Anyone who's spent even a little time in Kenshi knows that faction politics can either save your playthrough or bury it. One wrong move and the Holy Nation is breathing down your neck while the Shek Kingdom dreams of putting your head on a pike. Been there, made the mistakes, and the scars still ache 😊.
This guide shows you how to navigate that complicated web of allies, enemies, and everything in between.
How Do You Improve Faction Relations in Kenshi?
Raising faction reputation in Kenshi through legitimate methods, without editing saves, takes patience.
Healing Faction Members to Raise Reputation
This remains the most reliable method. Follow patrols around and heal their wounded: higher-ranking fighters give you more reputation. I've spent hours trailing Holy Nation paladins just to patch them up after fights with spiders.
The real trick is putting wounded faction members in beds at their own outposts. That gives extra bonuses on top of ordinary first aid. Just remember a couple of things: you don't have to make yourself visible to them while healing, and the reputation gain from helping is capped at five points. It's great for reducing hostility, but it won't instantly make you best friends.
Bounty Hunting: High Risk, Big Rewards
Turning in a criminal usually gives +2 reputation per bounty, whether you bring the target in alive or dead. The Holy Nation has a quirk: you get +5 reputation if you turn in a criminal and refuse the reward; take the Cats and your reputation won't increase.
Faction leaders and high-ranking targets can earn you +75 to +100 points, especially if you also pledge allegiance or turn them in for a bounty.
Reputation gain doesn't depend on how much the criminal's bounty is worth. Each handover gives a steady 2 points (or 5 in rare cases, such as refusing payment from the holy types).
💡Tip: remember to hire mercenaries at the nearest bar to help you in fights.
The "Slave Farming" Method
It sounds a little dirty, but this is probably the fastest way to max out your reputation with the Slavers without cheats. You buy a character out of slavery, giving you a nice boost of 3-4 points. The newly freed unfortunate then either runs away or follows you… and you simply catch them, sell them back to the Slavers, and buy them again. Repeat until satisfied.
It will cost a mountain of Cats: you can easily spend hundreds of thousands climbing from -100 to ally status. The strangest part is that selling a character into slavery doesn't damage relations with their original faction. It's a straight-up mechanical exploit, but hey, this is Kenshi. Survival matters more than morality.
Actions That Improve Relations with Specific Factions
Here's how to earn the trust of the major players in Kenshi:
The Holy Nation:
- Support their operations against the Flotsam Ninjas.
- Keep human men in leadership positions, because they discriminate against nonhumans and women.
- Bring them criminals' heads
The Shek Kingdom:
- Accept honor duels to prove your courage.
- Let them collect tribute without resisting.
- Prove your warrior's strength by slaughtering the Shek's enemies. Reputation with them is built through combat prowess.
The United Cities:
- Pay your taxes to those arrogant nobles on time.
- Trade regularly in their towns to build relationships.
- Gain noble titles through donations and climb the social ladder.
The Anti-Slavers:
- Free slaves whenever you can.
- Approach their leader Tinfist with a character who was a slave themselves, and they'll accept you much faster.
- Prove your hatred of slavery through action and the heads of slave traders.
Allying with the Traders Guild: A Special Case
Here's something many players miss: you can become an ally of the Traders Guild simply by paying. You'll need around 100,000 Cats (yes, I know, it hurts). Your main contact is Yamdu at the Traders Guild headquarters. It's in Trader's Edge, near Heng or Heft.
Think of it as a long-term investment. The alliance makes trading much easier, but you'll need to maintain your reputation and pay your dues on time.
Some factions, such as the Shinobi Thieves, work similarly: they'll accept 10,000 Cats as a membership fee for ally status.
How Do You Repair Bad Faction Relations?
Messed up? Maybe you accidentally hit a samurai or stole a loaf of bread from the Holy Nation? Before editing game files, know that you can simply buy friendship.
You need to find a Pacifier. These specialists, usually found in bars, will settle your differences with a faction… for a very substantial sum. The more they hate you, the more it costs. After one deal, they're done with you for the day, so you'll have to wait before paying them again.
| Your relations status | Cost to reach the next level | Faction group |
| Below -80 | 100,000 Cats | Major (Holy Nation, United Cities, Shek, etc.) |
| Below -60 | 75,000 Cats | Major |
| Below -40 | 55,000 Cats | Major |
| Below -20 | 35,000 Cats | Major |
| Below -10 | 15,000 Cats | Major |
| Below -80 | 50,000 Cats | Minor (Anti-Slavers, Hounds) |
Cheating Methods
Sometimes you need quick results, and the Kenshi console or a save editor can save hundreds of hours of grinding. Here are the main approaches:
Using the Forgotten Construction Set
Kenshi's Forgotten Construction Set (FCS) is the most reliable option. Launch FCS instead of the game, open your save file, and find the faction data. Look for the "relation0" entries, which show your standing.
