self-Found Players: Circle of Fortune provides more consistent progression
• Market-Savvy Traders: Merchant’s Guild offers greater acquisition flexibility
• Group-Focused Players: Circle of Fortune since loot isn’t competitive
• Time-Limited Players: Merchant’s Guild can accelerate gearing through smart purchases

Remember that your initial choice isn’t permanent. Many players experiment with both systems during their first endgame weeks to determine which better suits their preferences. The flexibility to switch ensures you can always adapt your approach as your playstyle evolves or new content updates change economic dynamics.

No reproduction without permission：Tsp Game Club » Which Faction Should You Pick in Last Epoch? Master Last Epoch's faction system with strategic insights, practical tips, and optimization strategies for both new and experienced players