Tempest Rising Guide: All Factions Explained
Image Credits: Slipgate Ironworks™, Tempest Rising
Tempest Rising features three asymmetrical factions, each with its own campaign, technology, and way of waging war. This game has got calculated military strikes, overwhelming firepower, and alien domination all in one, so there's definitely a faction here that you’ll like to play.
Here’s a breakdown of each and what makes them different/unique.
Jump to Faction
Global Defense Force (GDF)
Click here to read our GDF gameplay guide.
Tagline: Order Above All
Style: Tactical, high-tech peacekeepers
Backstory:
The GDF is a global military alliance formed after World War III. They use advanced tech, precision warfare, and drones to "maintain peace"—which usually means hitting hard and fast. Don’t let the clean uniforms fool you—they’re here to win.
Strengths:
Fast units with hover tech and stealth tools
Focus on intel gathering and information warfare
Access to drone armies, satellite uplinks, and networked unit buffs
Unique Resource:
Intel, generated from combat and certain structures, used to activate unit abilities and build advanced units
Playstyle Highlights:
Control-focused, great at harassment and counterplay
Can capture enemy structures and mark targets for bonus intel
Emphasizes mobility and network-based buffs
Tempest Dynasty (DYN)
Click here to read our Tempest Dynasty gameplay guide.
Tagline: The Tempest is Our Past, Our Future, Our Blood
Style: Industrial war machine with a Tempest twist
Backstory:
Born from the wreckage of Eastern Europe and Asia, the Dynasty is a coalition that’s done being stepped on. They’re nationalistic, bitter, and armed to the teeth. They believe the Tempest belongs to them—and they’re ready to burn the world to get it.
Strengths:
Heavy firepower and flamethrowers
Unique Power Plans that buff nearby buildings and units
Mobile refinery rigs that harvest Tempest on the go
Plans System (Strategic Buffs):
Logistics Plan: Faster building and harvesters
Martial Plan: Unit buffs and special abilities
Security Plan: Cheaper units, faster repairs
Playstyle Highlights:
Focused on area denial and wave-based pressure
Flamethrowers, voltaic weapons, and damage-over-time effects
Buildings can be upgraded for bonus abilities like healing or defense turrets
Veti
Tagline: We Are The Echoes of Eternity
Style: Ancient alien tech and existential dread
Backstory:
The Veti ruled Earth 10,000 years ago using the Tempest. Humanity rebelled and drove them off—until now. They’ve returned, godlike and glowing, to reclaim what they once ruled. Spoiler: they don’t like sharing.
Status:
Not playable at launch, but appear in the campaigns
Will be added as a playable faction in a future update
Strengths (based on campaign and lore):
Tempest-based weaponry far beyond modern tech
Units with teleportation, shielding, and psychic warfare
Likely to break every balance rule when fully playable
Notable Units (Campaign Only for Now):
War Ender – Likely a super-unit
Luminary, Vimana, Phantom Artillery, and Revenant – Alien combatants with strange abilities
Playstyle Highlights:
We don’t know everything yet—but it’s safe to assume the Veti will be all about tech superiority, disruption, and spiritual horror
Expect floaty units, void energy, and probably some mind control
Final Blurb
Tempest Rising doesn’t offer heroes or villains… Just factions with different views, tech trees, and ways of burning each other to the ground. You’ll be siding with the calculated GDF, the fiery Dynasty, or waiting for the Veti to descend from the stars, and there’s a lot of firepower to choose from. Just don’t expect mercy from any of them.
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