One of the most exciting features introduced in Last Epoch is the faction system. Once you reach the later stages of the campaign, you'll be faced with an important choice: join the Circle of Last Epoch gold Fortune or the Merchant's Guild. Both factions are designed to help you progress your character and acquire powerful gear, but they go about it in very different ways.

Picking the right faction can make a huge difference in how quickly you gear up and how much fun you'll have along the way. Whether you're someone who loves the thrill of farming loot or you prefer the strategy of trading with others, understanding the strengths and drawbacks of each faction is essential.

How to Unlock Factions in Last Epoch

Factions become available once you reach Act 9 of the campaign. At this point, you'll encounter Zarrick, who offers you the opportunity to align yourself with either the Circle of Fortune or the Merchant's Guild.

Once you've made your decision on one character, future characters on your account won't need to wait until Act 9 - they can pledge allegiance to a faction right away from the Keeper's Camp. This makes experimenting with different playstyles across characters much easier.

Circle of Fortune: Loot Lovers' Paradise

The Circle of Fortune (CoF) is the faction for players who thrive on the excitement of finding their own loot. If you love the grind of farming enemies, bosses, and dungeons for that perfect drop, this faction will feel tailor-made for you.

Key Benefits of Circle of Fortune

Boosted Loot Drops: Circle of Fortune bonuses enhance your natural loot progression. You'll encounter effects such as enemies dropping additional items or entire item sets appearing instead of single pieces.

Prophecies System: One of the most unique features, Prophecies act like mini-quests that reward you with targeted loot. For example, you might receive a prophecy to defeat a specific boss, with the reward being a guaranteed Unique weapon. This makes farming specific gear far less frustrating.

Faster Solo Progression: Since you're not dependent on trading with others, you can fully enjoy the game's PvE systems and keep everything you find for yourself.

Why Choose Circle of Fortune?

CoF is highly recommended for beginners. The boosted loot means you'll gear up more quickly and get a feel for Last Epoch's unique itemization system. You'll also experience more of the game's actual content instead of relying on player-to-player transactions.

However, the faction's biggest strength - huge amounts of loot - can also be overwhelming. Using a loot filter becomes almost mandatory once you progress, or you'll quickly drown in unnecessary items.

Merchant's Guild: The Power of Trade

On the other side of the spectrum lies the Merchant's Guild (MG), which essentially serves as Last Epoch's trading hub. If you prefer buying and selling items rather than grinding them out, this is the faction for you.

Key Benefits of the Merchant's Guild

Player-to-Player Trading: The guild acts like an auction house, allowing you to buy and sell gear with other players. This opens up opportunities to complete your build without waiting for RNG to bless you.

Faction Rank Licenses: Instead of traditional bonuses, your progress in the Merchant's Guild unlocks licenses that let you trade higher-tier equipment. For instance, you'll need to rank up significantly before being allowed to trade Legendary items.

Endgame Potential: Once you've farmed enough valuable gear through gameplay (perhaps as a Circle of Fortune member first), you can sell your items for large sums of Last Epoch gold and use the profits to buy endgame-ready gear from others.

Why Choose Merchant's Guild?

The Merchant's Guild is better suited for veteran players who already understand the game's economy, item values, and trading strategies. High-value items on the marketplace are often very expensive, so this faction requires patience, grinding, and solid resource management.

It also shines in buy Last Epoch gold multiplayer environments, where trading becomes a more social and cooperative experience. But for solo players, especially newcomers, it can feel punishingly expensive without prior farming.