Grim Dawn is an action RPG set in the war-torn land of Cairn, and factions are the groups who live, fight, and scheme there. Each one keeps track of how you treat it. Friendly factions reward you with gear, augments, and bounties as your reputation grows, while hostile ones send more of their foes after you and eventually Nemesis bosses. Knowing how the system works helps you pick who to work with and who to fight.
Relationship
Friendly
Devil's Crossing
Devil's Crossing is the survivor settlement that serves as the first friendly faction hub.
- Friendly or Hostile
- Friendly
- Added In
- Base game
- Where to Find Them
- Quartermaster Ellis is at Devil's Crossing.
- How to Gain Reputation
- Complete Devil's Crossing quests and bounties; killing Cronley's Gang members also raises its standing.
- Main Rewards
- Faction equipment, augments and blueprints unlock by reputation rank; a Writ is sold at Honored and a Mandate at Revered.
- Nemesis
- -
Rovers
The Rovers are nomadic survivors whose reputation grows through work in and around Old Arkovia.
- Friendly or Hostile
- Friendly
- Added In
- Base game
- Where to Find Them
- Keeper Unkala and the Rovers quartermaster are at Old Arkovia.
- How to Gain Reputation
- Complete Rovers quests and bounties; killing Arkovian Undead also raises Rovers standing.
- Main Rewards
- Faction equipment, augments and blueprints unlock by reputation rank; a Writ is sold at Honored and a Mandate at Revered.
- Nemesis
- -
Homestead
Homestead is a farming settlement whose faction work focuses on keeping the surrounding land safe.
- Friendly or Hostile
- Friendly
- Added In
- Base game
- Where to Find Them
- Quartermaster Whitfield is at Homestead.
- How to Gain Reputation
- Complete Homestead quests and bounties; killing Beasts also raises Homestead standing.
- Main Rewards
- Faction equipment, augments and blueprints unlock by reputation rank; a Writ is sold at Honored and a Mandate at Revered.
- Nemesis
- -
The Black Legion
The Black Legion is Erulan’s military force, with quartermasters in Homestead and Fort Ikon.
- Friendly or Hostile
- Friendly
- Added In
- Base game
- Where to Find Them
- Quartermaster Thalia is at Homestead and Klines is at Fort Ikon.
- How to Gain Reputation
- Complete Black Legion quests and bounties; killing hostile Outcast members or Aetherial Vanguard members also raises its standing.
- Main Rewards
- Faction equipment, augments and blueprints unlock by reputation rank; a Writ is sold at Honored and a Mandate at Revered.
- Nemesis
- -
Kymon's Chosen
Kymon's Chosen is one of two mutually exclusive factions offered at Sorrow's Bastion.
- Friendly or Hostile
- Choice: friendly or hostile
- Added In
- Base game
- Where to Find Them
- Brother Adrius and the faction quartermaster are at Kymon's Sanctuary, on the east side of Sorrow's Bastion.
- How to Gain Reputation
- Complete Kymon's Chosen quests and bounties; killing Chthonians or hostile Order of Death's Vigil members also raises its standing.
- Main Rewards
- Faction equipment, augments and blueprints unlock by reputation rank; a Writ is sold at Honored and a Mandate at Revered.
- Nemesis
- If the faction is hostile: The Iron Maiden and Curate Ignus.
Order of Death's Vigil
The Order of Death's Vigil is the alternative to Kymon's Chosen at Sorrow's Bastion.
- Friendly or Hostile
- Choice: friendly or hostile
- Added In
- Base game
- Where to Find Them
- Keeper Malvor and the faction quartermaster are at the Bastion of the Order, on the west side of Sorrow's Bastion.
- How to Gain Reputation
- Complete Order quests and bounties; killing Aetherials or hostile Kymon's Chosen members also raises its standing.
- Main Rewards
- Faction equipment, augments and blueprints unlock by reputation rank; a Writ is sold at Honored and a Mandate at Revered.
- Nemesis
- If the faction is hostile: Zantarin and Shriek.
The Outcast
The Outcast is a survivor faction led by Anasteria, and the player can choose whether to ally with her.
- Friendly or Hostile
- Choice: friendly or hostile
- Added In
- Base game
- Where to Find Them
- Anasteria and her quartermaster, Anasteria's Drudge, are in the Fort Ikon Prison.
- How to Gain Reputation
- Complete Outcast quests and bounties; killing Aetherials and Chthonians also raises its standing.
- Main Rewards
- Faction equipment, augments and blueprints unlock by reputation rank; a Writ is sold at Honored and a Mandate at Revered.
- Nemesis
- If made hostile, Anasteria becomes a fixed boss at Fort Ikon Prison; she is not a standard Nemesis spawn.
Coven of Ugdenbog
The Coven of Ugdenbog is an Ashes of Malmouth faction based in the Ugdenbog.
