Which faction should you choose in Last Epoch? | Circle of Fortune vs Merchant’s Guild

Can’t wait to trade items in Last Epoch? Dreading the mere thought of it? Good news! Last Epoch has an innovative solution for both types of players in the form of its faction system. Your choice between the Merchant’s Guild or Circle of Fortune alters the way you obtain loot.

The Merchant’s Guild unlocks the in-game trading system, while the Circle of Fortune is there for players who wish to stick to their guns and farm in solitude. Both factions have pros and cons, and this guide aims to help you choose the best Last Epoch faction for you.

Should you choose the Circle of Fortune or Merchant’s Guild in Last Epoch?

The Faction you choose in Last Epoch entirely depends on your preferences and play style. It’s essentially the choice between unlocking in-game trading (Merchant’s Guild) or a loot-targeting system (Circle of Fortune).

Circle of Fortune

The Circle of Fortune is an Item Faction aimed at players with no interest in trading or those who enjoy loot farming. Aligning with the Circle of Fortune gives you access to the Observatory, where Prophecies can be obtained that increase the drop rate of specific items.

Players can also purchase Lenses from the Observatory to enhance Prophecies and make target farming even more specific. No need to splash all your gold when you can find the item you need yourself, right?

Lastly, the Circle of Fortune also has perks unlocked through Ranks (more on that later) that increase the amount and quality of loot that drops from enemies. Just keep in mind that these items can’t be traded if you decide to switch Factions.

Pros	Cons
Target farming	No access to global trading
Increases loot gain	Cannot use items previously obtained through Merchant’s Guild
Still allows trading between friends	Items obtained while aligned with Circle of Fortune cannot be traded

Merchant’s Guild

The Merchant’s Guild is an Item Faction for players interested in purchasing and selling gear with others. Aligning with The Merchant’s Guild gives players access to the Bazaar, which serves as a typical ARPG auction house.

Need a specific item for your build? Found an item that’d fetch a pretty penny for another class? The Merchant’s Guild’s got you. Your only limitation is your current Rank — which determines what items you can sell — and being unable to trade items obtained while aligned with Circle of Fortune.

Pros	Cons
Global in-game trading	Cannot target farm items
Easily obtain gear and weapons needed for your build (for the right price)	No loot buffs
Opportunity to make heaps of gold	Entirely reliant on a player-driven economy
No need to spend Favor on anything other than gear	Cannot sell items bought from other players or obtained through the Circle of Fortune
	Requires max rank before all item types can be traded

How to join a Faction in Last Epoch

During Chapter Nine of Last Epoch’s campaign, the dashing Zerrick will offer the Merchants and Fortune Tellers side quest. As soon as you have this quest, you can choose a faction immediately following his dialogue or press Y to pick later.

As a solo player and loot hoarder, I chose the Circle of Fortune, and so far, I’m happy with my choice. Throw on a loot filter, and the treasure goblin in me is delighted as I smite enemies with my javelin and reap the rewards.

Can you change Item Factions?

You can change your Last Epoch faction at any time by pressing Y and clicking Leave Faction. You will lose any current Favors and can’t use items obtained while in your current Faction, but there’s otherwise no penalty for switching.

Item Factions Ranks, Favors, and Vendors

Once you’ve chosen an Item Faction in Last Epoch, you’ll begin to earn Favors by killing monsters and completing quests. This currency is used to purchase goods from your Faction Vendor and increases your Rank as they are spent.

Ranks unlock perks in Item Factions, such as unlocking a loot buff or the ability to buy and sell a new item type. Merchant’s Guild items also gain Faction Rank Requirements, which, as the name suggests, requires a specific rank to use.

Faction Ranks are account-wide and shared between characters in the same game mode. The Merchant’s Guild’s auction house also works the same way, with regular players using a different economy to Hardcore players, for example.

If you’re hungry for more loot, check out our guide on Weaver’s Will and Legendary Potential to learn about Last Epoch’s best gear.

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