Last Epoch screenshot image
Image via Eleventh Hour Games

Should I join the Merchants Guild or Circle of Fortune in Last Epoch?

Don't grind alone

ARPGs are all about the loot grind, and Last Epoch’s guilds open up multiple options for players to get the most out of their endless quest for better gear. 

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Introduced in patch 1.0, the Merchants’ Guild and the Circle of Fortune are Last Epoch’s answers to the problem of trade in ARPG. When players reach Maj’Elka for the first time each cycle, they’ll have the choice to join one faction or the other. The Merchants’ Guild opens the door to buying and selling items with other players, while the Circle of Fortune gives valuable bonuses to players who are grinding for gear alone. 

How to join Merchants Guild or Circle of Fortune in The Last Epoch

You can progress through the ranks of either faction by killing enemies and interacting with each faction’s mechanics. Higher ranks give you access to new features and bonuses. Faction progress is shared between your characters each cycle, so you can hit the ground running with your alts.

You’re also allowed to switch between factions whenever you want, but that affects your rank and locks you out of using gear you gained from your former faction.  If you’re playing fully offline, joining the Circle of Fortune is a no-brainer. If you play online, the choice may be a little harder to make.

Screenshot via Destructoid

The Merchants’ Guild

Located in Maj’Elka’s bazaar, the Merchant’s Guild is the best place to buy and sell items found in Eterra. The more you buy and sell, the faster you’ll rank up in the faction. If you want to become a supreme merchant, working through the ranks is definitely worth the effort. 

Rank 1 – Buy and sell all Normal, Magic, and Rare items

Rank 2 – Buy Set items

Rank 3 – Buy Uniques without Legendary Potential

Rank 4 – Buy Idols

Rank 5 – Buy Exalted weapons

Rank 6 – Buy Unique weapons with Legendary Potential

Rank 7 – Buy all Exalted items

Rank 8 – Buy all Unique items

Rank 9 – Buy Legendary Weapons

Rank 10 – Buy all Legendary items

Screenshot via Destructoid

The Circle of Fortune 

Trade is all well and good, but the Circle of Fortune is a mystical faction whose members journey into the unknown. In general ranks in this faction increase your chances of finding spectacular loot. This faction also gives you the ability to use special items called Lenses to research Prophecies in the stars. Prophecies come with different conditions, and once you meet those, you’ll be given a handsome reward, plus you’ll progress your Circle of Fortune rank even faster. 

Rank 1 – Enemies have 35% chance to drop twice as much loot

Rank 2 – 45% chance for Runes of Ascendance to be preserved when used on Circle of Fortune items

Rank 3 – 25% chance for 2 extra Idols to drop whenever an Idol drops

Rank 4 – Affixes are 50% more likely to be Exalted

Rank 5 – 35% chance for double Monolith Echo rewards

Rank 6 – Uniques are twice as likely to have Legendary Potential

Rank 7 – T7 Affixes are twice as common

Rank 8 – 25% chance for dropped Rare items to be Exalted

Rank 9 – When a Set item would drop, the full set drops instead

Rank 10 – Items from Prophecies are duplicated


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Gabran Gray
Contributing Writer - Gabran has been an avid gamer since he was old enough to manipulate a keyboard and mouse. He's been writing professionally and covering all things video games since 2021.