- Friendly or Hostile
- Friendly
- Added In
- Ashes of Malmouth
- Where to Find Them
- The Coven's Refuge is in Ugdenbog; quartermasters Falonestra and Lunasta sell its wares there.
- How to Gain Reputation
- Complete Coven quests and bounties; killing Beasts also raises its standing.
- Main Rewards
- Faction equipment, augments and blueprints unlock by reputation rank; a Writ is sold at Honored and a Mandate at Revered.
- Nemesis
- -
Barrowholm
Barrowholm is an Ashes of Malmouth settlement that can be treated as a friend or foe.
- Friendly or Hostile
- Choice: friendly or hostile
- Added In
- Ashes of Malmouth
- Where to Find Them
- Barrowholm and quartermaster Igrid Galstrom are in the Ugdenbog.
- How to Gain Reputation
- If allied, complete Barrowholm quests and bounties; killing Chthonians also raises its standing.
- Main Rewards
- Faction equipment, augments and blueprints unlock by reputation rank; a Writ is sold at Honored and a Mandate at Revered.
- Nemesis
- If made hostile: Reaper of the Lost and Reaper of Rot.
Malmouth Resistance
The Malmouth Resistance fights the Aetherial Vanguard in the city added by Ashes of Malmouth.
- Friendly or Hostile
- Friendly
- Added In
- Ashes of Malmouth
- Where to Find Them
- Quartermasters Ronan Karkan in Malmouth Sewers and Plaudia in Steelcap District sell its wares.
- How to Gain Reputation
- Complete Resistance quests and bounties; killing Aetherial Vanguard members also raises its standing.
- Main Rewards
- Faction equipment, augments and blueprints unlock by reputation rank; a Writ is sold at Honored and a Mandate at Revered.
- Nemesis
- -
Cult of Bysmiel
The Cult of Bysmiel is one of three friendly Witch God cults at the Conclave of the Three.
- Friendly or Hostile
- Friendly
- Added In
- Forgotten Gods
- Where to Find Them
- The Cult of Bysmiel is based at the Conclave of the Three; its quartermasters include Falonestra and Jagarra.
- How to Gain Reputation
- Complete cult quests and bounties; killing Eldritch Horrors also raises cult standing.
- Main Rewards
- Faction equipment, augments and blueprints unlock by reputation rank; a Writ is sold at Honored and a Mandate at Revered.
- Nemesis
- -
Cult of Dreeg
The Cult of Dreeg is one of three friendly Witch God cults at the Conclave of the Three.
- Friendly or Hostile
- Friendly
- Added In
- Forgotten Gods
- Where to Find Them
- The Cult of Dreeg is based at the Conclave of the Three, with its own quartermasters there.
- How to Gain Reputation
- Complete cult quests and bounties; killing Eldritch Horrors also raises cult standing.
- Main Rewards
- Faction equipment, augments and blueprints unlock by reputation rank; a Writ is sold at Honored and a Mandate at Revered.
- Nemesis
- -
Cult of Solael
The Cult of Solael is one of three friendly Witch God cults at the Conclave of the Three.
- Friendly or Hostile
- Friendly
- Added In
- Forgotten Gods
- Where to Find Them
- The Cult of Solael is based at the Conclave of the Three, with its own quartermasters there.
- How to Gain Reputation
- Complete cult quests and bounties; killing Eldritch Horrors also raises cult standing.
- Main Rewards
- Faction equipment, augments and blueprints unlock by reputation rank; a Writ is sold at Honored and a Mandate at Revered.
- Nemesis
- -
The Kurn
The Kurn are the main friendly faction in Fangs of Asterkarn, based at Kurnhold.
- Friendly or Hostile
- Friendly
- Added In
- Fangs of Asterkarn
- Where to Find Them
- The Kurn settlement and faction vendors are at Kurnhold.
- How to Gain Reputation
- Complete Kurn quests and bounties; killing Bloodbound members also raises Kurn standing.
- Main Rewards
- Kurn faction equipment, augments and blueprints, including the Kurn Beastbinding Rod, plus a Writ at Honored and a Mandate at Revered.
- Nemesis
- -
The Noktukari
The Noktukari are a hidden Fangs of Asterkarn faction whose reputation unlocks the Runed Orb and other vendor rewards.
- Friendly or Hostile
- Friendly
- Added In
- Fangs of Asterkarn
- Where to Find Them
- Elder Noktukari's hidden refuge, Elderveil, is south of the Ulo's Springs Riftgate; patch 1.3.1.0 adds a minimap marker and a quest breadcrumb.
- How to Gain Reputation
- Complete Noktukari quests and bounty contracts at Elderveil; its bounty reputation rewards scale by difficulty. Ordinary monster kills do not raise this track.