Values run from -100 to 100: -100 means hostility, 0 means neutrality, and 100 means a full alliance. The FCS method is useful because it makes temporary changes and is unlikely to wreck your save.
Editing Saves Manually
If you're comfortable with text editors (I prefer Notepad++), you can edit the save directly. Open the quicksave file and look for the faction you need. They're listed alphabetically, so finding a particular group shouldn't be difficult. Change the number in "relation0" and save before loading.
The Bounty Exploit
A classic bug: catch a wanted criminal, turn them in, immediately pause, and repeat the handover several times before the NPC has time to "accept" them. Technically it's cheating, but it's also a damn clever use of the mechanics. 😀
Major and Minor Factions in Kenshi
The game world revolves around a handful of giants that control vast territories and set the rules. Each has its own philosophy, leaders, and way of dealing with wanderers like us. A faction becomes hostile at -30 points and an ally at +50.
The Big Five: Kenshi's Main Factions
| Faction | Leader | Capital / Headquarters | Ideology |
| The Holy Nation | Holy Lord Phoenix | Blister Hill | Okranite religious extremism and hatred of nonhumans. |
| The United Cities | Emperor Tengu | Catun / Heft | Brutal capitalism, slavery, and wealth as the measure of worth. |
| The Shek Kingdom | Queen Esata | Admag | Warrior culture, with honor earned through combat. |
| The Western Hive | Queen | N/A (connected to Mongrel) | Commerce, trade, generally peaceful. |
| The Tech Hunters | N/A | World's End | Preserving knowledge and ancient technology. |
The Holy Nation rules the northern regions. Led by Holy Lord Phoenix, these people worship Okran and have absolutely no tolerance for nonhumans, female warriors, or anything outside their narrow worldview. Their territories include Okran's Pride and Okran's Gulf.
The United Cities take capitalism to absurd extremes. Emperor Tengu rules this eastern empire, where your worth depends entirely on your wallet. Slavery drives the economy, and being poor is literally a crime. They occupy the Great Desert and the Hook.
The Shek Kingdom follows the warrior's path: honor in battle, strength above all else. Queen Esata the Stone Golem rules this declining civilization from Admag in the Stenn Desert. They're eternal enemies of the Holy Nation, which creates some interesting diplomatic opportunities for us.
The Western Hive operates as a peaceful trading faction under its Queen. These insect-like creatures are obsessed with profit, making them some of the more reasonable people to do business with.
Finally, the Tech Hunters and Machinists work to rescue knowledge in this post-apocalyptic world. They welcome all races and search for ancient technology from bases such as World's End.
Minor Factions in Kenshi
Beyond the giants, dozens of smaller groups can become valuable allies or a pain in the ass. The Anti-Slavers , led by Tinfist, fight slavery wherever they find it. The Flotsam Ninjas , led by Moll, fight the Holy Nation for their freedom. There are also bandits, criminals, and independent settlements with agendas of their own.
The beauty of Kenshi's loyalty system is that these smaller factions are often the easiest route to gaining reputation without provoking worldwide conflicts.
Faction Leaders
Knowing who's in charge helps you focus your diplomacy. Faction bosses aren't just names on a list: they're the keys to reshaping entire regions. Many have "Diplomatic Status," so attacking or imprisoning them brings down their faction's full wrath.
Important leaders to know:
- Holy Lord Phoenix commands the Holy Nation from his throne in Blister Hill. Removing him triggers sweeping changes in the world, but it's no small decision. His High Inquisitors Seta and Valtena are excellent targets for manipulating reputation.
- Emperor Tengu rules the United Cities alongside nobles such as Longen. Their deaths completely reshape the east, often bringing chaos or allowing other groups to expand.
- Queen Esata the Stone Golem leads the warlike Shek. Bringing her the Bugmaster's head is the surest way to become an ally of the Shek Kingdom.
Smaller in scale but still important: Tinfist of the Anti-Slavers (ideal for former slaves), Moll of the Flotsam Ninjas, and the Crab Queen, who leads her raiders.
Of course, taking on people like these is suicide if your squad is full of ordinary recruits who barely know how to hold a sword. The journey gets much better when you find companions with names and histories. A good squad is what will actually let you bring down a faction leader.
