Factions Guide
All 7 factions in MENACE with relationship strategies, unique rewards, enemy types, and combat tactics. Your faction choices shape the entire campaign — choose wisely.
# FAQ
How do faction relationships work in MENACE?
Complete operations for a faction to improve your standing. Better relationships unlock unique squad leader recruits, O.C.I. upgrades, and gear. However, helping one faction often displeases another — managing this balance is a core campaign challenge.
Which faction should I ally with first?
Zayn-Beecher Corporation offers the most missions and best economic rewards without requiring you to antagonize other factions. Alien Wildlife missions are the easiest for leveling. Start with these two, then branch out as your roster strengthens.
Can I be friendly with all factions?
In theory, yes, but it's extremely difficult. Most faction operations involve opposing another faction. The Backbone and Rogue Army are particularly aggressive — close relationships with them will damage standing with other factions significantly.
Rogue Army
HardThe Rogue Army is a collective term for human forces in the Wayback System that operate outside established faction control. These are mercenaries, deserters, and independent militias with no unified command structure. They possess military-grade equipment and vehicles, making them significantly more dangerous than Pirates. Each encounter with Rogue Army forces can happen on different planets for different reasons — they follow no grand scheme.
Relationship Tips
Completing operations for planetary governments that oppose Rogue Army elements will improve relations. Ignoring distress calls from civilians under Rogue Army threat damages standing.
Combat Style
Conventional military tactics — coordinated fire, vehicle support, suppressing fire. Heavily armored.
Rewards
- ✓ Military-grade weapon unlocks at higher reputation
- ✓ Access to armored vehicle purchases
- ✓ Unique Squad Leader recruits from defectors
- ✓ O.C.I. upgrades for combat intelligence
Risks
- ⚠ Rogue Army missions feature heavy weapons and armor
- ⚠ Enemies use coordinated squad tactics
- ⚠ Vehicle support common — bring anti-tank equipment
- ⚠ High suppression output from automatic weapons
Enemy Types
How do I counter Rogue Army armor?
Bring anti-tank weapons (RPG, AT Grenades, ATGM Launcher). Target vehicles from the side or rear where armor is weaker. Suppress infantry escorts first so they can't support the vehicle.
Should I ally with the Rogue Army?
It's situational. Rogue Army offers strong military gear but their missions are among the hardest. Good relations unlock excellent vehicle purchases, but you'll make enemies with planetary governments. Weigh the tradeoffs carefully.
Alien Wildlife
EasyAlien Wildlife encompasses the native fauna of the Wayback System's planets — creatures large and aggressive enough to threaten human settlements. Unlike sentient factions, Alien Wildlife cannot be negotiated with. Missions typically involve hive destruction, population culling, or defensive operations protecting civilians. Most enemies are melee-focused, with notable exceptions like the Alien Bombardier that attacks from range.
Relationship Tips
Cannot build diplomatic relationship. This faction represents environmental threats. Completing wildlife extermination missions for other factions improves standing with them.
Combat Style
Overwhelming melee rushes, burrow ambushes, hive defense. Limited ranged capability.
Rewards
- ✓ Alien biomass resources for Workshop crafting
- ✓ Unique crafted weapons and armor from alien materials
- ✓ Relatively easy missions for new squads
- ✓ Good source of early-game experience
Risks
- ⚠ Swarm tactics — large numbers can overwhelm
- ⚠ Alien Bombardiers provide ranged threat
- ⚠ Melee units ignore cover bonuses
- ⚠ Hive missions feature boss-level creatures
Enemy Types
What's the best strategy against Alien Wildlife?
Keep distance — most wildlife is melee-only. Use suppressive fire to slow advances. Focus fire on ranged units (Bombardiers) first. Bring flamethrowers for area denial against swarms. Elevated positions deny melee attacks entirely.
Are Alien Wildlife missions worth doing?
Yes, especially early game. They're the easiest faction to fight, provide consistent XP, and yield crafting materials. Use them to level up new squad leaders before tackling harder factions.
