Warborne: Above Ashes Faction Guide

As the Total War Test kicks off in Warborne: Above Ashes, players face an important choice that will shape their entire journey — choosing a faction. This decision isn't just cosmetic. Your faction determines your passive bonuses, your ideal playstyle, the types of battles you will face, and even the growth of your Warband. It also affects your access to key map areas, how long you might wait in line to log in, and your opportunities for PvP and guild conquest.

With six factions to choose from, each offering a unique flavor of gameplay, it can be overwhelming if you are jumping into the game for the first time. Whether you are a solo player planning to gank enemies in the Veinholds, a guild leader coordinating sieges, or a casual explorer focusing on gathering resources, understanding each faction's strengths is critical.

This guide breaks down everything you need to know about the six Warborne factions — Ashen, Sirius, Emberwild, Shroud, Magnates, and Ironcreed — to help you make the best possible choice.

If you are just starting Warborne: Above Ashes and wondering how to get a strong head start, this guide is for you. We will also continue updating this information as the Total War Test evolves, so make sure to bookmark it.

All Factions in Warborne

Ashen – Siege and Survivability

Faction Bonuses:

+5% Demolition Power

+2.5% Max HP

Ashen is the go-to faction for players who enjoy being on the front lines. Whether leading charges into enemy-held forts, demolishing walls with siege weapons, or standing tall while defending objectives, Ashen offers solid passive bonuses that enhance your durability and offensive siege capabilities.

The bonus demolition power is particularly valuable when it comes to coordinated attacks on strategic locations. Meanwhile, the extra health helps you survive longer fights, making it easier to hold objectives or pressure enemy Warbands.

Ideal for:

Tanks

Frontline PvPers

Objective defenders

Siege warfare specialists

Why choose Ashen: Ashen is an excellent faction if you prefer direct, large-scale battles. It is also a great fit for guilds that focus on territory control and mass PvP events. However, Ashen is often one of the most popular factions, meaning you may face long login queues during peak times.

Sirius – PvE Efficiency and Loot

Faction Bonuses:

+5% Loot Token Regeneration

+5% Damage to Mobs

Sirius is a faction built for PvE-focused players. Whether you enjoy farming mobs, completing PvE events, or progressing quickly through your gear upgrades, Sirius provides bonuses that make your grind much more efficient.

With faster loot token regeneration and increased damage to mobs, you will find yourself killing enemies quicker and looting more often. This makes Sirius a great faction for players who are just starting and want to gear up before focusing on PvP content.

Ideal for:

Solo PvE players

Explorers

Fast levelers

Casual players

Why choose Sirius: If you are planning to focus heavily on PvE content early on, Sirius offers a faster route to better gear and more resources. It is especially attractive to new players who want an easier progression path without immediately throwing themselves into competitive PvP.

Emberwild – Mobility and Gathering

Faction Bonuses:

+5% Mount Movement Speed

+10% Animal Resource Yield

Emberwild caters to players who value speed, flexibility, and resource gathering. The bonus to mount movement speed makes traveling across the map significantly faster, while the increased animal resource yield helps gatherers and crafters stockpile valuable materials.

Ideal for:

Solo players

Gatherers

Roamers

Map explorers

Why choose Emberwild: If you enjoy solo play and want the freedom to roam the map quickly, Emberwild is one of the best options. Its bonuses encourage an agile playstyle where you can quickly move between points of interest, farm resources, and avoid unwanted PvP encounters.

Emberwild often experiences less congestion early in a server's life because it tends to attract players who do not flock to zerg-style mass battles. This can also lead to easier early progression.

Shroud – Stealth and Cooldowns

Faction Bonuses:

+1.5% Skill Cooldown Speed

+5 meters Night Vision

Shroud is built for stealth, ambushes, and quick engagements. If you are the kind of player who enjoys lurking in the shadows, striking with precision, and vanishing before the enemy can respond, Shroud's bonuses will feel tailor-made for you.

The reduced skill cooldowns let you unleash your abilities more frequently, which is particularly important for burst-focused classes. Meanwhile, the extended night vision bonus gives Shroud players a hidden advantage in nighttime battles, making it easier to spot and outmaneuver enemies.

Ideal for:

Gankers

Assassins

Tactical PvP players

Solo PvPers

Why choose Shroud: Shroud is an excellent faction choice for players who love hit-and-run tactics or prefer small skirmishes over massive zerg fights. It is ideal if you are building a light armor Drifter with mobility, burst damage, and stealth in mind.

Magnates – Trade and XP Gains

Faction Bonuses:

+10% Token Gains from Trading House Sales

+5% XP from Mobs

Magnates is the faction for players who view war as an economic opportunity. If you want to get rich while leveling up quickly, Magnates offers significant advantages.

The increased token gains from Trading House sales make it easier to generate wealth from crafting, trading, and flipping market items. Meanwhile, the bonus experience from killing mobs means you will level faster while farming.

Ideal for:

Traders

Crafters

Economy-focused players

Fast levelers

Why choose Magnates: Magnates is perfect if you plan to dominate the in-game economy, build a powerful crafting empire, or simply prefer the quieter life of logistics and trading over constant fighting. This faction suits players who want to fund their Warbands through gold and gear instead of blood and steel.

Ironcreed – Tech and Resource Boosts

Faction Bonuses:

+10% Research Speed (Driftmark Tech)

+7.5% Yield from Tech Wrecks and Trees

Ironcreed appeals to players who are focused on the long game. By boosting Driftmark research speed and increasing resource yields from tech wrecks and trees, Ironcreed enables rapid technological advancement and resource acquisition.

Ideal for:

Builders

Tech min-maxers

Long-term guild planners

Researchers

Why choose Ironcreed: If your Warband wants to achieve early technological superiority, Ironcreed is the best choice. Its bonuses offer a clear advantage in gathering crucial resources and unlocking powerful tech upgrades faster than other factions.

This makes Ironcreed a fantastic pick for large guilds coordinating to dominate future phases of the game.

Important Notes Before Choosing

Before you lock in your faction choice, here are a few important things to consider.

First, faction queue times can be a serious issue. More popular factions like Ashen may experience login queues during peak hours, while smaller factions like Emberwild and Shroud may offer faster access.

Second, remember that faction balance can shift. Developers monitor faction performance and may adjust bonuses or mechanics during the test to prevent any single faction from becoming too dominant.

Third, your playstyle matters. If you are a solo player, factions like Shroud and Emberwild offer better tools for survival and progression without needing constant backup. If you are part of a guild, Ashen or Ironcreed provides strong advantages for organized play.

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MMOexp Warborne Above Ashes Team