CoF is highly recommended for beginners. The boosted loot means you'll gear up more quickly and get a feel for Last Epoch's unique itemization system. You'll also experience more of Last Epoch gold the game's actual content instead of relying on player-to-player transactions.

However, the faction's biggest strength - huge amounts of loot - can also be overwhelming. Using a loot filter becomes almost mandatory once you progress, or you'll quickly drown in unnecessary items.

Merchant's Guild: The Power of Trade

On the other side of the spectrum lies the Merchant's Guild (MG), which essentially serves as Last Epoch's trading hub. If you prefer buying and selling items rather than grinding them out, this is the faction for you.

Key Benefits of the Merchant's Guild

Player-to-Player Trading: The guild acts like an auction house, allowing you to buy and sell gear with other players. This opens up opportunities to complete your build without waiting for RNG to bless you.

Faction Rank Licenses: Instead of traditional bonuses, your progress in the Merchant's Guild unlocks licenses that let you trade higher-tier equipment. For instance, you'll need to rank up significantly before being allowed to trade Legendary items.

Endgame Potential: Once you've farmed enough valuable gear through gameplay (perhaps as a Circle of Fortune member first), you can sell your items for large sums of Last Epoch gold and use the profits to buy endgame-ready gear from others.

Why Choose Merchant's Guild?

The Merchant's Guild is better suited for veteran players who already understand the game's economy, item values, and trading strategies. High-value items on the marketplace are often very expensive, so this faction requires patience, grinding, and solid resource management.

It also shines in multiplayer environments, where trading becomes a more social and cooperative experience. But for solo players, especially newcomers, it can feel punishingly expensive without prior farming.

Which Faction Is Right for You?

When deciding between Circle of Fortune and Merchant's Guild, it really comes down to playstyle preference:

Choose Circle of Fortune if:

You enjoy farming and loot hunting.

You're a new or casual player.

You want a self-sufficient progression path.

Choose Merchant's Guild if:

You like trading and managing an economy.

You're experienced with Last Epoch's itemization.

You prefer efficiency over farming randomness.

Pro Tip

Many players recommend starting with Circle of Fortune to stockpile valuable loot. Later, once you're comfortable with the game and economy, you can roll a new character aligned with the Merchant's Guild to capitalize on trading opportunities. This hybrid approach lets you experience the best of buy Last Epoch gold both systems.