Pirates
MediumPirates are scattered groups of outlaws, criminals, and looters roaming the Wayback System. Their combat style emphasizes high mobility and reckless assaults using improvised weapons with high firepower but poor accuracy. Pirate vehicles include fast transports to close distance quickly. Most Pirate equipment can be captured and used by the player — their weapons pack raw power despite low reliability.
Relationship Tips
Good relations unlock Black Market access and unique Pirate-specific gear. Completing Pirate operations may anger lawful factions. Pirates value strength — successful combat against them can paradoxically improve standing.
Combat Style
High mobility hit-and-run, explosives, vehicle rushes. Low accuracy, high firepower. Reckless aggression.
Rewards
- ✓ Black Market access improvements
- ✓ Unique Pirate weapons and vehicles
- ✓ Loot-based economy — rich missions
- ✓ Pirate Squad Leader recruits
Risks
- ⚠ High mobility — Pirates close distance quickly
- ⚠ Rocket launchers and explosives common
- ⚠ Suppression-heavy due to high fire rate weapons
- ⚠ RNG-dependent weapon quality — unpredictable
- ⚠ Vehicle-heavy — bring anti-tank
Enemy Types
How do I deal with Pirate rocket launchers?
Spread your squads out — Pirate rockets have area damage. Identify and eliminate rocket teams first with sniper fire. Smoke grenades block line of sight. Edwin Pike's suppression immunity is invaluable here.
Can I use captured Pirate gear?
Yes! Most Pirate weapons and vehicles can be used by your squads. Pirate gear is generally high-damage but low-accuracy — pair with high WS leaders to compensate. The Pirate Truck is an excellent early vehicle.
MENACE
ExtremeThe MENACE is the implacable alien threat at the heart of the game — an unknown force that transforms humans into biomechanical horrors. These constructs evolve constantly: primitive forms encountered early rapidly enhance into deadlier varieties, culminating in giant boss monsters. Destroying MENACE units yields rare resources for Workshop crafting, allowing you to keep pace with their relentless self-improvement.
Relationship Tips
Cannot negotiate. The MENACE is the primary antagonist. All missions against them improve standing with other factions. Prioritize containment operations to slow their evolution.
Combat Style
Evolving tactics, mixed melee/ranged, boss mechanics, psychological pressure. Unpredictable.
Rewards
- ✓ Rare alien crafting materials
- ✓ Highest-tier Workshop recipes
- ✓ Significant faction reputation gains
- ✓ Story progression
Risks
- ⚠ Constantly evolving — tactics change between missions
- ⚠ Boss monsters with unique abilities
- ⚠ Both melee AND ranged threats
- ⚠ Psychological warfare — high morale pressure
- ⚠ Hardest missions in the game
Enemy Types
When should I fight the MENACE?
Not until your squad is well-equipped and experienced. Wait until you have at least tier-2 weapons and armor. Bring your best squad leaders — Jane Darby and J.G. Wetteroth excel here. Ensure you have adequate anti-armor capabilities.
How do MENACE evolve during a campaign?
The longer you ignore MENACE operations, the stronger they become. They unlock new unit types and boss variants. Containment operations slow this evolution — completing them regularly is essential to prevent being overwhelmed.
Dice of the Gods
MediumA shadowy criminal syndicate that controls the ice planet Dice, transforming it into a tourist and gambling hub despite its harsh environment. Their operations are stealth-focused, with enemies that prefer ambush tactics over direct confrontation. Frankie Sallustio serves as the public face of this organization. DICE missions often involve infiltration, intelligence gathering, and counter-espionage.
Relationship Tips
Good relations provide intelligence bonuses and stealth equipment. Completing their missions often involves morally gray choices. High reputation unlocks Frankie Sallustio as a unique Squad Leader recruit.
Combat Style
Stealth, ambush, infiltration. Avoids direct confrontation. Environmental hazards (ice planet).
Rewards
- ✓ Stealth and infiltration equipment
- ✓ Intelligence-gathering O.C.I. upgrades
- ✓ Frankie Sallustio Squad Leader (high reputation)
- ✓ Information on other factions' movements
Risks
- ⚠ Ambush-heavy combat — hard to prepare
- ⚠ Enemies use stealth and concealment
- ⚠ Missions often have secondary hidden objectives
- ⚠ Low visibility due to Dice's environment
Enemy Types
How do I counter DICE stealth tactics?
