All Factions Explained: Humans, Goblins, Desert Devils, Straw Elves & Beasts

Choose Your Crew

In Goblins & Gunslingers, the faction you choose isn't just an aesthetic decision — it's a strategic philosophy. Are you a disciplined lawman who picks shots carefully, or a chaos-hungry goblin who'd rather blow up the saloon than negotiate? Each of GNG's five factions plays differently, rewards different decision-making styles, and pairs with allies in fascinating ways.

This guide covers all five factions: their themes, their signature keywords, and the kind of player who'll love them. By the end, you'll have a clear picture of where your allegiances lie on the Wild Frontier.

For a high-level overview, visit the Factions page. To browse individual cards, head to the Card Gallery.

The Humans — Gunslingers of the Law

"They may not have magic. But they've got aim, nerve, and a badge."

Humans are the control faction of GNG. Where goblins blow things up and desert devils burn everything down, Humans operate with precision and patience. Their sheriff deputies lay down the law, their bounty hunters lock down enemy threats, and their gunslinger units chip away at the opponent's resources one careful shot at a time.

Signature Keywords

• Quickdraw — Strikes first in combat, before the opposing creature can deal damage. Pairs beautifully with high-attack, low-defense units that would normally die in a trade.
• Warrant — Forces all enemy creatures to attack this card first. Use it on a tanky Human creature to protect your more valuable pieces.
• High Noon — Draw 1 card when played from hand. Keeps your hand full while you establish board control.

Playstyle

Humans reward players who think two turns ahead. You'll often trade efficiently, deny your opponent's best plays, and close out games with a burst of well-sequenced spells and Quickdraw finishers. If you enjoy punishing mistakes, Humans are your faction.

Best paired with: Straw Elves (for defensive support) or Beasts (for raw lane coverage).

The Goblins — Chaotic Demolitionists

"The plan was simple: blow it up and see what happens. The plan worked."

Goblins are the aggro faction. They hit fast, hit hard, and don't worry too much about surviving the counterattack. Goblin decks flood the board early, deal damage relentlessly, and accumulate gold through constant attacks — then spend that gold on explosive payoff cards in the midgame.

Signature Keywords

• Ambush — Attack immediately when summoned, before the opponent can react. This keyword is the backbone of Goblin aggro.
• Double Barrel — Attack twice per turn. A creature with Double Barrel generates twice the gold income from damage.
• Gold Rush — Gain 1 gold when played. Great for accelerating your gold economy in the early turns.

Playstyle

Goblins are for players who love applying relentless pressure. Your goal is to build a wide board, deal damage every turn, snowball your gold income, and bury the opponent before they can set up their strategy. Games with Goblins are fast and punishing.

Best paired with: Desert Devils (for burn spells that complement your damage) or Beasts (for extra bodies).

The Desert Devils — Heat and Hellfire

"Where they walk, the sand turns to glass. Where they fight, nothing grows back."

Desert Devils are the burn/tempo faction. Their creatures deal high damage and punish opponents for leaving anything in their path. Desert Devils are ruthless on offense but shine most when they can trigger their signature Overshot mechanic.

Signature Keywords

• Overshot — Excess damage from combat or spells carries over to the next target in the lane — or to the opponent's HP directly if no target remains. This makes every combat a potential two-for-one.
• Wanted — This creature cannot be targeted by any effects. An infuriating keyword for opponents who rely on removal spells.

Playstyle

Desert Devils reward players who can do math. Knowing exactly how much damage you have, where it will go, and how to chain Overshot kills separates a good Desert Devil player from a great one. This faction is particularly brutal in the mid-to-late game when your high-attack creatures start rolling through packed lanes.

Best paired with: Goblins (for early aggression to set up lethal Overshot chains).

The Straw Elves — Protectors of the Harvest

"They look like scarecrows. They fight like something far older and stranger."

Straw Elves are the defensive/value faction. Where other factions race to deal damage, Straw Elves stall, heal, and grind their opponents down with attrition. Their Cover Token mechanic creates blockers that soak hits and protect their more valuable creatures.

Signature Keywords

• Cover Tokens — Generate 0/1 blocking tokens (via card effects, not automatically). These tokens intercept attacks and protect your main creatures from taking damage.
• Heal — Restore HP to your player total or to a creature's defense. Straw Elves can undo the damage that other factions rely on dealing.
• Last Stand / Deathrattle — Trigger effects when a creature dies. Many Straw Elf creatures are designed to generate value even as they fall.

Playstyle

Straw Elves are for players who enjoy outlasting their opponents. You'll frustrate aggressive decks with tokens and healing, slowly build an impenetrable board, and grind out wins in the late game. Patience is your greatest weapon.

Best paired with: Humans (for additional board control) or Beasts (for offensive pressure to complement your defensive shell).

The Beasts — Neutral and Untamed

"A coyote don't care who you ride with. It just bites."

Beasts are GNG's neutral faction. They belong to no side and can be included in any deck without counting toward your faction limit. Beasts are raw, efficient, and versatile — they plug holes in your faction's weaknesses and fill out your mana curve.

Role in Deck Building

Because Beasts are neutral, you can run as many as you want alongside any two main factions. A Goblin-Desert Devil deck that struggles in the late game might add several large Beast creatures to provide midgame bodies. A Humans-Straw Elf control deck might use Beasts as early curve-fillers.

Beasts tend to have straightforward statlines and simple keywords — they're the reliable backbone of any hybrid strategy.

Deck Building: Faction Pairing Rules

Before you build, know the rule: your deck can contain cards from a maximum of two main factions, plus unlimited Beasts. Mixing more than two factions splits your synergies and weakens your strategy.

Popular pairings include:

• Goblins + Desert Devils — The aggro powerhouse. The official starter deck. Fast damage, gold accumulation, and Overshot finishers.
• Humans + Straw Elves — The control shell. Quickdraw precision with defensive tokens and healing.
• Desert Devils + Beasts — Midrange burn. High-attack Beasts trigger Overshot for massive chain damage.

Ready to start building? Head to the Deck Builder, read more about the world, or browse all cards in the Card Gallery.