Faction hub
Every ZeroSpace faction, compared
Four main factions and six mercenary groups. They are not reskins — the Grell expand by spreading biomass, the Legion spend units like currency. Here is how they differ, and which one to start on.
The four at a glance
| Faction | Identity | Plays like | Difficulty | In campaign? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Protectorate | Humanity's standing army | Combined arms | Beginner friendly | Yes — it is the campaign faction |
| Grell | Evolved plant swarm | Territory and biomass | Map-control heavy | Not in Early Access |
| Legion | Fanatical crusader empire | Mass and attrition | Aggression-focused | Not in Early Access |
| Xol Beta | Self-evolving machine civilisation | Technology and adaptation | Highest ceiling | Not in Early Access |
Pick one and stick with it
A short decision, honestly made.
ProtectorateA Caelo Ad TerramThe most conventional army in the game. Infantry, armour and air that all behave the way an RTS player expects, with siege-style firepower to punish a static defence.
GrellGrow. Expand. Exterminate.You expand by spreading roots and biomass across the battlefield rather than just planting more bases. Territory is the resource; ceding ground costs you more than it costs other factions.
LegionAcross a Million Worlds, We MarchDrown the opponent in expendable bodies, then follow up with the Terror Tank — a mobile fortress that reconfigures as the fight changes. You trade units freely and win by never letting the enemy reset.
Xol BetaFor Purpose. For Survival.The newest and least settled faction. Expect the most balance churn here — builds that work this patch may not survive the next.
Which should a new player choose?
Protectorate, unless you have a strong pull elsewhere. Three reasons: it is the most conventional army so your existing RTS instincts transfer; it is the campaign faction so you will learn it whether you meant to or not; and its openings are the most forgiving of the small economic errors that define your first fifty games.
If you already play RTS at a decent level and want the most interesting mechanic, the Grell reward map reading in a way the others do not. If you want to be the aggressor, go Legion. Leave Xol until they are out of beta unless you actively enjoy unstable metas.
Mercenary groups
Every loadout pairs one main faction with one mercenary group. Six are available in Early Access; a seventh is listed as a 1.0 feature.
Frequently asked
Questions people actually ask about this, pulled from the Steam discussion boards and search data.
How many factions does ZeroSpace have?
Four main factions — Protectorate, Grell, Legion and Xol — plus 6 mercenary groups that attach to your loadout. A seventh mercenary group is planned for the 1.0 release.
Can I play the Grell in the campaign?
Not in Early Access. The campaign casts you as Aster, Commander of the Protectorate. "Will the Grell be playable in the campaign?" is a live thread on the Steam boards, and the published roadmap does not currently list additional campaign factions before 1.0.
Why can't I play Xol in ranked?
The Xol shipped as a beta faction. They are excluded from ranked matchmaking until they have had more community balance testing. They are fully playable everywhere else.
Are the factions balanced?
It is Early Access with a beta faction in the pool, so no, and the developers are not claiming otherwise — "Active Balance & Design Updates" is an ongoing roadmap item. Anyone publishing a confident tier list right now is guessing.