Motion Scanners are essential — they reveal hidden enemies within 12 tiles. Night Vision Goggles help with Dice's low-visibility environment. Deploy in spread formation to avoid multi-squad ambushes. Thermal Imaging Device provides superior detection.
Is allying with DICE worth the moral cost?
From a pure gameplay perspective, yes — the stealth equipment and intelligence upgrades are excellent. The narrative choices are yours to make, but mechanically, DICE offers some of the best O.C.I. upgrades for mission preparation.
The Backbone
HardThe Backbone, also known as 'The Unbent,' has transformed the most Earth-like planet in the Wayback System into an industrial and military powerhouse. Their ruling cadre openly pursues system-wide domination. Represented by Xiao Xiao, they field mutated humanoid soldiers capable at both short and long range. Their missions are among the most dangerous, pitting you against heavily industrialized military forces.
Relationship Tips
The Backbone rewards strength and results. Completing their missions provides industrial and manufacturing benefits. Their path leads toward military dominance but alienates most other factions. Choose carefully.
Combat Style
Industrial warfare, heavy assault, mutated shock troops. High damage at all ranges. Relentless.
Rewards
- ✓ Industrial manufacturing capabilities
- ✓ Heavy weapon and armor production
- ✓ Unique vehicle blueprints
- ✓ Xiao Xiao Squad Leader recruit (max reputation)
- ✓ Manpower and resource bonuses
Risks
- ⚠ Extremely dangerous missions
- ⚠ Enemy forces are well-equipped and disciplined
- ⚠ Mutated units have unpredictable abilities
- ⚠ Allying with Backbone angers most other factions
- ⚠ Late-game consequences for faction relationships
Enemy Types
Can I stay neutral with The Backbone?
To some extent, but their system-wide ambitions mean you'll inevitably cross paths. Accepting their missions provides strong industrial benefits but damages other relationships. The safest approach is selective cooperation — take missions that benefit you without committing fully.
What's the best strategy against Backbone forces?
Range is your friend — Backbone units are deadly at all distances but move slowly in heavy armor. Kite with mobile squads. Energy weapons bypass their armor effectively. Focus fire on mutated units first as they have the most unpredictable abilities.
Zayn-Beecher Corporation
MediumOne of the wealthiest factions in the Wayback System, Zayn-Beecher Corporation maintained extensive business ties with the Core Worlds before the Warp Gate was damaged. Even stranded, they remain a major economic power. They offer the most frequent mission requests and provide the richest rewards. Maintaining good relations with ZBC is widely considered the optimal economic strategy.
Relationship Tips
ZBC values consistent, reliable contract completion. They offer the most missions of any faction — completing them is the fastest path to wealth. Unlike other factions, ZBC doesn't ask you to antagonize others directly. Prioritize their missions for economic stability.
Combat Style
Professional security forces, automated defenses, well-equipped but predictable.
Rewards
- ✓ Highest credit and resource payouts
- ✓ Access to premium equipment
- ✓ Exclusive corporate weapons and armor
- ✓ Economic O.C.I. upgrades
- ✓ Most frequent mission availability
Risks
- ⚠ Corporate security is well-equipped
- ⚠ Some missions have time pressure
- ⚠ High expectations — failed missions hurt reputation more
- ⚠ Competing contracts with other factions
Enemy Types
Should I always prioritize Zayn-Beecher missions?
For economic stability, yes. ZBC pays the most and asks the least in terms of faction conflict. However, don't neglect other factions entirely — a balanced approach yields the best overall rewards. ZBC missions should be your 'bread and butter' income source.
What's the optimal faction strategy for new players?
Focus on Zayn-Beecher Corporation and Alien Wildlife early. ZBC provides steady income and gear; Wildlife provides easy XP. Branch into Pirates for loot variety. Avoid MENACE and Backbone commitments until you have strong squads.