- Main Rewards
- Faction gear and relic blueprints, the Runed Orb used to awaken equipment, and the Occullorum effect at Revered; the faction also sells its Writ and Mandate reputation boosters.
- Nemesis
- -
Relationship
Hostile
Aetherials
Aetherials are a hostile faction that possess living hosts and occupy several campaign regions.
- Friendly or Hostile
- Hostile
- Added In
- Base game
- Where to Find Them
- Aetherials appear across Cairn, including Burrwitch and Malmouth.
- How to Gain Reputation
- Kill Aetherial faction members to raise Infamy; reaching Nemesis standing can trigger Nemesis spawns when more members are killed.
- Main Rewards
- No friendly quartermaster; higher Infamy unlocks stronger heroes and its Nemesis, whose chest can contain rare equipment and blueprints.
- Nemesis
- Valdaran, the Storm Scourge.
Ch'thonians
Chthonians are a hostile cult faction whose members appear in corrupted zones and rifts.
- Friendly or Hostile
- Hostile
- Added In
- Base game
- Where to Find Them
- Chthonians appear at cult sites and through rifts across Cairn, including the Blood Grove and Bastion of Chaos.
- How to Gain Reputation
- Kill Chthonian faction members to raise Infamy; reaching Nemesis standing can trigger a Nemesis when more members are killed.
- Main Rewards
- No friendly quartermaster; higher Infamy unlocks stronger heroes and its Nemeses, which drop faction-specific Monster Infrequents and reward chests.
- Nemesis
- Benn'Jahr, the Colossal, and Grava'Thul, the Voiddrinker.
Cronley's Gang
Cronley's Gang is a hostile band of outlaws based around Four Hills.
- Friendly or Hostile
- Hostile
- Added In
- Base game
- Where to Find Them
- Cronley's Gang controls Four Hills and Cronley's Hideout.
- How to Gain Reputation
- Kill Cronley's Gang members to raise Infamy; reaching Nemesis standing can trigger a Nemesis when more gang members are killed.
- Main Rewards
- No friendly quartermaster; higher Infamy unlocks stronger heroes and its Nemeses, which drop faction-specific Monster Infrequents and reward chests.
- Nemesis
- Fabius “the Unseen” Gonzar and Vinn “the Giant” Ozmald.
Beasts
Beasts form a hostile reputation track added with Ashes of Malmouth, with enemies across Cairn.
- Friendly or Hostile
- Hostile
- Added In
- Ashes of Malmouth
- Where to Find Them
- Beasts range across Cairn; major farming areas include Gloomwald, Ugdenbog and the Ancient Grove.
- How to Gain Reputation
- Kill Beasts faction members to raise Infamy; reaching Nemesis standing can trigger a Nemesis when more Beasts are killed.
- Main Rewards
- No friendly quartermaster; higher Infamy unlocks stronger heroes and its Nemeses, which drop faction-specific Monster Infrequents and reward chests.
- Nemesis
- Kubacabra, the Endless Menace, and The Underking.
Arkovian Undead
The Arkovian Undead are a hostile faction found among the ruins and burial places of old Arkovia.
- Friendly or Hostile
- Hostile
- Added In
- Base game
- Where to Find Them
- The Arkovian Undead occupy Old Arkovia, the Arkovian Undercity and Steps of Torment.
- How to Gain Reputation
- Kill Arkovian Undead faction members to raise Infamy; reaching Nemesis standing can trigger a Nemesis when more undead are killed.
- Main Rewards
- No friendly quartermaster; higher Infamy unlocks stronger heroes and its Nemeses, which drop faction-specific Monster Infrequents and reward chests.
- Nemesis
- Moosilauke, the Chillwind, and Raddoth, Lord Hierophant.
Aetherial Vanguard
The Aetherial Vanguard is the organized hostile force encountered in Ashes of Malmouth.
- Friendly or Hostile
- Hostile
- Added In
- Ashes of Malmouth
- Where to Find Them
- The Vanguard is concentrated in Malmouth and Crown Hill.
- How to Gain Reputation
- Kill Aetherial Vanguard members to raise Infamy; reaching Nemesis standing can trigger a Nemesis when more members are killed.
- Main Rewards
- No friendly quartermaster; higher Infamy unlocks stronger heroes and its Nemesis, which drops faction-specific Monster Infrequents and a reward chest.
- Nemesis
- Archmage Aleksander.
Eldritch Horrors
Eldritch Horrors are the hostile faction tied to Forgotten Gods and the Korvan Basin.
- Friendly or Hostile
- Hostile
- Added In
- Forgotten Gods
- Where to Find Them
- Eldritch Horrors appear across the Korvan Basin and other Forgotten Gods campaign areas.
- How to Gain Reputation
- Kill Eldritch Horrors to raise Infamy; reaching Nemesis standing can trigger either of its Nemeses when more members are killed.