Kenshi's Faction Map and Territorial Control
Understanding the territorial map helps you plan trade routes, establish bases, and avoid unnecessary fights.
Main territories:
- The Holy Nation controls the north and center: Okran's Pride, Okran's Gulf, and Okran's Valley.
- The United Cities spread across the eastern deserts: the Great Desert, the Hook, and Stormgap Coast.
- The Shek Kingdom occupies the southeast: the Stenn Desert, the Border Zone, and parts of the Bonefields.
Neutral and Disputed Areas
Kenshi's map has plenty of neutral places. The Swamp hosts numerous criminal groups, while the Deadlands are full of enemies who answer to nobody. Knowing these boundaries helps with diplomacy and deciding where to build a home.
Faction Clothing, Armor, and Recognition
Faction armor serves two purposes: protection and identification. Wearing a uniform brings benefits, but also risks.
What the major powers wear:
- The Holy Nation: recognizable white and gold colors with crosses.
- The United Cities: favor samurai-style equipment of varying quality.
- The Shek Kingdom: prioritize practical heavy armor in dark colors.
- The Tech Hunters: wear their legendary dustcoats; the long coat is their calling card.
Disguise Strategy
Wearing a faction uniform gives you better prices at their shops, less suspicion, and unique dialogue. However, their enemies will attack immediately if they recognize your affiliation. It's usually safe in neutral areas; in disputed territory, it's an invitation to a fight. Smart players keep several equipment sets for different situations.
Your Stealth skill is the deciding factor in passing a disguise check. The system uses it to determine how well you blend into the crowd in someone else's uniform.
Advanced Relationship Management
Once you understand the general mechanics, things become much easier.
The Pros and Cons of Alliances
At +50 reputation, a faction becomes allied (green on the map). That's a significant boost. Ally status gives you:
- Better trading prices.
- Free passage (gate guards won't even search you).
- Access to special dialogue.
- Protection from patrols: they'll even heal you and give you food if you're injured.
- They'll rush to help your outpost if a shared enemy attacks it.
Alliances cut both ways, though. Friendship with the Holy Nation makes the Anti-Slavers and Flotsam Ninjas your enemies, and the Shek won't be pleased either. An alliance with the United Cities angers the Rebel Farmers. You need to account for these consequences in advance.
World States: How Do You Take Over Faction Territories?
The world-state system revolves around removing key figures to trigger "Town Overrides." When bosses die, their towns change hands or become ruins.
Warning: if a town passes to another faction, any buildings you own there disappear permanently. The game simply forgets them. So sell your property before you go and kill the local mayor.
The order matters. For example, taking out the Queen of the South, bandit leaders, and Inquisitors before going after Phoenix creates controlled chaos that can serve your long-term goals.
Frequently Asked Questions About Reputation in Kenshi
How many factions can you join in Kenshi?
There's no "Join" button like in conventional RPGs such as Skyrim. Instead, you can ally with plenty of gangs and states at once. It's perfectly possible to befriend the major powers, the Holy Nation, United Cities, and Shek Kingdom, while also getting in with smaller groups. Some alliances do make others hate you, though, which seriously limits your choices 🤔.
Which faction should you choose?
The Shek Kingdom is the most reasonable option for most players. To befriend them, bring them the Bugmaster's head. Is it difficult? Yes, it's no small task. But they won't hassle you over your gender or race the way the Holy Nation does. You can also buy excellent gear from them without getting involved in the slavery the United Cities love so much.
What is the strongest faction in Kenshi?
The Holy Nation has grabbed some of the richest parts of the map and has a genuinely powerful army. Its paladins are no joke: they're among the toughest regular troops in the game. But in money and technology, the United Cities come out ahead. They simply have more resources and much more modern equipment.
Which faction should you destroy?
Scum like the Skin Bandits, Cannibals, or Black Dragon Ninjas. They offer no benefit, just constant threats to your settlements. Among the major players, many players enjoy bringing down the Holy Nation. Its fanaticism is infuriating, especially if you're playing a nonhuman.
What happens if you destroy every faction?
Complete chaos. A power vacuum opens up, quickly filled by small gangs and roaming bandits. Towns either change hands or become ruins. Trade collapses, caravans stop traveling… The world becomes much more dangerous and somehow emptier.
Can you capture a town in Kenshi?
In vanilla, no: you can't simply turn up and say, "This town is mine now." But removing leaders triggers town overrides. Settlements can empty out or become ruins. You can build in those places and create your own city-states. If you really want to conquer everything, install a mod such as Take Over the World , because the developers didn't include that feature in the base game.
