Last Epoch: Circle of Fortune vs Merchant's Guild

If you’ve reached the endgame of Last Epoch and found yourself standing at the crossroads between the Circle of Fortune and the Merchant's Guild, you’re not alone. These are the two primary factions you can join, and each one dramatically shapes how you acquire gear and progress your build. Choosing between them isn't just a flavor choice—it's a commitment to how you want to play Last Epoch going forward.

In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about both factions, how they work, who they're best for, and why your decision matters. Whether you're here to grind, trade, or just experiment, we’ve got you covered.

Circle of Fortune or Merchant's Guild in Last Epoch?

When it comes to gearing up in Last Epoch, you essentially have two philosophies: farm it yourself or buy it. That’s what these factions represent. The Circle of Fortune rewards you for killing monsters, running echoes, and chasing Prophecies. The Merchant’s Guild, on the other hand, is all about acquiring gear through player-to-player trade. It's the auction house experience brought to a loot-heavy ARPG.

You can join either faction when you reach Act 9, after completing a quest for Zerrick. Once you've joined a faction with one character, your future characters can choose a faction right from Keeper’s Camp—a huge quality-of-life feature.

But before you pick, let’s dive deep into what each faction really offers.

Circle of Fortune: Grind Masters Welcome

If you’re someone who finds joy in the grind, thrives on drops, and wants to squeeze every last bit of loot out of the game, the Circle of Fortune is your home.

Why Choose Circle of Fortune?

This faction is perfect for players who enjoy farming and want to maximize loot through gameplay mechanics rather than external trade. The Circle passively buffs your loot quality and quantity through faction levels and bonuses. As your reputation with the Circle increases, you'll unlock bonuses like:

• Enemies dropping double the amount of loot

• Entire item sets dropping at once, instead of just single pieces

• A higher chance for Exalted and Unique items to appear

These aren't just fluff perks—they genuinely change the way loot rains down. The higher your Circle rank, the more you feel the impact.

The Power of Prophecies

Perhaps the biggest highlight of the Circle of Fortune is the Prophecy system. Think of Prophecies as targeted farming missions. They tell you what to do—like slaying a boss or hunting elite mobs—and in return, you get guaranteed rewards. It’s an awesome way to farm specific Uniques or chase certain gear types with less RNG.

This adds a mini-game layer to farming and makes grinding feel far more purposeful. It's perfect for players who love setting short-term goals and getting tangible rewards out of them.

Ideal for Beginners

Circle of Fortune is highly recommended for newer players or those who don’t have a deep pool of currency. It introduces you to the core loot systems of Last Epoch and helps you build a solid foundation. Plus, with the right loot filter, it’s easy to stay focused on only the best drops.

Merchant's Guild: Trade Like a Pro

Now let’s talk about the other side of the coin—The Merchant’s Guild. This is where trading becomes the name of the game. If you're the type who wants to build meta setups quickly or hates the RNG involved with drop-based farming, this faction is tailored for you.

Why Choose Merchant’s Guild?

The Merchant’s Guild gives you access to the Bazaar, Last Epoch’s version of an auction house. Here, you can buy and sell gear with other players. Unlike the Circle of Fortune, this path is about capitalism over carnage.

However, joining the Guild doesn’t instantly let you buy top-tier gear. Instead, you earn licenses by gaining reputation, which allow you to purchase better and better items over time. It’s a controlled system, preventing early-game players from instantly snapping up endgame legendaries.

A System for Veterans

This faction is best suited for experienced players who already understand the market and item values in Last Epoch. If you know how to min-max builds, flip gear, or capitalize on high-value items, the Merchant’s Guild will feel like home.

It’s also a good late-game pivot. You can start with Circle of Fortune, farm high-quality loot, and then switch to Merchant’s Guild on your next character to sell your goods and generate Last Epoch gold. The two factions feed into each other in a smart, satisfying way.

Which Faction Is Better in Last Epoch?

Alright, let’s answer the big question: Circle of Fortune vs Merchant's Guild—who wins?

Truthfully? It depends on how you like to play.

Choose Circle of Fortune if you:

• Love grinding and farming for your own gear

• Want a loot explosion experience

• Are new to the game or ARPGs in general

• Prefer solo self-found (SSF) style gameplay

• Want to engage with unique mechanics like Prophecies

Choose Merchant’s Guild if you:

• Are a veteran player who understands the market

• Prefer trading to grinding

• Want faster access to build-defining items

• Enjoy flipping gear for profit

• Already have currency and want to shortcut the grind

There’s no wrong choice, but you’ll get more out of the faction if it fits your playstyle. And remember, switching factions is not reversible per character—so pick wisely.

Can You Change Factions?

This is one of the most common questions new players ask. The short answer is no, you cannot change factions on a character once it’s locked in. However, you can join a different faction on a new character, and that character will retain all of your previously earned faction reputation.

So yes, you can experience both—but only across different characters.

This system encourages long-term play and alt-building, which honestly fits perfectly with how Last Epoch encourages experimenting with different classes and builds.

Veteran Tip: Use Both Factions Over Time

Want the real min-max strategy? Here it is: start with Circle of Fortune, farm like crazy, and then make a new character to join Merchant’s Guild. With all the loot you’ve hoarded, you’ll be able to sell high-value gear, generate a ton of gold, and use that wealth to build even stronger characters.

It’s the best of both worlds. Plus, you can always go back to farming on Circle characters while using your Merchant ones to profit and trade.

Also, if you're ever short on currency and want to make the most of the Bazaar, you can buy Last Epoch gold from PVPBank—a solid option for those who want to skip the grind and jump into action with a fully geared build.

Final Thoughts: Pick What Feels Right

At the end of the day, Circle of Fortune vs Merchant's Guild boils down to how you enjoy playing Last Epoch. One rewards time spent grinding, while the other rewards knowledge of the economy and player-to-player interaction.

For most players, starting with the Circle of Fortune is a great call. It helps you learn the game, earn powerful gear, and build up a stockpile of items to trade later. Once you're confident, making the switch to a Merchant’s Guild alt is a natural progression.

The best part? Both factions are solid. Neither one is objectively better—they're just different paths to the same goal: building an unstoppable character in the ever-evolving world of Last Epoch.