- Main Rewards
- No friendly quartermaster; higher Infamy unlocks stronger heroes and its Nemeses, which drop faction-specific Monster Infrequents and reward chests.
- Nemesis
- Kaisan, the Eldritch Scion, and Ixall, Phantom of the Korvan Wastes.
Bloodbound
The Bloodbound are a hostile faction in Fangs of Asterkarn, with major strongholds in Asterkarn.
- Friendly or Hostile
- Hostile
- Added In
- Fangs of Asterkarn
- Where to Find Them
- The Bloodbound are concentrated in Asterkarn, including the Bloodbound Bastion, Black Citadel and Dread Wastes.
- How to Gain Reputation
- Kill Bloodbound members to raise Infamy; reaching Nemesis standing can trigger its Nemesis when more members are killed.
- Main Rewards
- No friendly quartermaster; higher Infamy unlocks stronger heroes and its Nemesis, which drops Bloodbound-specific Monster Infrequents and a reward chest.
- Nemesis
- Nyarlathon, Herald of Annihilation.
Friendly and Hostile Factions in Grim Dawn
Factions fall into two groups. Friendly factions, like Devil's Crossing and the Black Legion, are groups you can ally with and build standing with over time. Hostile factions, like the Chthonians and the Aetherials, are groups you fight, and killing their members is what moves your standing with them.
Factions also rarely get along. The Chthonians and the Aetherials fight each other, and allying with one group can put you at odds with its rivals. That's why your choices matter, since every quest and kill moves your standing somewhere.
How Reputation and Infamy Work
With friendly factions, your standing is called reputation, and it grows when you finish a faction's quests, complete its bounties, or defeat the enemies it's fighting. Respected is the first big milestone, and Honored and Revered are where the major shortcuts open up.
With hostile factions, the number that climbs is infamy. Each member you kill adds to it, and as it rises, more of that faction's champions and heroes start appearing around you. Bosses push infamy along faster than ordinary kills, so they're worth seeking out if you're aiming for the top of the hostile ranks.
Rewards From Friendly Factions
Friendly factions pay you back in several ways. Faction rewards can include consumables, equipment, and crafting blueprints (the recipes you use to make items), and their Quartermasters sell rewards you've earned through your standing. Some faction gear only opens up at higher ranks.
Once you reach Respected, a faction's bounty board opens up. Its missions might ask you to collect items, slay a boss, or track down a rampaging hero, and each one pays out loot.
Augments are another reward worth knowing about. They're crafted powders, enchantments, tinctures, and poisons that you apply to your gear, and you need faction standing to get them. There are three kinds, for weapons, armor, and accessories.
Writs and Mandates Speed Up Reputation
Writs and Mandates are the two items that speed up reputation. A Writ goes on sale once you reach Honored with a faction and raises the reputation you earn with it, but it only works for the character who bought it.
A Mandate is available to buy at Revered and raises reputation gains even more. Unlike a Writ, it can be moved through your shared stash and used on another of your characters, so one character's hard work speeds up the next.
Grim Dawn Nemesis Bosses and Their Loot
Nemesis is the top rank on the hostile side. Once you reach it, killing more of that faction's members can bring its Nemesis out to hunt you down. These are rare, ultra-tough bosses with powerful attacks, and every hostile faction has at least one.
The reward is what makes the fight worth it. Defeating a Nemesis opens a chest with a very high chance of an Epic item, along with better odds at crafting blueprints and Legendary items. Because they're so rare, you can't plan a run around one.
Picking Sides With Rival Factions
Some factions are built to oppose each other, so the story sometimes forces a choice. The main story asks you to side with either Kymon's Chosen or the Order of Death's Vigil, and the one you don't pick turns hostile. In the Forgotten Gods storyline, you have to join one of three cults.
Siding with one group can also lower your standing with its rivals without making them hostile. Be careful with permanent decisions, though. Once you've sided against a faction for good, some factions stop giving you any positive reputation at all.
Which Grim Dawn Factions Are Worth Your Time
Devil's Crossing is a common early recommendation. You meet its survivors early on, and its rewards suit the first stretch of play, so many players push it toward Revered early.
Barrowholm comes up a lot too. Many players keep it friendly because its augments are strong, and you'll want its faction gear later on.
For the rest, pick based on how you play. Faction gear only helps if it fits your build, and you'll usually end up pushing a handful of factions rather than all of them, since rivals pull against each other.
FAQ
Where can I see my standing with each faction in Grim Dawn?
Open the Faction Window. It shows your standing with each faction, along with what each one wants and which groups it's fighting.
Does repeating bounties help reputation grow faster?
It does, but it comes with a catch. Clearing the same areas over and over to keep taking bounties also raises your infamy with the enemy factions, which can bring their Nemesis bosses sooner.