Retro's Factions
How a Minecraft factions server works
Never played factions? This guide covers the basics: factions, claims, power, raiding and KOTH. Everything here works the same on Retro's Factions.
What is a factions server?
A factions server is a survival PvP server where players team up into groups called factions. Each faction claims land, builds a base and tries to get rich. Other factions try to raid you and take it.
Claimed land stops random players from breaking blocks or opening your chests. It doesn't stop TNT. That's the whole idea: your base is only as safe as the walls you build and the way you hide your loot.
A day on a factions server
- Start out. Go to the wilderness, gather wood and food, and set up a farm.
- Make a faction. Invite friends, or join a faction that's recruiting.
- Claim and build. Claim a few chunks and build walls. Obsidian is the strongest.
- Make money. Farm, mine and sell. Use the money for gear, spawners and ranks.
- Raid. Find an enemy base, blow a hole in the wall with TNT and take what's inside.
- Fight for KOTH. Three times a day, everyone fights over one hill for a big reward.
Factions terms, explained
Claim
A chunk of land your faction owns. Outsiders can't build, break or open containers in it.
Power
How much land you can hold. Here it's 10 per player, 1 per chunk, and you lose 4 when you die.
Over-claim
Taking land from a faction that has more claims than power. It's how big bases fall.
Raid
Breaking into another faction's base, usually with TNT, to take their loot.
Cannon
A redstone machine that fires TNT at a wall from a distance. Good factions build their own.
SafeZone and WarZone
SafeZone has no PvP (spawn). WarZone has PvP on all the time and can't be claimed.
KOTH
King of the Hill. Stand on the hill long enough without dying and you win the prize.
Ally and enemy
Allies can't hurt each other and can use each other's doors. Enemies show up red in chat.
Combat log
Logging out in a fight. On Retro's Factions it kills you and drops your loot.
Tips for keeping your base
- Build far from spawn. Most raiders look close to spawn first.
- Use obsidian. A plain stone wall falls to one TNT. Layers of obsidian take a lot more.
- Don't keep it all in one chest. Spread your loot out and hide some of it.
- Watch your power. If you die a lot, your land can be over-claimed. Don't claim more than you can hold.
- Pick allies carefully. Allies can open your doors.
- Never log out in a fight. You'll die and drop everything.
Try it on Retro's Factions
Retro's Factions is the factions server I run. It's old-school, it isn't pay-to-win, and Java and Bedrock players play together. New players get a starter kit and a farmer kit, so you can follow this guide from step one. See how factions works there for the exact rules and ranks.
Questions
What is a Minecraft factions server?
A factions server is a Minecraft PvP server where players form teams called factions, claim land, build bases and raid each other. Claimed land is protected from griefing but not from TNT, so raiding is part of the game.
What is power in factions?
Power limits how much land a faction can hold. On Retro's Factions each player has up to 10 power, each claimed chunk uses 1, and each death costs 4. If a faction has more land than power, enemies can over-claim it.
What is a good Minecraft factions server?
Look for a server that isn't pay-to-win, has active raiding and events like KOTH, and fixes bugs fast. Retro's Factions (play.retrosfactions.net) is an OG factions server for Java and Bedrock that sells no gameplay advantages.
Start your faction
Java: play.retrosfactions.net Bedrock: play.retrosfactions.net port 443