Raid: Shadow Legends has gained a lot of fans due to its large player base, excellent graphics, and addicting pay-to-win mechanics. But you may have noticed in the faction menu that there are hidden factions. So what exactly are the hidden factions?
The hidden factions in Raid: Shadow Legends are just placeholders for future factions that haven’t quite been released yet. What these factions will be is unclear, but they’re likely part of the Nyresan Union.
Let’s look at what hidden factions are, what clues we have so far on what their content will be, and when we can expect them to release. We’ll also take a look at the most powerful champions and heroes per faction.
What Are Hidden Factions in Raid: Shadow Legends?
Hidden factions are upcoming factions to be released as a yet unannounced date in the future, like 2023.
In essence, they are basically future content to look forward to, although it is unclear whether they have already been decided upon or Plarium just wants to keep its options open.
These can be seen right at the bottom of the faction index from within the faction menu in Raid: Shadow Legends, identifiable only that some factions are labeled ‘hidden’, rather than labels such as Demonspawn, Undead Hordes, Dark Elves, Knight Revenant, or Dwarves.
Plarium have often been criticized for releasing game content too slowly anyway, so new factions is perhaps not the highest item on their to-do list.
In terms of what they ultimately will involve, it is probably a safe bet to say that they are just factions like any of the others but they most likely will be a part of the Nyresan Union.
The Nyresan Union currently is the smallest, with only two factions making it up: the Dwarves and the Shadowkin.
How to Unlock Hidden Factions in Raid: Shadow Legends?
The hidden factions are not unlockables via grinding or via paying.
That is to say the hidden factions are really just teasers to let you know what is coming, although no set date or even hint exists for when they will be released.
Some players have cynically stated that there is no plan for anything to be released in their place, and it is just to be a permanent tease, but there is no reason to think that Plarium would put the time and effort to list hidden factions if it didn’t have at least some plan for it.
As the most recent faction was released back in 2021, there has been some time passed since a faction update, perhaps meaning it is coming soon.
The Shadowkin, as the most recent release, was released for patch 3.40 on 18 March 2021. However, seeing as the faction that was released before that was all the way back in 2019, it’s probably more realistic to expect a 2023 release.
How Many Factions Are There in Raid: Shadow Legends?
There are 14 factions in Raid: Shadow Legends, which themselves are grouped into four categories: the Telerrians, Gaellen Pact, The Corrupted, and the Nyresan Union.
The Telerians comprise of mostly human or humanoid like figures, currently the Banner Lords, High Elves, Sacred Order, and Barbarians.
The Gaellen Pact consists of Ogryn Tribes, Lizardmen, Skinwalkers, and Orcs.
The other group is the Corrupted, which is Demonspawn, the Undead Hordes, the Dark Elves, and the Knights Revenant.
Finally, the last and smallest group is the Nyresan Union which contains Dwarves and the Shadowkin.
What Is the Most Powerful Character in Raid: Shadow Legends?
There isn’t one single most powerful character or champion in Raid: Shadow Legends, as the variety of team compositions, enemies, abilities and other considerations mean that one champion may do very well in one situation, but be relatively mediocre in another.
The Undead and Demonspawn are particularly good for defensive champions, while the Orcs are great for player versus player encounters. The Lizardmen are one of the strongest factions overall followed closely by the High Elf faction.
All the other factions are generally balanced for offense and defense, and do well equally in player versus player or player versus environment battles.
Instead, it is more useful to think in terms of tiers, with the top tier of champion meaning they will be in the top 10% of champions regarding powers, buffs and debuffs as well as useful passive skills.
The top tier champions for the Banner Lord faction are currently Ursala the Mourner, Septimus, Sethalia, Lady Quilen, Archmage Hellmut, or Raglin.
For the High Elf faction, then it is Lyssandra,Tayrel, Apothecary, Arbiter, and Belanor.
For the Sacred Order champions, you can pick Martyr, Roshcard the Tower, Sir Nicholas, Venus, Cardiel, Cupidus, Deacon Armstrong, Fenax, Abbess, Armiger and, Athel. Sacred Order has many strong champions to choose from.
The top tier for the Barbarians is Ursuga Warcaller, Valkyrie, Warmaiden, Scyl of the Drakes, and Tuhanarak.
The Ogryn-Tribe can choose from Maneater, Skullcrusher, Uugo, Bellower, Big ‘Un, and Ghrush the Mangler.
Lizardman only has four choices, with Krisk the Ageless, Rhazin Scarhide, Dracomorph, and Fu-Shan being the best.
Skinwalker can only pick between Norog and Khoronar, but Hakkorhn Smashlord can be useful in some situations.
Out of Orcs, the best champions number three, being Kreela Witch-Arm, Warlord, and Dhukk the Pierced.
For Demonspawn, go with Tyrant Ixlimor, Umbral Enchantress, Duchess Lilitu, Peydma, and Prince Kymar.
For the Undead Horde list, choose between Seeker, Siphi the Lost Bride, Rotos the Lost Groom, Saito, Skartosis, Urost the Soulcage, Bad-el-Kazar, Ma’Shalled, Nekhret the Great, and Nethril.
Dark Elf has many choices, including Madame Serris, Rae, Lanakis the Chosen, Lydia the Deathsiren, Zavia, Blind Seer, Coldheart, Foli, Ghostborn, and Kael.
Knight Revenant is a choice between Sinesha, Skullcrown, Soulless, Doompriest, Miscreated Monster, and Rector Drath.
Dwarfs are great for both offensive and defensive, so pick Tormin the Cold, Trunda Giltmallet, Underpriest Brogni, Rearguard Sergeant, Rugnor Goldgleam, Runekeeper Dazdurk, Grizzled Jarl, Maulie Tankard, or Melga Steelgirdle.
Shadowkin, the newest faction, are best when you pick Lady Kimi, Riho Bonespear, Genbo the Dishonored, or Genzin.
